What Not to Do when You Get Arrested

Getting arrested is highly stressful situation, and it is not surprising to find yourself unable to think clearly. However, there are several things you should not do if you’d like to avoid getting in deeper legal trouble.

In Defense of Those Charged With State and Federal Crimes

Those charged with criminal offenses in Florida face some potentially harsh penalties. The role of the criminal defense attorney is to protect the rights of criminal defendants and to find the best possible outcome of each case.

The True Cost of a DUI Conviction in Florida

A DUI conviction could haunt a driver for the rest of their life. While many of the initial penalties are quite severe, not everyone realizes exactly what they will be facing in the following months and years. In some instances, a DUI can even be upgraded to a felony charge that will require a criminal defense attorney.

I Am Under Investigation, What Do I Do?

Anyone that finds out they are under investigation must start taking steps to protect themselves and their future. While some investigations fizzle out on their own, others will lead to a criminal trial with the potential for lifelong penalties. Read ahead for a look at some tips that will help you get through a criminal investigation as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Being Charged with a Money Laundering Felony in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Being charged with money laundering is a serious offense in Ft. Lauderdale, and without proper legal representation, the consequences could be severe. This type of felony is complex, which is why you need to consult with a criminal attorney that specializes in this area of the law.

Why Its Important to Take White Collar Cases Seriously

If you have been charged with a white collar crime, you could be sent to jail for many years and required to pay a large fine. In addition, you may be forced to pay restitution to your victims and lose some or all of your professional licenses. Therefore, you need to hire an attorney who may be able to help you fight your case in a competent manner.

Know Your Rights!

A criminal attorney in a popular action series’ recent season underlined that an accused must have the same rights to privacy and self-incrimination as everyone else because they may be lost “sooner or later.” Though the character is fictional, his words have real-life applications. As a private citizen in need of representation, know that you are covered by various rights that allow you to build your defense and make your case.

When police officers in Florida are making an arrest, they are required to identify themselves to the person in question, then inform him properly that he is about to be taken into custody due to specific reasons or accusations. This procedure may not happen in all cases, though, for some circumstances like violent standoffs and highway pursuits, leave officers no choice but to arrest the offender immediately. 

Local Lawyers Can Help Deal with Robbery Charges

Robbery is a serious crime. If you’re facing robbery charges, a little know-how can help a lot. Federal robbery charges may range from serious incidents like bank robberies to something less severe but no less a misdemeanor, such as a college student threatening another to give him his or her money. Two factors distinguish robbery from two other similar felonies─ theft and burglary─ and a prosecutor will have to prove them against a criminal defense attorney in Fort Lauderdale.

First is that the victim who owns or handles the property needs to have been nearby during the incident. This includes stealing a wallet from a stranger walking down the street or locking a store clerk outside to steal money from the cash register.

Criminal Attorney’s Guide to Drug Crime Law

If you are charged with drugs possession, either with intent to sell or for personal use, a criminal attorney can help you determine which defense might be applicable in your case, should you decide to plead not guilty. States employ different approaches to the problem of illicit drugs in diverse ways, while the federal government more often than not, has the harshest guidelines for drug sentencing. Nevertheless defenses against drug possession are quite universal across state lines.

Distinguishing the Crime of Robbery from Theft

Various movie and television scenes produce an impression that professional robbers have a thrilling, lavish life. Unfortunately, being charged with this criminal offense in reality is something no one ever really aspires to experience.

Basis for Hiring a Criminal Attorney

When looking for someone to help you in a criminal case, don’t risk aggravating your case by delaying or ignoring what you have to do. Your first sensible action is to consult with a criminal lawyer right away. Criminal defense lawyers are trained and educated to provide counsel to those who are charged with a crime.

A Look at the Entrapment Defense

Some police investigations can turn into actual operations to target criminal suspects. The unknowing suspect, however, may be suddenly fooled into actually committing a crime, which may have been a possible entrapment operation in the works. It is then up to an experienced Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer to get to the truth for the sake of the accused.

Benefits of Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney

If you have been charged with a criminal offense, such as drinking and driving, drug charges, or other blue/white collar offenses, a criminal defense attorney can help get your sentence decreased or get your charges lowered. 

A criminal defense lawyer will be able to walk you through the litigation process. This can often be a difficult period in your life, but if you have an attorney, you will know of some of your options when it comes to pleading outside of court and what you should do if you are faced with jail time. The attorney will know the court system wherein you might not be familiar with how the court operates. There could be some connections between the attorney and the personnel who work at the court, especially the District Attorney who will be prosecuting the case. This is a benefit as your attorney might be able to work out a deal with them that you wouldn't be able to negotiate on your own.

Finding the Right Lawyer to Represent You

Looking for the right criminal defense attorney can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t know what qualities to look for in one. When looking for a reliable lawyer to represent your case, keep the following tips in mind:
Find a lawyer with extensive experience.

There are many lawyers in Fort Lauderdale that have experience in court, but be sure to hire an attorney that has extensive experience in the type of prosecution you are facing. He or she has to have at least a few years of experience in criminal defense and litigation.

Slamming an Invasion of Privacy

Advances in technology have allowed improvements to your quality of life. On the contrary though, it may lead to devices that impinge upon your constitutional right to privacy, such as deployment of the StingRay cellphone triangulation system. You must have an experienced Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney in your corner.

In legal terms, invasion of privacy is the intrusion into the personal life of another without just cause. In the case of the surveillance tool StingRay, if it used without the sanction by law enforcement, then whoever is using it can be charged with an invasion of privacy offense.

Proving Claims of Domestic Violence

The home is often seen as a place of love and caring; however, some differences and certain circumstances become the precursor of things spinning out of control.

In the state of Florida, domestic violence is defined as any criminal offense that resulted in injury or death, committed by one household member against another. The term “household or family member” may refer to persons with blood relations or related by marriage, current or former spouses, people residing together as a family, and couples with a common child. To protect victims from the abuser, temporary injunctions or restraining orders are issued by the judge even without the presence of the liable party.

Sex Crime Accusations: Get a Lawyer’s Help

It can be hard to be accused of a sex crime. Florida’s laws include sex with a juvenile under the offense of ‘sexual battery’, and is punished as a felony. The level of the felony determines which defenses and penalties apply to the crime.

Sexual battery is a crime that occurs when a defendant intentionally commits any of the prohibited sexual activities included in the state's sex laws. In Florida, an adult who commits sexual battery and injures the sexual organs of someone younger than 12 years old is guilty of a capital felony. Penalties include fines and life in prison; that is, offenders are required to serve at least 25 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Penalties vary depending on the ages of the victims. When the offender at the time of the crime was under the age of 18, the crime will be considered a life felony, punishable by a fine and jail time (not to exceed 40 years in prison).

Common Criminal Case Defenses an Attorney Might Make

In a criminal case, it’s your right to defend yourself especially if you are being falsely charged. Your criminal defense attorney might use one of these common defenses to help you establish your innocence or reduce your sentence. 

            1.       You Have an Ironclad Alibi

If you weren’t anywhere near the scene of the crime when it happened, then you have a very strong defense. Your lawyer will present evidence to prove that you were in fact somewhere else at the time of the crime through a witnesses’ testimony and other information. 

            2.      Under the Influence

If you were responsible for the crime but you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then your attorney can argue that you were not of sound mind when you committed the crime. This does not, however, absolve you of all the blame. You are still held accountable to some degree. 

            3.      It Was Self-Defense

Violence charges like battery, assault and murder might use self-defense as a justified reason for the use of force that led to the crime. It must be proven in court that resorting to a violent means is reasonable and necessary. 

Still, you can only use these defenses when it suits your particular case. Only a criminal defense attorney can help you determine the best defense to use.

Accused? Get Help from a Criminal Attorney

If you are accused of a crime, you’ll want to be able to prove yourself innocent or get the lightest possible sentence. The sentences for felonies and misdemeanors depend mostly on the degree of the crime. One can be sentenced to life imprisonment or death for a capital felony, or a maximum of five years for third degree felony. For misdemeanors, one can be meted a maximum of 60 days in jail for second degree misdemeanor and up to a year for first degree misdemeanor.

Getting in touch with a seasoned Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney is necessary to build a good defense. In addition to creating a unique case for your defense, a criminal attorney will also:

A Criminal Lawyer Can Help Fight Theft Accusations

Stealing has different levels. Taking a large amount of money or a valuable item from someone else could constitute grand theft. Grand theft is a serious criminal act that commonly results to felony charges, which is why contacting a seasoned Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer is usually recommended for such cases. Grand theft or larceny can be categorized into different degrees, all depending on the severity of the crime and the amount that was stolen. The amount differs for every state, but for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, grand theft in the 3^rd degree ranges between $300 to $20,000, while 2^nd degree involves stolen property valued between $20,000 and $100,000. Lastly, 1^st degree thefts cover stolen property valued above $100,000.