About Kenneth Padowitz

Kenneth Padowitz is a Fort Lauderdale, FL., based criminal defense attorney.

The Insanity Defense in Florida: Legal Standards and Challenges

The insanity defense is a legal doctrine that allows a defendant to argue that they should not be held criminally responsible (Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity) for their actions due to a severe mental illness or defect. In Florida, as in many other states, the use of the insanity defense is highly scrutinized and subject to specific legal standards. Understanding how the insanity defense operates in Florida requires an exploration of the legal criteria, the process of proving insanity, and the challenges associated [...]

The Insanity Defense in Florida: Legal Standards and Challenges2024-08-16T01:04:11+00:00

Battered Woman Syndrome: Understanding the Impact and Legal Implications

Battered Woman Syndrome (hereinafter "BWS") is a psychological condition that describes the mental and emotional state of women who have been subjected to prolonged domestic violence. First introduced by psychologist Lenore Walker in the late 1970s, BWS has since gained recognition both in the psychological community and in legal contexts. Understanding BWS is crucial for recognizing the complex dynamics of abusive relationships and the profound impact these relationships can have on victims. What is Battered Woman Syndrome? Battered Woman Syndrome is a subset of [...]

Battered Woman Syndrome: Understanding the Impact and Legal Implications2024-08-16T00:33:46+00:00

Parental Alienation Syndrome: Risk Factor for Criminal Conduct

Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) is a controversial and complex concept, initially coined by child psychiatrist Richard Gardner in the 1980s. It refers to a situation where one parent manipulates a child to reject the other parent, often in the context of contentious divorce or custody battles. The long-term psychological effects on children subjected to parental alienation have been a topic of extensive debate, but a growing body of evidence suggests that these effects can extend beyond emotional and mental health, potentially influencing criminal [...]

Parental Alienation Syndrome: Risk Factor for Criminal Conduct2024-08-20T17:14:50+00:00

Bipolar Disorder: The Highs and the Lows

Bipolar disorder ("BD") is a mental illness affecting people from different areas all over the world, in which a person experiences what many would call extreme mood fluctuations often for no apparent reason. Ranked seventh on the list of non-fatal illnesses, it is considered one of the most costly disorders to affect humans. This post will explore topics such as: the differences between BD I, BD II, and other similar mental illnesses such as borderline personality disorder and cyclothymic disorder, what it is like to [...]

Bipolar Disorder: The Highs and the Lows2024-08-15T15:42:08+00:00

Mastering Jury Selection in a Criminal Case: A Strategic Guide

Jury Selection It can be argued that the selection of a good jury is more important than any facts of the case. I happen to believe that the facts of the case are equally important to a good jury selection. Many fellow criminal attorneys have claimed that no amount of evidence against their client would matter, as long as their jury selection is perfect;  they believe they will come out on top over the long run, regardless of the circumstances in the case. Although this [...]

Mastering Jury Selection in a Criminal Case: A Strategic Guide2024-08-21T00:50:25+00:00

Conflict Between Two Disciplines: Psychology and Law

Psychology & Law Out of the need to resolve disagreements, laws are created and implemented by people. For the most part, laws can be seen as a reflection of the values of the majority in a society. Laws are created, changed, or thrown away because as time passes, the values of a society also change. What is acceptable today may be unacceptable in the future; as values change, so do the laws governing the people. For example, spousal rape, which is when a married man [...]

Conflict Between Two Disciplines: Psychology and Law2024-08-15T14:43:21+00:00

Psychopathy & Altruism | Opposite Ends of the Spectrum

Biological Basis of Psychopathy and Altruism Origins of Social and Antisocial Behavior Psychopathy is a personality disorder believed to be affecting 1-2% of the world's population. Those afflicted have certain personality characteristics: Shallow emotions, superficial charm, impulsiveness, and lacking any empathy or remorse, often leading to antisocial behaviors and criminal activity. The general consensus among psychologists is that most people fall towards the center of a continuum of personality traits, with the extreme cases on opposite ends. Considering one extreme to be those psychopathic [...]

Psychopathy & Altruism | Opposite Ends of the Spectrum2024-08-15T14:31:29+00:00

Hare’s Idea of a Psychopath

What Is A Psychopath? Psychopath is a term used to describe a person with a certain cluster of psychological, interpersonal, and neurophysiological traits, distinguishing them from the rest of the population. Robert Hare, an expert in psychopathy, describes these individuals as: "...social predators who charm, manipulate, and ruthlessly plow their way through life, leaving a broad trail of broken hearts, shattered expectations, and empty wallets. Completely lacking in conscience and empathy, they selfishly take what they want and do as they please, violating social [...]

Hare’s Idea of a Psychopath2024-08-15T14:23:28+00:00

DUI & DWI | Fatal Car Accident

Probabilities Of a Fatal Car Accident The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs publishes peer-reviewed research studies and review articles with various topics involving alcohol and other illicit substances. In an article written by Eduardo Romano and his colleagues titled Drugs and Alcohol: Their Relative Crash Risk, the effects drugs and alcohol on the probability of being involved in a fatal car accident are compared. Two studies were conducted with the help of data from the U.S. Fatality Analysis Reporting System and the [...]

DUI & DWI | Fatal Car Accident2024-08-15T14:13:02+00:00

Association with Anti-Social Peers Inversely Related to DUI

Most research on drunk driving tends to come from various social science communities focused on driving safety or substance abuse. Most individuals do not perceive a DUI as they would a normal "street crime"; and as a result there is very little research looking at the criminological concepts. Alcohol is seen as a social lubricant and its use is widespread in our culture. Driving under the influence often begins with attendance of a sporting event, having drinks at a bar, or just meeting some [...]

Association with Anti-Social Peers Inversely Related to DUI2024-08-15T14:04:18+00:00
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