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Understanding Crime for College Students in Florida: A Primer for Parents and Students

Earning a postsecondary degree from a college or university is challenging but worth the effort due to the enhanced employment opportunities a diploma typically provides. However, the challenges are such that more than one million students drop out of four-year and community college annually. Financial difficulties play a leading role in postsecondary education drop-out rates, but other factors can prove influential as well.

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What to Know About Hate Crime Charges in Florida

Most criminal offenses covered by Florida statutes are somewhat easy to understand. In general terms, people can usually explain what the crime is when someone is charged with murder, manslaughter, assault, kidnapping, arson, and many other offenses. However, some crimes may be difficult for people to define clearly. “Hate” crime is one such offense. Many people might correctly describe it as a criminal act committed with hateful intent. Most have difficulty detailing how hate and its use with intent are addressed under Florida law.

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Understanding the Different Types of Theft and Their Legal Consequences in Florida

Theft is one of the most frequently reported crimes in Florida. According to statistics compiled by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, it results in the third-highest number of arrests in the state. Florida statutes broadly define theft as the act of obtaining, using, or trying to use the property of another with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the other person of the right to the property and/or appropriate the property for their own use. The statutes primarily categorize theft by the value of the property taken and include some property types and manner of taking...

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Video // Driving with a Suspended or Revoked Driver’s License in Florida

Whether you drive on a suspended or a revoked driver’s license, doing so is unlawful and exposes you to fines, further loss of your driving privileges and possible jail time. There is a difference between a suspended and a revoked license. If suspended, you’ve lost your privilege to drive for a temporary period of time. If it is revoked, your driving privileges have been removed. There are different offenses that lead to whether your license is suspended or revoked. Elements of Driving with a License that has Been Suspended (or Revoked)–DWLSR To be convicted of DWLSR, you must meet the...

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Video // Classification of Felony Crimes and Their Potential Penalties in Florida

A felony is distinguished from a misdemeanor by the potential of how much time you may be incarcerated. If your criminal violation is punishable by up to one year in jail, then it is a misdemeanor. Felonies are any crime for which you can be sentenced to more than one year in jail or state prison. Florida has five basic classifications for felonies, ranging from third degree to capital felony. Any felony conviction carries substantial consequences for the offender including the loss of freedom for decades or life in some cases. Convicted felons often experience considerable difficulties in...

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Video // Penalties for Marijuana Possession and Sale in Florida

CW_LAW VLOG PENALTIES FOR MARIJUANA_ZACH WARD_VN_V01 from Compass Marketing & Consulting on Vimeo. Marijuana, also known as cannabis, has been with us for thousands of years. Originating in central and southern Asia, seeds of the plant have been found with a 2500 year old Chinese mummy as well as in other ancient burial sites in Romania, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. References to its psychoactive properties have been cited in the writings of early Christians and Jews. Christopher Columbus may have been an avid user and scholars point to some cryptic references made to the drug...

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What is the Difference between a Sex Offender and a Sex Predator?

Florida law makes a distinction between a sex offender and a sex predator, though most people would likely not know or care of the difference so long as a person designated with either status is kept away from children or placed in certain isolated areas, if possible. Sex offender and predator registries identify these persons and web sites are available for the public to see if these individuals are residing within their community. There are differences between these categories based on the severity of the offense and age of the victim with violent sexual offenders classified as sexual predators. Regarding...

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Driving with a Suspended or Revoked Driver’s License in Florida

Whether you drive on a suspended or a revoked driver’s license, doing so is unlawful and exposes you to fines, further loss of your driving privileges and possible jail time. There is a difference between a suspended and a revoked license. If suspended, you’ve lost your privilege to drive for a temporary period of time. If it is revoked, your driving privileges have been removed. There are different offenses that lead to whether your license is suspended or revoked. Elements of Driving with a License that has Been Suspended (or Revoked)–DWLSR To be convicted of DWLSR, you must meet the...

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Probation Sentences and Their Conditions in Florida

Probation is a court-ordered supervisory condition for persons convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony.  A court will impose probation either in lieu of a jail sentence or after a person has served a portion of their time in jail or prison. Depending on the type of probation, a defendant may or may not have to report to a probation or parole officer or a community supervisory officer on a regular or in-person basis. Florida considers probation as a means of rehabilitation but also as a way to protect the community by imposing certain restrictions on the individual’s freedoms. It affords...

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