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Articles Posted in Confessions and 5th Amendment

Florida’s Confession Without Corpus Exception in Sex Crimes Cases: Can You Be Convicted on Your Word Alone?
Brancato Law Firm, P.A.

June 7, 2025

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Recorder on table in a dark room ready to capture a confession without corpus

In most criminal cases, a confession by itself isn’t enough to convict you. The prosecution must first provide independent evidence that a crime was committed—a legal principle known as corpus delicti. However, Florida law has a critical and dangerous exception for sex crime allegations. In certain circumstances in sex crimes cases, a prosecutor may be…

Clergy Privilege Tampa Bay
Brancato Law Firm, P.A.

May 15, 2025

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Florida Court Ruling Rocks Child Abuse Reporting – What Tampa Bay Residents Need to Know Navigating Faith, Confidentiality, and Florida Law in the Tampa Bay Area A recent Florida Third District Court of Appeal decision has sent ripples through religious and legal circles, especially here in the Tampa Bay area. The case, Castano v. State,…

Motion to Suppress Evidence in Tampa: What Defendants Need to Know
Brancato Law Firm, P.A.

March 17, 2025

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Why Suppressing Evidence Can Change Your Case When facing criminal charges in Tampa, Hillsborough County, or the surrounding areas, the evidence against you often determines whether the prosecution can move forward. But if the police obtained that evidence illegally, it may be excluded from court. This is where a Tampa attorney for motions to suppress…

Privileged Communication in Florida Child Abuse Cases
Brancato Law Firm, P.A.

February 18, 2025

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Is Your Tampa Talk Private? When facing serious allegations like child abuse, neglect, or abandonment in Tampa, Florida, many assume their private talks are safe. You might believe your privileged communication with doctors or therapists remains confidential. However, Florida law on child abuse holds a critical surprise: these privileges often don’t apply if a child’s…

False Confessions in Florida Sex Crimes Cases: What Tampa Defendants Need to Know
Brancato Law Firm, P.A.

February 11, 2025

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Officer staring closely and aggressively at suspect

False confessions are a leading cause of wrongful convictions in the United States. Research shows that 25 to 30 percent of overturned convictions involve a false confession. These cases reveal how vulnerable people can be during coercive police interrogations. High-pressure questioning, psychological manipulation, and deceptive tactics can push even innocent individuals to admit to crimes…

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