The Florida legal system is incredibly complex. If you’re charged with a crime in Jacksonville or Duval County, what happens next? When do you get the chance to tell your side of the story? How can you protect your personal freedom? What legal steps can you take if authorities overstep their boundaries in the course of investigating and charging you with criminal activity? Defense lawyer Maria Rogers at the Law Office of FLA Legal Professionals, LLC, in Jacksonville, Florida has the legal knowledge and experience to accurately interpret all charges against you and fully explain your options, all while working hard to defend you and your reputation against criminal accusations.
For Those Arrested in Jacksonville, Florida
If you are arrested in Duval County, Florida, that means authorities have what they refer to asprobable cause, meaning they are reasonably certain you violated the law.
In the course of taking you into custody, authorities should fully inform you of your rights. This is called the Miranda Warning or Miranda Rule. Once you’re arrested, you do not have to speak to the police or any investigator without a qualified Florida defense attorney present. Please call defense attorney Maria Rogers at (904) 352-2459 before you speak to the police about your situation.
How Does Florida Define a Felony?
Felonies are serious criminal offenses that carry a penalty of at least a year of state prison time. Major criminal violations, such as arson, armed robbery, murder, aggravated battery, rape, other sex crimes (including internet violations), and grand theft auto are felonies that are charged in degrees (first, second, third) depending on the circumstances and severity of the crime. Even a third degree felony conviction can receive a five-year prison sentence.
You could face incarceration in a Florida state prison if you’re charged with a felony of any degree. If you need a defense lawyer to defend you in Jacksonville, Florida, it is critical that you get in touch with Maria Rogers, an experienced, competent attorney, from the very beginning of your case. You have a right to tell your side of the story.
How Does Florida Define a Misdemeanor?
While charges and penalties for misdemeanor offenses in Jacksonville, Florida, aren’t as serious as the ones for felonies, misdemeanors are still legally significant. A misdemeanor conviction, such as a conviction for disorderly conduct, can result in a Duval County jail sentence and a hefty fine.
And since the courts don’t have mandatory sentencing for misdemeanors like the law prescribes for felonies, the penalty in your case is up to the judge if you are convicted.