Category: Blog

          Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 5 states in part that "[a] person making an arrest within the United States must take the defendant without unnecessary delay before a magistrate judge, . . ., unless a statute provides otherwise."             But what happens if the police violate this rule and the arrested person confesses […]

The penalties are severe for drug trafficking in Florida.  For example, if a person is convicted in State Court of trafficking in 200 grams or more of cocaine but less than 400 grams, that person must be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 7 years and ordered to pay a fine of […]

In a recent case called Michigan v. Fisher, the United States Supreme Court ruled that a police officer may enter a home without a search warrant to render emergency assistance to an injured occupant or to protect an occupant from imminent injury.

According to Florida law, a judge is not allowed to deny an individual’s request to have his criminal record expunged simply because of the seriousness of the charge.

I'm pleased to announce the launch of another FAQ style website for our firm. The Federal Criminal Lawyer FAQ, located at www.federalcrimefaq.com, answers common questions on a wide variety of federal crime topics, including sentencing, defenses, and types of federal crimes. The range of topics and questions answered run from standard definitions to more complex […]

A minimum mandatory sentence is a minimum prison sentence that a judge must impose for a particular crime, without consideration of mitigating circumstances. In federal court, there are only two ways to avoid such a sentence: safety valve and cooperation.  An article that I posted on my Federal Criminal Lawyer website examines these two provisions […]

         I previously published two articles on this website entitled "Florida Sentencing and Drug Court Programs" and "Amended Law Provides Additional Ways to Avoid Prison."  Both of those articles looked at new laws that make it possible for some people to avoid being sent to prison even though the Florida Sentencing Guidelines call for a prison […]

         I previously published two articles on this website entitled "Florida Sentencing and Drug Court Programs" and "Amended Law Provides Additional Ways to Avoid Prison."  Both of those articles looked at new laws that make it possible for some people to avoid being sent to prison even though the Florida Sentencing Guidelines call for a prison […]

          Earlier this month, I published an article on this website entitled Florida Sentencing and Drug Court Programs in which I noted that if a criminal defendant has more than 44 total sentence points on the sentencing guidelines, he is supposed to be sentenced to state prison.             But on July 1st of this […]

            If you have been charged with a drug crime in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Belle Glade, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Lake Park, Lake Worth, Lantana, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Springs, Riviera Beach, Royal Palm Beach, or Wellington, call me, attorney Ron Chapman, at 561-832-4348 […]