Author Archives: Jay Butchko
What Is A Domestic Violence Injunction?
If someone has become a victim of domestic violence, or they fear that they may become a victim of domestic violence, they may be able to obtain what is known as a domestic violence injunction (DVI). An injunction is a legal order that either prevents a person from doing something, or compels them to… Read More »
Mandatory Minimum Sentences Do Not Curb Drug Crime
Back in the 1980s and 1990s, Florida began to institute what are known as mandatory minimum sentences, in order to crack down on the epidemic of drug trafficking sweeping the state. However, over time, the sentences have, more often than not, been applied to the average person on the street rather than to well-connected… Read More »
What Can Victims Of False Domestic Violence Allegations Do?
False allegations of crimes like domestic violence and child abuse are, in reality, much less common than popular culture might show them to be. However, they do happen, and can cause very real suffering to the accused person and their loved ones. Adding insult to injury is the fact that very few who make… Read More »
What Constitutes Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia?
When someone uses drugs, they often require what is known as drug paraphernalia in order to do it properly. For example, if someone smokes marijuana, the paper they use to roll the drug into a cigarette counts as drug paraphernalia – any item used to “conceal, store, cultivate [ … ] or process” a… Read More »
Does Domestic Violence Have To Be Physical?
The stereotypical case of domestic violence in Florida is one that involves one spouse allegedly physically harming the other, but in reality, there are several different types of offenses that may qualify as domestic violence, and countless different ways that those offenses can play out. If you have been arrested and charged with domestic… Read More »
Alternative Forms Of Marijuana Are Still Illegal In Florida
As of this writing, it is legal in 19 states (plus Washington D.C.) to smoke marijuana recreationally, and in 38 states to use marijuana for a medical purpose. Florida has only recently made medical marijuana legal, while still prohibiting its recreational usage. This goes not only for possession of the cannabis plant, but also… Read More »
Can A Domestic Violence Conviction Affect My Gun Rights?
The right to bear arms is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution – but, contrary to popular belief, that right can be (and is) justifiably restricted in situations where a person is deemed to be a danger to themselves or other people. In Florida, a person’s right to own a firearm can be lost if… Read More »
Opioid Abuse In Florida
The United States has been in the grip of an opioid epidemic for many years, with the blame being laid on many different potential actors. In May 2022, Walgreens agreed to a large settlement with the State of Florida, paying $680 million after being sued over dispensing “millions of highly addictive pills.” It is… Read More »
Domestic Violence And Florida Divorce
Historically, domestic violence was once grounds for divorce, but that has become all but impossible now that every U.S. state recognizes some kind of no-fault divorce. If your spouse wants a divorce due to alleged domestic violence, all they need to do is file a petition with the district court, stating that ‘irreconcilable differences’… Read More »
Facing Drug Trafficking Charges In Florida?
Florida has some of the harshest drug laws in the nation, with some of the most stringent penalties if they are violated. One of the areas where this is most visible is in discussing drug trafficking charges – unlike in some other jurisdictions, one does not require intent to commit the offense of drug… Read More »