If you’re like most people who carry a smart phone, you have a lot of data accessible on there. You might bank from your phone, email, schedule your day, not to mention keep in contact with everyone you know, Tweet, and update your Facebook status. In other words, your phone is not just a source of calls—it’s a virtual computer. And it’s this wealth of information that helped the Florida Supreme Court determine that police can’t search through your phone randomly, at least not unless they can get a warrant. [Read more…]
Florida Supreme Court Rules You Don’t Have to Know it was Drugs
You don’t have to know you were carrying illegal drugs in order to be convicted of a drug offense, according to a Florida State Supreme Court ruling. [Read more…]
Florida Veteran’s Courts Growing to Help Vets Accused of Crimes
Veterans are no more likely than the average person to commit a crime. But, they do have a unique set of needs. Many vets suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which can lead to alcohol and drug abuse, as well as other criminal behaviors. Many vets don’t want to ask for help and are only offered assistance when they finally run afoul of the law. That’s where the Florida Veteran’s Courts come in. [Read more…]
Florida Innocence Commission Reviews Jailhouse Informants
The blue-ribbon panel tasked with taking steps to prevent future wrongful convictions is looking at the use of jailhouse informants and considering taking steps to ensure they are a reliable source of information. [Read more…]
Florida Innocence Commission Studies False Confessions, Interrogations
The Tallahassee based Florida Innocence Commission has begun a new study, this one to analyze statewide interrogation tactics in an effort to limit false confessions and wrongful convictions. Earlier this year, the group completed a study on eyewitness questioning, a study that led to statewide policy. They are hoping this study goes in the same direction. [Read more…]
Florida Drug Law Stricken, Ruled Unconstitutional
In a move that stands to potentially flood the Florida courts with a multitude of appeals, U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven ruled the statewide Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act to be unconstitutional, eliminating its impact altogether. [Read more…]
Florida Law Enforcement Approves of New Eyewitness Standards
Flawed eyewitness identification plays a role in the vast majority of DNA exonerations. But many police agencies across the country are still using the same identification procedures as they’ve done for years. Finally, this week Florida law enforcement organizations announced new procedures for photo lineups and eyewitness protocol. [Read more…]
Judge Behind Courthouse “Taj Mahal” Faces Ethics Charges
Last summer we told you about the brand new courthouse built for the 1st District Court of Appeals and designed to suit a king. Featuring African mahogany, granite, and a private kitchen and bath for every single judge, the building had a $50 million price tag and shook up the state as taxpayers wondered how this little item made it through on the transportation bill last year. [Read more…]
Florida Reentry Program Helps Convicts Stay Crime-Free
If you’re the type to read the news in the morning, you no doubt have run across many stories concerning people who have been released from prison only to commit another crime and be sent back. The recidivism rate in this country is alarming and due, at least in part, to the lack of actual treatment and rehabilitation going on behind bars. One Florida program, however, was highlighted this week as they seek to increase their funding. [Read more…]
Dress Codes for Florida Court?
While Florida is one of several states without a prescribed dress code for court dates, many people wish judges would make dressing appropriately a rule while others don’t understand the fuss. In this report from the Sun-Sentinel, you can see which judges would like to see a little more “decorum” and which don’t have a preference on the attire of their subjects. [Read more…]