How Does Criminal Law Work in Florida?
To many, despite its Eastern location on the map, Florida is considered to be the closest modern place to the “wild, wild, west”. With some of the craziest, and strangest criminal issues and legal mishaps, the state of Florida has become notorious for some of the most interestingly dumb, and shockingly stupid, criminals around. in fact, popular TV and radio shows such as New York’s the Breakfast Club, and even ESPN radio, both dedicate a special segment every morning to honor some of the wildest criminal misgivings that could only happen in the state of Florida. And sadly despite this somewhat crazy reputation, the majority of Florida is a nice, perpetually sunny, wonderful family-friendly place, that many parents would love to raise their children in – aside from the craziness that takes place all over, from Jacksonville to Miami. And in recent years, to combat the reputation the state has gotten over the years, legislators have become quite strict when it comes to punishing criminals for even the most boneheaded of mistakes. According to Mr. Steven Veinger, the top criminal lawyer Miami has to offer, the state of Florida is commonly known for having two specific types of criminals, from the most hardened of criminals who have essentially made crime a career, to the dumbest of the dumb individuals, who are either not too bright, and ended up in some trouble (that usually goes viral online) or simply acted in such a way for the pursuit of drugs, as that is a big reason for which individuals get into crime in Miami – drug addiction has been running quite rampant across Florida for over a decade now. To better understand the criminal law system in Florida, Mr. Veinger offers us these important things to know.
When it comes to the state of Florida, criminals should try to educate themselves on everything thy can, as that will help them to stay out of further trouble and try to live a life on the straight path. According to Mr. Veinger, the top criminal lawyer Miami has in practice, the purpose of criminal law is to prevent acts that harm others and to establish penalties for these acts. Individuals who are aware of the potential consequences of a conviction may decide not to commit the criminal act in order to avoid serious penalties. In this way, criminal laws serve as a deterrent to committing crimes. It is possible for a person to commit a crime and be prosecuted by the federal government. However, this is more likely to occur when the crime involves the federal government or crossing interstate lines. Most crimes are charged at the state level. States are free to pass their own laws so long as they are constitutional.
Classifying Crimes
Generally, as in most states, crimes are categorized under two specific umbrellas,felonies and misdemeanors. Of the two, misdemeanors are considered less serious. The maximum penalty for a misdemeanor crime is up to one year in jail and a fine up to $1,000. In many situations, misdemeanors do not result in any imprisonment. If a jail sentence is imposed, the defendant generally goes to the county jail. There are also noncriminal violations that usually involve a fine, such as traffic violations or a public nuisance citation. In contrast, felonies are considered more serious. Florida felonies are punishable by imprisonment of more than one year and a fine up to $15,000. When sentenced to imprisonment, the defendant goes to the state prison. In some instances, law enforcement in Florida have given some cases the name “wobblers” as they might be felony or misdemeanor. The individual circumstances involved in the crime may also impact which type of crime is ultimately charged against the defendant.
Specific Crimes in Florida
According to Mr. Veinger, the top criminal lawyer Miami has practicing, as it is the case in many other states, each specific crime in the state of Florida is outlined by its very own criminal penal code numbers. Felony crimes involve such offenses as aggravated assault and battery, burglary, robbery, sex crimes, manslaughter, theft crimes, kidnapping, arson, murder and drug offenses. Misdemeanor crimes encompass such offenses as petty theft, the possession of a small amount of marijuana, shoplifting, reckless driving and public intoxication. For more information about criminal law, or to schedule a consult be sure to contact Mr. Veinger today.