On July 1, 2019, the state of Florida legalized hemp, and the new law is impacting marijuana arrests and prosecutions. Overview of the New Hemp Law and the Challenges It Presents to Prosecutors Hemp, cannabidiol (CBD), and other derivatives that contain .3% or less of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the main psychoactive ingredient of cannabis—are now lawful substances…
What Is Domestic Battery?
Domestic battery is often the crime people think about when they hear “domestic violence.” While domestic violence can also include a wide range of other offenses, domestic battery occurs when one person hits or otherwise intentionally hurts a member of their household or family. Florida takes domestic battery charges seriously, meaning you could face significant…
Veterans Treatment Court Statistics
Veterans who complete the Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) are as much as 32 percent less likely to commit another crime in the first year versus the average incarcerated person in the United States. Veterans Treatment Court provides an opportunity for veterans who have substance abuse or mental health concerns to undergo court-supervised treatment instead of…
Veterans Treatment Court Locations
Florida’s Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) extends to 31 jurisdictions as of March 2019. Veterans Treatment Court offers veterans who face misdemeanor or third-degree felony charges a way to get treatment for their mental health or substance abuse issues instead of going to jail or facing other penalties, and it typically lasts 12 to 24 months,…
Veterans Treatment Court in Pinellas County
The Sixth Judicial Circuit Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) offers some military veterans another option for getting the most favorable outcome possible in their Pinellas County, FL, criminal case. VTC is a voluntary, court-supervised treatment program for veterans who need substance abuse or mental health treatment and face charges for a non-violent misdemeanor or felony crime….
Veterans Treatment Court in Hillsborough County
Some veterans who face charges for non-violent misdemeanor or felony crimes in Hillsborough County may qualify for 13th Judicial Circuit Veterans Treatment Court (VTC). VTC is a court-supervised pre-trial intervention or post-plea option that allows the veteran to enter mental health or substance abuse treatment instead of facing significant penalties for their crimes. VTC is…
Proving Self-Defense in Domestic Violence Case
If you were protecting yourself from a partner, former partner, family member, or member of your household but the police accused you of being the aggressor in a Florida domestic violence incident, do not try to fight this alone. It can be difficult to prove self-defense in any criminal case, but the attorneys from Goldman…
How Long Do You Go to Jail for Domestic Violence?
If the police arrest you or you face charges for a domestic violence offense in Florida, you will likely face time behind bars if convicted. Florida laws allow for mandatory minimum jail sentences for those who commit first-degree misdemeanor domestic battery, as well as more serious felony domestic violence offenses. In addition, you could face…
Domestic Violence Criminal Laws in Florida
In Florida, the state has comprehensive domestic violence laws that address everything from how first responders help victims of domestic violence to mandatory jail time for anyone convicted of intentionally hurting another person during a domestic violence incident. It is important to understand there is no one single crime that is “domestic violence.” Instead, domestic…
Domestic Battery by Strangulation Charges
Domestic battery by strangulation is a serious domestic violence charge that could result in significant time behind bars as well as fines and other penalties. If you face accusations of domestic battery by strangulation or the police arrested you for this or a related crime, you do not have to fight this on your own….