Marijuana is legal in several states, but Florida has only legalized medical marijuana. That means using marijuana recreationally can still land a person in jail, fines and potentially other consequences based on the amount in possession. With all the changes in the...
Fla. district says teacher could return to work after drug arrest
A Florida middle school teacher is on administrative leave without pay following an arrest on drug charges last week. However, the superintendent explained that, following completion of a drug rehabilitation program and resolution of the charges, district policy could...
Can field sobriety tests be used against you in court?
Florida has strict laws meant to tamp down on the use of substances when driving. In order to determine if someone has been driving under the influence, tools like field sobriety tests may be utilized. But can these tests be used as evidence against you in court?...
Violating your probation terms could land you in jail
If a court convicts you of an offense and places you on probation, you should be careful to avoid violating the terms. A probation violation puts you at risk of jail, fines or other penalties. Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton County area probation officers and courts...
Eyewitness identification and the trouble that comes with it
When crimes are committed in Florida and an eyewitness comes forward, many falsely believe that is the end of the case and law enforcement officials have solid evidence to put the alleged perpetrator away. In all reality, eyewitness testimony may not be as reliable as...
Is the First Step Act working as planned?
The First Step Act was a wonderful bipartisan plan to help reduce the populations in federal prisons. The goal was to release low-level offenders while leaving the violent criminals behind bars. The focus was really on releasing drug offenders who committed minor...
