Being accused of a criminal offense can be an unnerving and stressful experience. Whether this is your first time in court or you have prior offenses on your record, being proactive about building your defense and enforcing your rights is vital to securing the outcome you want.
Guidance from an expert criminal defense attorney can help you avoid serious consequences right now and minimize the impact a criminal charge has on your life moving forward. Our award-winning Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorneys at Rossen Law Firm has extensive experience handling all types of cases, and we leave no stone unturned when it comes to building a strong defense on your behalf. From start to finish of the legal process, you can rely on a dedicated Pembroke Pines criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights and your future.
The State of Florida defines different degrees of criminal offenses that courts use as penal guidelines. State law also classifies criminal charges as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Misdemeanors are less serious than felonies and punishable by comparatively small fines and incarceration in local or county jails. More specifically, the maximum allowable sanctions for a second-degree misdemeanor are 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. The sanctions a judge may impose upon conviction for a first-degree misdemeanor are one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Felony convictions can result in sentences of incarceration in state prison for usually no less than one year. However, there are circumstances where a felony sentence may be suspended or reduced at a court’s discretion. Maximum fines for felonies range from $5,000 and $10,000, and the maximum prison terms for felonies are five years for a third-degree felony, 15 years for a second-degree felony, and 30 years for a first-degree felony. Additionally, certain severe offenses may be categorized as life felonies or capital felonies, which are punishable by life imprisonment. An expert Pembroke Pines criminal defense attorney can fight back against these charges and work to minimize their effects on your life.
Every lawful resident accused of a crime in the United States has the Constitutional right to legal representation. The court will provide anyone who chooses not to retain their own private criminal defense lawyer in Pembroke Pines with public representation. However, while the public defenders who provide these services play a vital role in the American judicial system, they are almost always given multiple cases to handle at once. These attorneys rarely have the time, energy, or resources that a defense firm has.
Retaining award-winning private counsel can be vital to proactively and effectively fight against criminal allegations. Whether you are facing charges for DUI, drug crimes, assault, federal crimes, white-collar offenses, or any other type of criminal charge, our lawyers at Rossen Law Firm are prepared to fight for you. Even something as small as a misdemeanor charge could give you a permanent criminal record and impact your long-term personal and professional prospects. Our firm has the experience and resources to get you the best results legally possible.
There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for successfully contesting criminal charges, and trying to represent yourself or depend on a public defender can often lead to disappointing results. If you want the best chances possible of securing the best result you can, there is no substitute for award-winning legal representation.
A Pembroke Pines criminal defense lawyer at Rossen Law Firm can answer your questions and offer guidance about possible next steps during a free strategy session. Schedule yours by calling today.
Rossen Law Firm