Author Archives: Jay Butchko
When Can Officers Pull Me Over on Suspicion of DUI?
Usually, police officers can detain motorists or other persons if they have reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. For many years, since the Supreme Court established this rule in 1968, reasonable suspicion was an evidence-based hunch. The Court has watered down this rule in recent years. For example, in 2014, the Supremes ruled that police… Read More »
Lawmakers Approved Revamped Capital Punishment Law
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to sign a bill that would impose the death penalty on some child sex offenses, even if jurors don’t unanimously agree on this punishment. Instead, an 8-4 vote would be sufficient. “My view is, you have some of these people that will be serial rapists of six, seven-year-old… Read More »
The Five Most Common Kinds Of White Collar Crime
Unless they have overwhelming evidence, prosecutors often don’t press charges in violent crime cases. The opposite is true in white collar criminal cases. Prosecutors almost always press charges in these cases, especially if the defendant doesn’t quickly and voluntarily pay restitution. As a result, prosecutors often file cases with weak evidence. These cases are… Read More »
Pretrial DUI Drivers’ License Suspension In Hillsborough County
Florida, like every other U.S. state, has an implied consent law. A refusal to submit to a lawful request for a chemical sample could lead to drivers’ license suspension, even if the driver isn’t convicted of DUI. The suspension periods are usually six months for a first refusal and twelve months for a subsequent… Read More »
Should I Accept A Plea Deal?
For much of American history, trials resolved most criminal cases. Plea bargains became the norm after the Civil War, as the country continued growing and courts became overworked. Still, as recently as the 1990s, trials resolved a significant number of criminal cases. Today, that proportion has dwindled to less than 2 percent. Pretrial dismissals… Read More »
The Brave New World Of Marijuana Possession Cases In Florida
Over the last several years, a marijuana legalization wave has crashed ashore in the United States. But this wave hasn’t directly affected most Florida residents. A few localities, including Tampa, Key West, Orlando, Miami-Dade County, and Sarasota, have decriminalized marijuana possession. But a statewide prohibition remains in effect, with the exception of some medicinal… Read More »
Broward County Man Walks Free After Thirty Years Behind Bars
Witness recollection and lineup issues, along with other evidence issues, prompted prosecutors to dismiss a 1988 armed robbery case. The 57-year-old inmate was arrested in October 1988 in connection with an armed robbery that June of two people outside a convenience store in unincorporated Broward County, just west of Fort Lauderdale, according to the… Read More »
What Happens After A Domestic Violence Arrest?
Over the last several years, law enforcement officers have stepped up their campaigns against domestic violence. That’s because the public relations and criminal court campaign has largely been ineffective. Over twelve million people, most of them women, are victims of domestic violence every year. The persistently high figure has prompted calls for law enforcement… Read More »
Beating A DUI-Drug Case In Hillsborough County
In the minds of many, “stoned” driving is rapidly becoming almost as acceptable as “drunk” driving. Almost a quarter of drivers admit that they drove under the influence of a drug, usually marijuana. The list of possibly impairing substances in Florida is smaller than it is in other states. Nevertheless, there’s a good chance… Read More »
Resolving Juvenile Crimes In Hillsborough County
The direct consequences of a juvenile conviction, such as possible removal from the family home, are bad enough. The collateral consequences, such as drivers’ license suspension and school expulsion, could be even worse. Fortunately for these defendants, the political environment has changed significantly since the 1990s. A lower arrest rate means if a case… Read More »