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Recovered memories of adults claiming to have been sexually abused as children are being challenged in court. The issue at hand is whether child abuse should be prosecuted decades after an alleged incident occurred. The scientific basis for recovering these repressed memories of child sexual abuse raises important concerns in the legal community regarding admissibility of evidence and the tolling of the statute of limitations. This paper identifies these concerns, particularly focusing upon the delayed discovery doctrine, the different standards for the admissibility of scientific evidence, the basis for recovering repressed memories and the debate in the scientific community.

The Insanity Defense is an ever changing area of the law. The most recent proposal for changing the Insanity Defense is through the introduction of a "Guilty but Mentally Ill" verdict to supplement the verdicts of "Guilty" and "Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity." This paper discusses the history if the Insanity Defense and then proposes that Florida adopt "Guilty but Mentally Ill" for its own use.

Heroin overdoses have become an epidemic in the Orlando area. The number of heroin overdoses has significantly increased over the years. The Drug Enforcement Administration is making efforts to combat this problem by actively investigating heroin overdoses, and then sending the cases to the federal prosecutors for prosecution. When an individual overdoses on a drug, the person they bought the drug from is held criminally responsible for their injury or death under Federal Statute 21 USC § 841. This statute mandates a minimum of twenty (20) years prison time, but is almost impossible to prove and convict. This research will address the difficulties investigating and prosecuting heroin overdoses. It will examine the groups in the federal system that are involved in the investigation of these cases; the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Attorneys. This research will propose that certain changes need to happen in order for this statute to be effective and useful. It will be necessary to address heroin and what it does to the body when an overdose occurs. The federal statute concerning drug overdoses will be presented. This research will introduce those in the federal system that work on heroin overdose cases, then will proceed into the difficulties each of these groups encounters while working these cases. Sample situations and examples of cases will be described in order to illustrate the points. This research will lead to a proposed solution in an attempt to successfully prosecute more cases under this federal statute and reduce the number of heroin overdoses occurring. The purpose of this research endeavor is to address the problems and educate on this statute in an effort to decrease the number of heroin overdoses that occur in our community. It will attempt to help adapt the current statute and policies in order to improve the outcome of these cases and better serve the interest of society. The number of heroin overdoses needs to be curbed and this research will attempt to aid in helping deter and punish those involved in selling illegal drugs.

The allowance of cameras in the courtroom and televised trials have seemed to cause a debate within the United States legal system. Advocates for a ban on cameras argue that the court system has become just another entertainment special, and has forgotten what its purpose is: justice. Advocates for cameras argue that they are an educational tool for the American public. Are televised trials appropriate in today's legal system? In Chapter 2 of this thesis, I briefly outline the history of American laws dealing with the use of cameras in the courtroom. In Chapter 3, I discuss the difference between the print media and television. In Chapter 4, I propose a change within the legal system which would lessen the effects that cameras have in the courtroom. And in Chapter 5, I conclude my argument.

One of the most heinous crimes committed is that of the serial killer. What causes a person to become a serial killer has created great speculation between sociologists and psychologists. What is known is that serial murder has. become a phenomenon I only the last thirty years. Although heinous in nature, the serial killer is generally not considered psychotic. They are generally intelligent and well spoken. Surprisingly, most serial killers are actually shy. Serial killers actually strip a potential victim of all ''human" characteristics. To the serial killer, the potential victim is nothing more than an object, existing only for himself to use and abuse for his own entertainment. He sees his victims as objects worthy of extreme contempt and vicious abuse. In the mind of a serial killer, nothing is more worthless than the nameless and faceless stranger for whom he sets out to hunt. The serial killer mentally transforms his victims into hateful creatures, therefore justifying his vicious deeds. This outlook does not happen spontaneously or overnight. It is a slow progression that happens over time, usually starting early in life. Theodore Robert Bundy or Ted Bundy was one of the most famous and prolific serial killers ever known. This thesis intends to show the slow progression of his life and the events, that this author concludes, led him to become a serial killer. For Ted Bundy, there was one earth shattering event that splintered his perception of morality and moved him to punish young girls to attain self-gratification. We will explore the life and times of Ted Bundy and conclude as to what and how he turned into a serial killer.

This thesis will explore the legal process of adoption. Research will show that not only is this process complicated it can also be very cruel. Despite poor attempts to uniform the states' laws with Acts such as the Uniform Adoption Act of 1994. This system is extremely confusing, state, federal, and international adoptions laws. The states are in no way uniform nor have they ever been in their deliverance of adoption laws. There are so many different types of children, different types of adoptions, all kinds of people who are looking to adopt. There is no lucid answer to fundamental questions as to who may place a child for adoption, whose consent is required, who is required to pay for what, when is the consent final, when is there no turning back on a decision or when records are sealed forever. The Uniform Adoption Act made a poor attempt to try to resolve these problems but in actuality all it did was make it even more abstract and more difficult to uniform these laws. The states need to come together and mandate all adoptions laws on the federal level and take the power away from the states.

The phone rings and Jan jumps from her seat. Jan knows that it is the person who has been stalking her. He showed up at Jan's work, school, and even at the mall when she went shopping with a friend. Jan is afraid because she knows if she calls the police, they will not be able to help her unless the police see him outside her house. Victims are no longer left on their own to handle stalkers. Florida and the federal government have enacted laws to protect stalking victims and to prosecute the offenders. Florida law gives a victim the right to obtain an order for protection from the stalker. The Florida stalking statutes allow stalkers to be charged with either misdemeanor or felony offenses if they violate these stalking statutes. Nevertheless, it is incumbent that state and federal laws continue to evolve as offenders begin to use additional resources, such as through the Internet, to stalk their victims. There are pretrial detention options that should be exercised by judges in stalking eases where it has been proven that the offender poses a threat of great bodily injury or death to the victim. There are also many victim support centers established to help victims understand the laws in their respective state, understand what safety precautions to take, and understand what actions to avoid. These services are available to any victim of stalking, whether a college student, a female, a male, a minor or an elderly person.

In the wake of September 11, 2001 Congress quickly approved a radical bill known as the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools and Resources to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act. The Patriot Act modifies fundamental aspects of criminal law and civil liberties in the United States. While many sections have provoked controversy, most of those fall within Title II, known simply as "Surveillance Provisions." Among the Title II provisions, the sections concerning pen registers and trap and trace devices are among the most significant, and yet most widely misunderstood. For that reason, Title II's pen register and trap and trace statutes are the focus of this essay. This essay systematically and chronologically evaluates each of the pen register provisions - Sections 204, 214, and 216. Each provision receives a four-part analysis: (1) What was the law prior to the Patriot Act? (2) How does that section change the law? (3) What arguments have been cited in defense of the section? (4) What objections and criticisms about the section have been raised? The purpose of this essay is to inform and educate the UCF population about the many legal implications and considerations created by the pen register provisions. The conclusion of the essay resolves to seek common ground between supporters and critics. Some aspects of the pen register statutes are found to be acceptable, while two others should be declared unconstitutional. Common ground exists. however, and the pen register provisions could be rewritten to maintain the benefits to law enforcement while minimizing concerns of abuse or infringements on civil liberties.

The debate over religious expression in the public schools is not a new one, but still, quite interestingly, a controversial one. The landmark decision of Engel v. Vitale in 1962 ignited the nationwide dispute that continues today. Advocates believe that a school- prayer amendment is necessary because it would guarantee students the right to pray and allow religious organizations to receive the same benefits as other school sponsored organizations. A school-prayer amendment, particularly the Religious Freedom Amendment, would provide students an opportunity to share their faith openly and unashamedly with classmates. Why is there a problem with this? Many opponents view a school prayer amendment as not only detrimental to our constitutional principle of separation between church and state, but also unnecessary because students already enjoy the right to pray in public schools. First amendment rights, the history behind school prayer and relevant case law are issues to be discussed in this paper. In addition, solutions to this ongoing debate will be addressed. How would a school-prayer amendment affect our public school system? Would an amendment change the current environment in which our students are even too scared to attend school? Providing answers and exploring the issues raised will be the focus of this thesis.