Broward County Criminal Defense Lawyer

Facing criminal charges is very serious. This is why it’s so important to have an experienced defense attorney behind you. You need someone familiar with the specific legislation in the state of Florida. You also want someone who is accessible, because criminal charges do not always happen during regular business hours. A good defense attorney will be available to answer your calls 24/7 and be responsive to your needs.

A criminal defense attorney can analyze the circumstances surrounding your case and carefully gauge the strength of the charges against you. In some cases, it isn’t even necessary to go to trial, so your defense attorney may work to get the charges dismissed.

If your case does go to trial, then a defense attorney will protect your rights at each stage of the process. During the trial, your defense attorney will make sure that the law has been applied appropriately and present the strongest possible defense on your behalf.

When you arrive at the county jail, you will be booked. This involves submitting to fingerprinting, photographing and answering basic questions about your name, address, nationality, immigration status and so forth.

The police may question you further and ask you to make a statement. Do not answer any other questions, and do not give a statement. Even if the police seem friendly or sympathetic or assure you that you will be better off talking, do not. Politely invoke your right to remain silent and ask to contact an attorney.

If the arrest is for a minor offense, the police may give you a citation or appearance ticket and release you instead of putting you through the full arrest and booking process. Otherwise, you will be processed into the facility. You will surrender your property, including the clothing you are wearing, and then dress in jail garb. You will be taken to a cell.

While in jail, do not discuss your case with anyone unless your lawyer is present. Do not talk to cellmates, guards, police or even family and friends. Conversations may be recorded, and other prisoners may be eager to inform on you for their own benefit.

There are significant differences between misdemeanor and felony criminal offenses. A felony is defined as a crime punishable by more than one year in prison or, at the maximum, death. Felonies are the most serious crimes in our justice system.

Felonies include charges such as first-degree murder, armed robbery, embezzlement and possession of any amount of a schedule substance (such as cocaine, Xanax, ecstasy or oxycodone, for example).

Felony criminal convictions can result in extremely harsh punishments, including long periods of probation and/or incarceration. A felony criminal conviction impacts your life to the highest possible degree. Felons may have more restrictions on their rights in comparison to people convicted of lesser crimes.

Upon a felony conviction, your right to vote is taken away, and you may be prevented from practicing within certain professions, such as health care, law or education. Felons are prohibited from owning guns, serving on juries and/or enlisting in the military.

By comparison, misdemeanors are less serious crimes and include trespassing, simple theft and possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Misdemeanor criminal convictions are punishable by a fine and/or incarceration in the county jail for up to one year.

The legal penalties for a misdemeanor conviction are generally less stern than for a felony. Someone convicted of a misdemeanor may still be able to serve on a jury, practice any profession and retain the right to vote.

Whether your charge is a felony or misdemeanor, these convictions may become part of your permanent criminal record and may also count against you in any future criminal proceedings.

Under Florida law, if you are unable to post a schedule bond within 24 hours of your arrest, you are entitled to be brought before a judge for a first appearance hearing.

At this hearing, the judge will determine if probable cause existed for your arrest. If so, you will then learn the amount of your bail and what, if any, further conditions the court may order as a condition of your pretrial release. Afterward, you will be given the opportunity to post a bond. Bail takes the form of either a cash or surety bond and requires the use of a bail bondsman.

You should have an attorney by the time you have your first appearance hearing. What you face from this point on depends on many factors. You may have numerous other court appearances, leading to a jury trial. Or, your attorney may work out a plea bargain with the state attorney.

The two most important factors that will influence your successful defense are your own personal strength and a good criminal attorney with plenty of courtroom experience.