Prosecutor Seeks To Overturn Certain Drug Convictions

In the late 1980s, one of the more pernicious ways in which the Broward County Sheriff’s Office saw fit to try and deal with Florida’s burgeoning crack cocaine epidemic was to try and manufacture it themselves. Many Floridians were convicted of drug crimes when today, most of these offenses could be characterized as entrapment. A Broward County state’s attorney is looking to overturn many of these convictions in 2024-25.

Due Process Rights Violated

Originally, the BCSO stated that it began to manufacture crack cocaine because of expediency – if made by the sheriff’s office, the crack did not have to be tested for its chemical content, and without making it, the office simply did not have enough to use in sting operations. Once in possession of a large quantity, the BCSO simply turned to selling it to addicted citizens.

As a result, thousands of convictions were obtained, many of which would not have happened if not for law enforcement effectively manufacturing the underlying offenses. The Florida Supreme Court found in 1993 that the source of the drugs being law enforcement effectively violated the Due Process Clause of the state Constitution, and ordered any convictions obtained in this manner to be invalidated – but as of 2024, this has not happened for everyone.

A Potential New Lease On Life

The Broward County State’s Attorney’s office was reviewing records in December 2024, when it “realized” that as many as 2,600 convictions from this period were still on the books. There are now plans, as of this writing, to overturn all these convictions, worked out between the state’s attorney and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office – the latter agreeing that their predecessor’s actions were a “miscarriage of justice.”

If you still have a conviction from that era on your record, having it overturned can change your life. So many rights are lost when one is convicted of a felony, and Florida’s law treats drug offenses so harshly that most will fall into this category. Vindication can mean a brand new start. The right attorney on your side can help to defend your rights.

Call A West Palm Beach Drug Crimes Attorney

While the review of records is projected to take some time, it has the potential to change many different lives. If you have questions or concerns about your rights after a drug conviction, it is crucial that you enlist experienced legal help. A West Palm Beach drug crimes attorney from Perlet & Shiner, P.A. can help. Call our office today to speak to an attorney.

Source:

news.wfsu.org/all-npr-news/2024-12-10/florida-prosecutor-seeks-to-overturn-convictions-in-cocaine-sting-operation