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College Students Aren’t the Only Ones Who Face Criminal Charges During Spring Break

Written by:Julian Stroleny PortraitJulian Stroleny

Spring Break is a long-standing Florida tradition. Local vendors look forward to increased tourism, and many college students enjoy the chance to unwind from a stressful semester. Unfortunately, this often leads to a surge in arrests for underage drinking, disorderly conduct, DUI, and similar offenses. But it may surprise you to realize that visiting college students are not the only ones who cause a surge in local springtime arrests across Florida. 

If you or your college student are facing criminal charges, it is important to consult with an experienced criminal lawyer. The experienced criminal defense attorney at Stroleny Law, P.A. can help protect you from unlawful convictions based upon illegal evidence or confessions. This, in turn, can help prevent the serious consequences that could occur as the result of an improper conviction. Call (305) 615-1285 for a free phone consultation as soon as possible.

The Real Arrest Statistics in Miami Beach

The Miami New Times recently reviewed arrest data in Miami Beach to see if college students were, in fact, the problem. This revealed surprising information: of 51 arrests reviewed by the newspaper, only 7 involved out-of-state visitors under the age of 25 (and only three of these reports identified the suspect as a student). The rest of these arrests involved local residents, the homeless, or older tourists. The New Times followed up on this by reviewing arrest reports from a particular March weekend in South Beach. Here, too, arrest data showed that more than half the suspects were older than 25, and more than half were local Florida residents (not tourists).

This raises several important issues. First, the New Times reports that the City of Miami Beach spent $33,000 on a social media campaign targeting undergraduate students, and discouraging illegal behavior during Spring Break. It appears this money would have been better spent on a wider-reaching campaign, or simply on enhanced police efforts against all unruly behavior during Spring Break. Second, this data suggests that suspects who are not college students (such as older tourists and local residents) may overlook the possibility that they, too could be arrested. DUI and disorderly conduct charges can affect a person’s employment, or be raised as issues during a child custody dispute. These are serious consequences, and anyone arrested or charged with a crime must be made aware of them.

Arrested During Spring Break? Call Us Today to Speak with a Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer

Even a seemingly minor misdemeanor can carry consequences that may impact a defendant for years after an arrest occurs. It is important for all defendants – whether visiting college students or local residents – to protect their constitutional rights. The experienced criminal defense attorney at Stroleny Law, P.A. can help protect you from unlawful convictions based upon illegal evidence or confessions. Call (305) 615-1285 for a free phone consultation as soon as possible. Don’t try to manage criminal charges on your own, and don’t let your legal rights be determined by a police officer or prosecutor who is not on your side. You can also contact us through our online contact form.

Stroleny Law, P.A. handles a variety of criminal law cases, so call now if you have any questions.

View more contact information here: Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer.


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