Palm Beach Gardens Criminal Defense Law Blog

If you are facing charges of stalking in Florida, you may not be sure what you are up against. Conviction of criminal charges of any kind can lead to serious consequences, such as time behind bars and other life-altering penalties. Stalking is a serious allegation, and you would be wise to take immediate action to develop an appropriate defense strategy.

One of the first steps to developing a strong defense plan is to understand the nature of the charges against you. Stalking involves a pattern of behavior that indicate malicious intent, and it can include various types of harassment. Florida laws define stalking as repeated harassing behavior or following another person in a way that communicates the potential threat of harm.

If convicted of an aggravated felony, an immigrant in Florida and throughout the nation can face some of the most severe punishments possible. A conviction on an aggravated felony charge, either state or federal, can cause someone to be deported and barred from almost all waivers or relief that could stop deportation.

There are some exceptions to that law, but one thing is clear: If you are seeking to become a citizen or get a green card, you don't want to take any chances of having an aggravated felony on your record.

You never expected your child to get arrested, but then you got the phone call. Now you're just asking yourself how and why this could have happened. What factors pushed your child to break the law?

While every case is unique, of course, experts have identified numerous potential risk factors that can increase the likelihood of juvenile crime. A few examples include the following:

• Access to firearms. Even though it may be illegal for your teen to buy certain firearms, is there any way for him or her to get them outside of a legal purchase?
• Exposure to criminal activity and violence. Has your teen seen any examples of this in the home? If not, who does your teen spend time with at school or outside of your home?
• Peer pressure. If your teen gets involved with a delinquent peer group, they may influence your child to do things you never expected.
• Instability at home. Studies have found that having a stable, dependable family life can make criminal activity less likely. That is not to say it doesn't happen, however, even with those who come from loving, stable homes.
• Violent media. Teens may be heavily influenced by the things they read about or see on TV.
• Poverty. A low economic standing can lead to criminal activity, especially theft and related crimes. Even minor crimes like shoplifting may just link back to a fundamental lack of financial assets.

Imagine there's a woman who receives an award from an organization that provides services for victims of domestic violence and abuse. The woman came to the center with her tale of domestic violence, survived and thrived, and moved on to help others in a situation similar to the one she said she once suffered through. The organization shares her award on its social media page, issues a press release and includes her story in their newsletter.

The woman writes her story under maiden name and never mentions her ex-husband by name.