What is GHB? GHB, scientifically known as gamma-hydroxybutyrate, is a depressant that affects the central nervous system. It is a common “date rape” or “club drug” used to cause symptoms like euphoria, increased sexual libido, decreased critical thinking, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and hallucinations to those who are drugged. While GHB is a chemical produced in the brain and other …

Rachel’s Background   Rachel Hoffman was a 23-year-old Florida State University graduate living in Tallahassee, Florida, with hopes of attending cooking school in Arizona. Police arrived at her apartment after her neighbors reported smelling marijuana and voiced their suspicion that drugs were being sold from the home. Police seized more than five ounces of marijuana as well as valium and …

In many cases, if you have been charged with a crime that is not a felony offense you can be released after paying a cash bail. But what happens if the price of bail is set too high? Dealing with the consequences of being charged with a crime is already an extreme burden. Putting a price tag on your freedom …

Starting your career as a university student creates an entirely different environment of new and exciting experiences. Walking onto a college campus for the first time is like taking a step into a world of opportunities unlike any other. Young college students are beginning a period in their life of self-discovery. Meeting new people, trying new things, and living away …

The last two years have seen a rise in violence, or excessive force being used during police-citizen encounters. After the summer of 2020, protests took place across the entire country to ask for reform of the police departments. These recent events have created a tense relationship between police officers and citizens.  Law enforcement officers have the authorization to use force …

Are Loitering & Prowling the Same Offense? Most people think that loitering and prowling are two different criminal acts that have two different legal repercussions. In addition, it is often thought that prowling is a much more serious offense than loitering. Both are false, and the offenses of loitering and prowling are codified in Section 856.021 of the Florida Statutes. …

Jury instructions are read to the jury at the end of trial and are a set of directions for the jury to follow. These instructions outline how the jury should evaluate the evidence that was presented. You can read more about jury instructions in criminal cases here. In addition, these instructions outline potential defenses available that should also be evaluated …

A law review article on Psychology, Factfinding, and Entrapment addressed how the law acknowledges that, “criminal behavior is not always the result of a culpable mind, but it is sometimes the result of an interaction between the individual and his environment.” When a person is persuaded to commit a crime that they wouldn’t usually commit, they may be able to …

Nxivm is a company created by Keith Raniere that offered self-improvement workshops that promised “a path to happiness [by] seducing wealthy people who felt they lacked a higher purpose in life.”[1] Raniere was hailed as “an elusive, god-like savant within the company” who could cure anxieties and conditions.[2] In reality, this self-help program was a fraud scheme and sex cult …