- On behalf of Mike G Law posted in Uncategorized on Tuesday, February 19, 2019
When charged with a crime, a defendant has several options. During the arraignment, which is the formal reading of charges, the defendant will be asked to “enter a plea.” This is essentially the defendant “answering” to the charges against him or her. On the advice of counsel—whether that’s a public defender or a skilled Tampa criminal defense attorney—the defendant may plead Not Guilty, No Contest (Nolo Contendere), or Guilty. Defendants can also choose to stand mute and not enter a plea. At that point, a not guilty plea will be entered on his or her behalf. Now, most people have heard of please like “Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity” or “Not Guilty by Reason of Self-Defense,” however, these are... Read More »
- On behalf of Mike G Law posted in Criminal Defense, Uncategorized on Monday, December 3, 2018
If you watch legal television shows, you’ve probably seen that scene where the defense attorney is able to convince the judge that his client needs some type of treatment rather than jail time. Moved by the compelling defense, the judge agrees and sets in motion some kind of treatment plan for the defendant to pursue. What you probably will not see is a judge whose hands are figuratively tied behind her back because she feels there are better treatment options for a defendant but, by law, she must impose a mandatory minimum sentence. Mandatory minimum sentences are just what the name implies—they are required sentences of a set timeframe that must be enforced for particular crimes. The goal of mandatory... Read More »
- On behalf of Mike G Law posted in Domestic Violence, Uncategorized on Monday, November 19, 2018
False accusations can have repercussions for many years. Those accused of abusing their spouses — even without any sort of trial — often become social pariahs. It can be difficult to hold down a job or start a new relationship, even though no formal charges have been brought against you. If children are involved, as is the case in many divorces, custody and visitation can be thrown in jeopardy. And if charges are brought, the situation can be even worse. For many people who are accused of domestic violence, there is the feeling that they are “guilty until proven innocent.” No one should have to face false allegations of domestic violence, however, because of how vitriolic some divorces and relationships... Read More »
- On behalf of Mike G Law posted in Uncategorized on Tuesday, June 9, 2015
At their most basic, drug courts were developed as an alternative to sending nonviolent drug offenders through the Florida prison system. When utilized appropriately, the drug courts can help offenders get help from local resources and save the state money on incarceration costs. As of 2012, there were more than 2,500 drug courts in the United States, but many people don’t know that the drug courts were first implemented successfully in Florida. Drug courts are different than traditional criminal courts because they seek to figure out what will best help defendants move forward with their lives and also match them with local resources that can help them deal with a prescription drug addiction and learn healthy life coping skills. While... Read More »
