Monthly Archives: November 2024
Can the Police Search Property You Don’t Claim to Own?
In most cases, the police need a warrant before they can search your property without your consent. More precisely, the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects you from an unreasonable search in any place where you have a “reasonable expectation of privacy.” This includes any devices where you may store private information,… Read More »
When Can a “Welfare Check” Lead to a Criminal Arrest in Florida?
When a police officer sees you commit an apparent traffic violation, it is lawful for that officer to pull you over and initiate a traffic stop. The officer may then try to extend that stop if they observe evidence of some other possible crime, such as DUI or drug possession. Of course, the officer… Read More »
How Many Juror “Challenges” Can I Make in a Fort Lauderdale Criminal Case?
The right to trial by jury is one of the most important constitutional protections given to persons accused of committing a crime. In Florida, you have the right to trial by jury in all criminal cases. In capital cases–i.e., offenses that carry the possibility of the death penalty–a jury must be composed of 12… Read More »
Can Florida Prosecutors Add Criminal Charges at the Last Minute?
When a person is accused of domestic violence, there is often a temptation to contact the accuser in an attempt to “work things out.” However, once the law is involved and there has been an arrest or indictment, engaging in such contact can only lead to more legal problems. Indeed, Florida prosecutors can charge… Read More »