Recent Blog Posts
Florida’s Dangerous Prisons Still Costing Taxpayers Too Much
We’ve previously discussed some of the corruption and abuse issues that plague Florida’s justice system. The Florida Department of Corrections is the largest agency in the state, with a budget of $2.3 billion each year. Still, in spite of all this spending, Florida prisons have experienced a number of high-profile abuses, deaths, and disturbances:… Read More »
The Shameful Truth: Thousands of Veterans Have Also Lost Their Right to Vote in Florida
We’ve previously discussed Florida’s history of denying millions of ex-felons of the right to vote and the civil rights concerns that raises. Its history has its roots as an outright white-supremacist measure after the Civil War to explicitly prevent African-Americans from voting. The Miami New Times recently addressed this same issue within the context… Read More »
New Florida Animal Abuse Law with Stiffer Penalties Went into Effect October 1
As of October 1, a number of new laws will take effect in Florida, including one that imposes harsher penalties for abusing animals. Others going into effect also increase penalties for anyone who trespasses on Florida airport property, including Miami, Orlando, and Tampa International Airports. The animal abuse law stems from an incident that… Read More »
Kavanaugh’s Civil Rights Views Under Scrutiny
Affirmative action is an important civil rights issue that carries a goal of instilling admissions policies geared to provide equal access to education for groups that have historically been underrepresented or excluded—such as minorities and women—in higher educational institutions. While the U.S. Supreme Court has historically upheld university admissions policies that allow for race… Read More »
Wrongful Death Argued For In Florida “Stand Your Ground” Criminal Defense Case
Many are now calling the incident that occurred in July in a Florida “Circle A” convenience store parking lot more a case of a wrongful death than a viable use of the Florida “Stand Your Ground” criminal defense. Of late, this even includes the National Rifle Association (NRA) and GOP lawmakers, who rejected the… Read More »
New Law in Florida Requires Guns Surrendered Out Of Abundance of Caution
After the Florida Parkland school shooting, many are concerned about the safety of themselves and their children. However, does Florida’s new law ordering many to surrender guns infringe upon our state and federal civil rights? The Florida Risk Protection Order Act temporarily strips gun owners of their gun rights and ammunition if a judge… Read More »
Florida Seeks to Uphold Ban on Smoking Medical Marijuana In Spite Of Court’s Decision on Constitutional Amendment
On August 3, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a 57-page brief arguing that the 1st District Court of Appeals should uphold a decision made by the state legislature in 2017 to ban smoking medical marijuana. Bondi and the state of Florida argue that it is within the legislature’s jurisdiction to regulate public health,… Read More »
Feds Investigating Abuse Allegations at Florida Women’s Prison
On August 8, the Miami Herald covered an important U.S. Department of Justice federal civil rights investigation into various abuses—including sexual misconduct by correctional officers—at Lowell Correctional Institution in Florida. The investigation comes after years of complaints and exposes involving current and former inmates describing serious abuses, including officers forcing inmates to have sex… Read More »
Florida’s New Opioid Law Has Doctors Concerned
Florida’s new opioid law has a number of doctors concerned; namely because it does not just cover opioids, but a host of other drugs. Specifically, the law covers almost all medications currently classified as “Schedule II through V drugs,” including anti-seizure medications, Adderall, Ambien, ADHD medications, Ritalin, steroids, and Xanax. While it does not… Read More »
Will Florida Law Shield FIU Bridge Companies From Criminal Liability?
According to recent reporting, engineers working for Florida International University (FIU) saw gaping cracks in the bridge that was being constructed two days before it collapsed and killed six people. While many have pointed out that this constitutes professional misconduct, some are now speculating whether companies should also be held criminally liable for the… Read More »
