Fort Lauderdale Juvenile Lawyer

Broward County Under A New Juvenile Court System Due To Coronavirus Broward judges who oversee juvenile court cases have discharged justice to their young defendants under exceptional circumstances: No one makes their first appearance before a judge in person anymore. Not adult defendants. Not children. The halls of justice are no longer open to the public. Coronavirus closed them. Loved ones no longer crowd the wooden pews of the courtrooms, offering support to defendants and waiting to hear their friends’ and relatives’ fate. But the justice system has kept on churning. Juvenile justice hearings still happen these days, only via Zoom. Defendants make their case for home detention through muffling, loud cracks and breaks in the conversation. Sometimes public defenders roll their eyes or change their backgrounds. On Friday, after weeks of heated email exchanges between the state Department of Juvenile Justice and the Broward Public Defender’s Office, DJJ administrators acknowledged an employee at the Fort Lauderdale detention center had been carrying the lethal virus. “This is only a trespass case,” Assistant Public Defender Kelsey Moldof said, while lobbying for her client’s release. “Based on the coronavirus pandemic and the fact that the child can’t even be held in the Broward Detention Center as a result of someone testing positive there,” she added, the girl deserved another chance to await her fate in the safety of her parents’ home. Usan arranged for the girl — the Miami Herald is not naming her because she is a minor — to be fitted with a GPS ankle-monitor while awaiting trial or a guilty plea. She had turned herself in on the...

Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Lawyer Guy Seligman Message

The coronavirus has brought an important test to our Broward County and Fort Lauderdale. Broward County and Dade County have the largest density of coronavirus in Florida. I have defended people accused of a crime in the Fort Lauderdale area for over 20 years. At this time I am reaching out to my clients, past and present. I have meet many judges, attorneys, court personal, public defenders, and state attorneys over these years. I ask that everyone please stay safe and  follow the guidelines of social distancing. If you do not have to go out do not. Remember, you may be strong but, you may harm someone who is not. This may be someone you love dearly. This is a time that we must go beyond our own needs and think of others. I ask that no one consider this a good time to get away with something they may be considering. This is not the time for this. Broward County is now the second county in Florida to order all non-essential businesses to close in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. This includes Fort Lauderdale. New Coronavirus Hotline for Broward County The Florida Department of Health has a  24/7 Coronavirus Call Center at 1-866-779-6121, Broward County has  a new COVID-19 telephone line at 954-357-9500 to assist the public with answers to questions about the virus. In addition to providing information, call takers are also conducting over-the-phone pre-screening for testing eligibility. The Broward County COVID-19 call center is operational from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., seven days a week. South Florida Cities With Stay At Home...

Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Lawyer Advises New Laws

Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer Guy Seligman updates on new criminal laws that may effect Fort Lauderdale people who are arrested. Criminal Laws Signed We are advised that there are three criminal reform hat have been  signed into Law. Juvenile Justice CS/SB1552- Juvenile Justice Sponsored by Senator Bracy, the bill, now law, made several changes regarding juvenile arrests. The current law only determines the overall treatment of a prolific juvenile offender (PJO) who is awaiting a disposition, not a PJO who violates the terms of his/her nonsecure detention. (A PJO is a youth with a high risk for recidivism.) Consequently, the new law deals with these violations. Its provisions went  into effect on July 1, 2018. Most notably, the legislation: Requires a PJO who violated conditions of his or her nonsecure detention to be held in secure detention until a detention hearing is held.[1] Revises the Detention Risk Assessment Instrument (DRAI) used to determine placement of a juvenile in detention care.[2] Additionally, SB 1552 supplies new guidelines to be considered in the DRAI. The Department of Juvenile Justice relies on DRAI to evaluate whether a juvenile should be placed in detention care. The bill removed several requirements the DRAI had traditionally included in its assessment, theft of a motor vehicle and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. The aforementioned will take effect in July 1, 2019. The new law refines the wide range of factors that the DRAI uses, and limits them to:[3] pending felony and misdemeanor offenses; offenses committed pending adjudication; prior offenses; unlawful possession of a firearm; violations of supervision; supervision status at the time the child is...

When Does A Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Become A Criminal Act?

A Car Accident Can Become A Criminal Offense In Fort Lauderdale Were You Arrested For A Hit and Run In Fort Lauderdale If you accidentally hit another car  or a pedestrian, you must  stop at the scene of the accident and   follow proper post-accident procedure.  This means you should exchange information with other driver(s) like name, contact information, and insurance information. If you hit  another car  or pedestrian and then leave the scene of the accident you  may face criminal charges. The specific charges  you may  face  will depend on the outcome of the accident. Penalties for a hit and run may include loss of driving privileges, increased insurance premiums, a felony arrest and a prison sentence. DUI / DWI/ DWAI Charges It is illegal for you  to drive while intoxicated or impaired and have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher in Fort Lauderdale and all of Broward County.  If you  cause serious physical harm  or death and are charged with a  DUI, DWI or DWAI, you could be facing a very serious felony charge including:  aggravated vehicular assault, criminally negligent homicide, vehicular manslaughter murder in the second degree. Reckless Driving This is driving in a  manner that may endanger another person. If you have been accused of or believe you will be facing any of these  charges contact our Fort Lauderdale Criminal defense law office...