Criminal Defense Attorney St. Petersburg

At an arraignment, the defendant is formally advised of the charges filed by the State. They are also informed of their right to an attorney. If the accused can’t afford an attorney but wishes to be represented, the judge may appoint an attorney from the Public Defender's Office during the arraignment.

Once a person has been arrested, police will generally take them to jail. On some misdemeanors, police may instead provide a “Notice to Appear” with a court date and time. A warrant could be issued for your arrest if you do not appear in court on that date and time. It’s important to note that a “Notice to Appear” is considered an arrest, although you are not taken to jail, and the legal process begins.

As defense attorneys, our most important task is to develop close relationships with our clients to identify their legal needs, provide counsel, and help them understand their legal options. We also conduct research, prepare legal documents, and perform other duties to ensure our clients receive the best and most personalized legal solutions.

Experienced Florida criminal defense attorneys will charge $4,000 to $5,000 per hour. For felony charges, they may charge an average of $3,500 to $10,000. The cost of legal services for first and second-degree felonies ranges from $35,000 to $100,000.

Florida police do not always have to read you your Miranda rights. Instead, the warning only applies if you’re in police custody and are being questioned.

The best rule to follow when interacting with police is to remain silent until you consult an experienced defense lawyer. Police officers are trained to obtain confessions, admissions, and inconsistencies. If you are innocent, they will use inconsistencies in your statements as evidence of guilt.

The two crime classifications are categorized based on potential sentencing. A misdemeanor is a lesser offense than a felony and is punishable by up to one year in a county jail. A felony is a crime punishable by over one year in a federal prison facility.

You must hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights regardless of what you plan on pleading. This is because the prosecution tries to bring the harshest penalties possible in criminal cases.

Parole in Florida happens while a person is still serving their sentence. Probation is a "post-release" condition that starts once a sentence for imprisonment is over.

An expungement occurs when an arrest record in a criminal case no longer exists. A dismissal is a court decision to dismiss a lawsuit without holding the defendant liable. The difference is that the case file and arrest records remain public with dismissal.