In 1981, Alan Crotzer was charged and convicted of sexual battery, kidnapping, burglary, aggravated assault, robbery and attempted robbery. Victim eyewitness testimony contributed to his conviction. The Florida courts sentenced Crotzer —who pleaded not guilty —to 130...
Felonies
When can my child be tried as an adult?
Finding out that your child has been charged with a crime can be incredibly painful. You’ve worked hard to raise your kids, and you never expected something like this. You might know that they are innocent, but you might also worry about whether anyone else is going...
When can recordings be used as evidence?
Facing criminal charges can be an extremely stressful experience. The prosecution will try to build the strongest possible case against you, using any evidence available. In the era of ubiquitous smartphones and other personal devices, almost everyone has the ability...
What does a criminal charge mean for my immigration status?
Being arrested is always a stressful experience—particularly if you’re facing criminal charges. However, as an immigrant—even a green card holder with permanent residency status—the process can be especially harrowing. In addition to facing the usual criminal...
Tips for avoiding a DUI this holiday season
The holidays are quickly approaching. It’s the time of year when we let loose and celebrate. We gather with family and friends to eat, drink and be merry. However, Christmas and New Year’s are also two of the deadliest days of the year to be on the road. Traffic...
Florida’s ex-felons regain the right to vote
If you’re convicted of a crime, your whole life changes in an instant. You may lose your freedom for months or years—kept away from your loved ones and treated like a second-class citizen. When you’re finally released, the social marginalization—in many...
What are the felony classes in Florida?
When a person is charged with a felony here in Florida, one thing that has a big impact on his or her situation is what class of felony the charge falls under. There are five classes of felonies in the state. The three main classes are first-degree, second-degree and...
Life after wrongful incarceration: what are your rights?
Imagine you’ve been convicted of a crime you didn’t commit. Maybe you were framed, or perhaps you were the victim of inaccurate eyewitness identification. It may sound implausible, but unfortunately, the criminal justice system is not perfect—and mistakes happen....
Driving on a suspended license: is it worth the risk?
There are many reasons you could end up with a suspended driver’s license in Florida—from simple traffic violations to crimes. Even offenses unrelated to driving can get your license revoked. Maybe you failed to stop for a school bus—and an officer wrote you up and...
What offenses can result in a driver’s license suspension?
You may think that only certain driving-related crimes—such as drunk driving—could result in a suspended license. However, there are actually numerous offenses that can get your license taken from you. In this article, we outline some common offenses that could get...