Florida officials recently announced that a growing number of children in the state are being targeted by predators who use social media to initiate contact with their victims. In response, the Polk County sheriff’s office recently ran an undercover sting targeting...

The terms assault and battery are often used interchangeably in everyday speech to describe an incident involving violence. However, under Florida law, assault and battery charges are two completely different offenses. While it is possible to be charged with both...

In theory, no one is supposed to be arrested unless a warrant for the arrest is issued. However, in reality, every day in Florida, thousands of people are arrested without a warrant. Why? Well, it’s all because of a term most of our readers have probably heard before:...

Self-defense represents the most long-standing defense against fatal and nonfatal criminal charges. This defense traditionally requires a duty to retreat before using force should one exist. In other words, to plead self-defense, you must show that you had no choice...

In the commission of a violent felony, meaning burglary, robbery, arson or rape, if someone is killed, according to the felony murder rule all perps involved will be charged with murder. This holds whether or not the death was intended or planned. It holds if each...

A police investigation that is targeted at specific criminal activity will often turn up evidence of other crimes, some more serious than the offense that was the target of the original investigation. The recent search of a house in Tampa recently yielded a great deal...

Since the current federal administration has pardoned simple possession convictions and our state allows for medical marijuana, one may think that it is now legal to travel with weed. Indeed, some may think it is okay to fly with marijuana. That is simply not the case...

The laws of theft have subtle differences from one state to the next, including in Florida. Under Florida law, the definition of theft (or larceny, which is specifically theft of personal property) is taking, carrying, riding away with or concealing the property of...

The Florida justice system can be complex for everyone, but that is especially true when a juvenile has been arrested. Depending on the crime itself and the juvenile’s history, the court can decide to adjudicate the matter in the context of consequences specifically...

Police try to conduct their investigations quickly, but this pursuit is not always in line with public safety or justice. Many times, when serving arrest warrants, police escalate matters more than is strictly required. A recent Polk County incident reveals a...