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Written by Lawrence A Robinson
Public defenders play a crucial role in the criminal justice system, representing individuals who cannot afford private legal counsel. However, due to limited resources and heavy caseloads, there are several areas where public defenders may face challenges. As a client, understanding these limitations can empower you to take proactive steps to improve your defense. Here are five common issues and what you can do to help:
1. Delayed Access to Police Reports
Issue: Public defenders often wait to receive police reports from the prosecutor’s office. This delay can hinder the defense’s ability to build a strong case promptly.
What You Can Do:
Read more: The Role of a Public Defender: What to Expect
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Written by Lawrence A Robinson
Public defender offices are underfunded both absolutely and in comparison, to better-funded prosecutor offices. Despite this, public defenders do the best job they can advocating for defendants who cannot afford private representation.
Research suggests that public defenders can be as effective as privately retained lawyers in terms of producing outcomes for defendants, if sufficiently staffed.
But, therein lies the problem. Public Defenders offices are not sufficiently staffed and therefore the defendants don’t always get proper legal representation.
As a defendant, taking proactive steps can significantly impact the outcome of your case. Here are nine crucial actions you should take as soon as possible:
Read more: 9 Essential Actions You Must Take to Help Your Public Defender Get Your Case Dismissed
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Written by Lawrence A Robinson
When responding to a domestic violence situation, for instance, law enforcement officers are expected to arrest any person who commits a crime related to domestic violence as defined by law, unless there is a clear and compelling reason not to arrest, such as self-defense or lack of probable cause, after a comprehensive investigation to identify the predominant aggressor.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) defines “predominant aggressor” as “the individual who poses the most serious, ongoing threat, which may not necessarily be the initial aggressor in a specific incident”.
To determine the predominant aggressor, police officers may evaluate each person individually and consider a number of factors such as who uses threats and intimidation in the relationship, who has a history of violence, who has caused the most damage, and who has the most to gain from the incident.
Mandatory arrest laws, while originally-well intentioned, resulted in a greater number of arrested women in domestic violence cases. Victims may utilize violence to pre-emptively avert an attack from the aggressor or in self-defense. However, law enforcement may improperly assess or document these situations, or even allow incidents to go unacknowledged.
Read more: How do police determine whom to arrest in a domestic violence situation?
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Written by Lawrence A Robinson
By Lawrence A Robinson
Law enforcement officers are often trained to prioritize de-escalation and maintaining peace. Their primary goal is to prevent further harm or violence. They will turn over their findings to the State Attorney's Office to evaluate and press charges if deemed warranted.
The mission of the State Attorney’s Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit is to promote public safety by using data-driven methods to hold offenders accountable, provide restorative justice for victims, and redirect children and people in need of services, in an effort to build stronger, safer communities. They try to achieve the highest standards of ethics and competence in order to promote a fair and equitable legal system.
The police came to my home in response to a shoving incident. My stepdaughter's fiancé, Jason Aybar, had been told not to enter into certain areas of my home because my wife was recovering for major surgery and too much stress could trigger a serious breathing attack.
Read more: What is police responsibility when there is an incident in your home?
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Written by Roger Caldwell
The challenge of stroke in America is still a sickness that many refuse to discuss and admit they have struggled with. May is stroke awareness month, and there are very small groups engaged in sharing their issues with the disease. Something is wrong with the healthcare system when so many Americans do not know the correct numbers for good high blood pressure numbers, and 80% of strokes are preventable.
As a Black man I had a stroke at 54, and there were at least 20 ways I could have avoided a stroke. My lack of knowledge was a determining factor of why I had a stroke. All Americans by the time they are 12 years old should know the importance, and what the numbers represent.
Read more: High Blood Pressure- A State of Stroke Awareness in 2023
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Written by Rick Singh
By Rick Singh
Real estate is a highly important sector of the economy, with its own unique dynamics and market conditions. Interest rates are a critical factor in determining the health of the real estate market, with changes in rates having significant implications for property values, investment activity, and housing affordability. In this essay, we will examine how higher interest rates can affect a typical real estate market, and explore some of the key factors that contribute to these effects.
First, it is important to understand how interest rates impact the real estate market. Interest rates are essentially the cost of borrowing money, and they have a direct impact on the affordability of mortgages and other types of financing used to purchase property. When interest rates are low, borrowing costs are reduced, and this tends to make housing more affordable. As a result, lower interest rates can lead to increased demand for real estate, which can drive up prices and stimulate investment activity.
Read more: How Low Interest Rate Impact a Typical Real Estate Market
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Written by Roger Caldwell
Voting and legislating in Florida is being controlled by the Republicans, and there is nothing the Democrats can do but fight and organize. The legislature in Florida is controlled by Republicans in all the houses, and insanity is deciding what bills will be passed and signed by the governor.
Florida has a Republican trifecta and a Republican triplex. A state government trifecta is a term to describe when one political party holds majorities in both chambers of the state legislature and the governor’s office. A state government triplex is a term to describe when one political party holds the following three positions in a state’s government: governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.
The three most powerful positions in Florida are Governor Ron DeSantis (R), President of the State Senate Kathleen Passidomo (R), and State Speaker of the House Paul Renner (R). With the Republicans in 2023, the Republicans have partisan control and a legislative supermajority. This means in both chambers the Republicans will control the debate, and has a veto-proof majority.
Read more: We Must Organize in Florida to Stop Culture War Bills Being Passed
