Category: Press Releases

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida – Florida's new law enhancing protections for first responders took effect earlier this year. Under Senate Bill 184, it is a second-degree misdemeanor to approach or remain within 25 feet of a first responder after being warned to stay back. The restriction applies if the person’s intent is to impede, threaten, […]

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida – Earlier this year, Florida lawmakers debated whether to roll back several gun control measures passed after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Although some proposals advanced through the House, both were later withdrawn from consideration in the Senate, ending this session’s most aggressive efforts to scale […]

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – In 1841, John Augustus, a Boston bootmaker, posted bail for a man who would have otherwise received a jail sentence, took him under his wing, and later convinced the judge that the man was rehabilitated and should remain free. Little did Augustus realize that it was the beginning of an […]

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Criminal defense attorney Ronald S. Chapman weighs in on the passage of the Victims of Crimes Bill (Florida SB 1012) unanimously passed by the Florida legislature earlier this year to bolster crime victims’ rights. The Bill was sponsored by Senator Danny Burgess (R), and the House version was sponsored by […]

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Criminal defense attorney Ronald S. Chapman weighs in on the passage of Cybersecurity legislation (Florida HB 7055) (Bill) unanimously passed by the Florida Legislature earlier this year amending portions of the State Cybersecurity Act (SCA). The new law establishes new cybersecurity requirements on Florida state, county and local government agencies, […]

West Palm Beach, Florida - Changes to Florida's criminal justice laws were announced in 2019,  but some advocates are disappointed in the results. Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) is no exception. The group responded to the latest changes in Florida by calling the reforms, “a bad joke”. FAMM is a criminal justice policy and advocacy […]