Pumphrey Law Blog

June 8, 2021 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense Social Share

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of many, including how criminal trials are conducted. If you are charged with a crime, contact a criminal defense lawyer to understand your rights and what to expect from the court process during the pandemic. Don Pumphrey is a trusted criminal defense attorney in Tallahassee that can help you navigate this everchanging process. …

June 8, 2021 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Violent Crimes Social Share

            Florida is an outlier when comes to decisions regarding the death penalty. Recent Florida Supreme Court decisions have left this state in the company of only a few others in terms of the procedural safeguards afforded to capital defendants. These decisions affect the sentencing process and review process, two incredibly important steps in the treatment of capital defendants. If …

June 3, 2021 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense Social Share

Florida criminal offenses are split into two categories: misdemeanors and felonies. Misdemeanor convictions are pretty straightforward. First degree misdemeanors are punished with up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Second degree misdemeanors carry up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Sentencing in misdemeanor cases is largely up to the judge, with information provided by …

December 21, 2020 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense Social Share

One of the most common questions asked of defense attorneys in hypothetical situations is “when I can defend myself?” The question and the potential answers reflect the politically charged atmosphere surround self-defense laws. In Florida and at least twenty-five other states, the answer is defined by a law called “stand your ground.” Stand your ground laws refer to when and …

December 14, 2020 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense Social Share

White-collar crime is not a specific umbrella of crimes, such as theft or violence. Instead white-collar crimes are crimes that are perpetrated under specific circumstances. White-collar crimes are generally associated with individuals who don’t have a criminal history, either professionals or organized crime members. This creates confusion for the courts, generally a first offense carries substantial leniency, but the complicated …

September 22, 2020 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense Social Share

Jury instructions in criminal cases in Florida are read to the jury at the end of the trial and serve as a set of directions for the jury to abide by. Jury instructions outline not only how the jury is obligated to evaluate the evidence, but also puts a set of hard rules in place for what is proper and …

August 12, 2020 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense Social Share

False accusations in the criminal justice system are a pervasive issue. It is estimated that between 2% and 10% of all allegations of sex assault alone are likely false allegations. [1] Every time a falsely accused individual is arrested and the blatantly false accuser suffers no ramifications, the countless legitimate victims across the country are set back tremendously. False allegations …

August 12, 2020 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense Social Share

Protect Your Rights When Dealing with Law Enforcement Most Florida residents will go their entire life without being accused of any criminal activity. Very few can go an entire lifetime without having non-consensual contact with the police. Often this takes the form of a traffic stop, but can also be contact on the street, search warrants, arrest warrants, or a …

July 30, 2020 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense Social Share

The news feeds of 2020 in the United States have been dominated by three narratives: a presidential election, a global pandemic of unseen proportion, and the scale of racial inequality in the criminal justice system. By the time this article is published, 150,000 Americans will have likely tragically died from COVID-19, and both major political parties will be gearing up …