Around 3 million individuals in the U.S. are employed in the insurance industry in some capacity; many, including insurance agents, adjusters, and administrators, require licensure by one or more state agencies to perform their duties. A detailed application must be filed, and some applicants find that prior criminal activity can bar licensure for 7-15 years—or permanently. This blog will cover various disqualifying Read More

Purportedly, the U.S. prides itself on giving individuals second chances and a “fresh start” for those who have been found guilty of a crime and subsequently paid their debt to society. The reality is that arrests or convictions can cause issues for those seeking a professional license from a state or federal agency. Being granted a professional license is a privilege, not a right, and is subject to review by the Read More

Even with many U.S. citizens’ receiving health insurance through employer-sponsored health insurance plans, the federal government still pays thousands of dollars per person on healthcare each year (17.7 percent of GDP and 38 percent of mandatory spending annually). With every large public spending endeavor, there is potential for abuse and fraud. Medicare, Medicaid, and other public health programs are no Read More

Most people who are facing serious criminal charges are worried about significant prison time or having to pay hefty fines. For crimes that are, on its surface, less serious (such as first-time DUI offenses), there are prevailing beliefs that the effects of a conviction will not deeply affect their daily lives except for the criminal penalties (such as probation or a temporary driver license suspension). For holders Read More

When the American Mafia was in its heyday, prosecutors were having difficulty keeping track of every separate crime allegedly perpetrated by associates of the many organized crime families scattered across the country. Each perpetrator would have to be tried for individual crimes, which hardly allowed the government to make a dent in the Mafia’s activities. So, a solution: Congress passed the Racketeer Influenced and Read More

The right to privacy of all citizens in the U.S. is the foundation of many civil liberties. Protection against unreasonable search and seizures is codified in the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. A keyword in the amendment is “unreasonable.” Over the years, the law interpreting the meaning of the word has identified situations in which police do not necessarily need a search warrant to search your person or Read More

Before the late 1800s, plea bargaining was almost non-existent in criminal cases. As the courts started to become overwhelmed with the amount of charges the government was bringing against defendants, prosecutors began using this tool more. Today, the vast majority of criminal charges are settled through plea bargains; in fact, only 2% of federal charges make it to a jury trial! Gathering evidence in a Read More

When you are booked into jail for a crime in State court in Florida, there will be a flurry of emotions for you and your loved ones. The top-of-mind issue for you will be: How do I get out of jail and back home? The purpose of a bail bond is to ensure your return to court to answer the charges. The prosecution may be arguing that you present a risk of flight or danger to the community if you are released from Read More

On December 20th, 2018, inmates across the country had a reason to smile as President Trump passed the first major reform to the criminal justice system in over a decade. Known as the First Step Act, this new law set out to reform sentencing and make it easier for inmates to transition back into society. But what exactly is the First Step Act and how does it affect the prison system? Here is everything you need to Read More

Crimes come in all shapes and sizes, from complicated money laundering and embezzlement schemes to various drug offenses, theft, assault, etc. Law enforcement officers typically use special programs and methods to track and pin down these offenses. However, in some cases, they may use deceptive methods to trick individuals into incriminating themselves in an ongoing investigation. When this happens, you have the Read More