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Most people never expect to need a criminal defense attorney, and don’t know much about the profession. That means it’s common to pick up impressions of defense lawyers from television, or a crazy story on the internet, or just stereotypes of unknown origin. Unfortunately, that frequently leaves people who do ultimately need to hire a criminal…
In general usage, “mitigating” simply means decreasing the negative aspects of something. For instance, if presented with bland food, a person might mitigate or improve the bland taste by adding sauce or seasoning. Now in the criminal context, the term mitigation has a similar meaning. In general, mitigation refers to anything that is positive about…
When you think about mental health and criminal defense, the first thing that springs to mind is probably the insanity defense. Florida does recognize an insanity defense, which provides if the defendant who has a mental disease or defect with a defense to criminal conduct provided their mental disease or defect caused them either to not…
If you’ve been charged with a crime or believe you are about to be charged with a crime, not knowing what to expect can be very stressful. Though it’s hardly the only stressor in the criminal court process, it’s one you can easily address by speaking with an experienced Florida defense attorney. This post provides an…
Even if you’ve had no prior experience with law enforcement or the criminal justice system, chances are that you’re aware of your right to remain silent. However, most people don’t understand exactly when the right to remain silent applies, when you must be advised of that right, how to invoke that right, and what happens…
In Florida criminal appeals are often misunderstood. A criminal appeal is essentially the legal process by which a defendant seeks to challenge the ruling of the trial court. Now in the criminal context the vast majority of appeals occur after a defendant has been convicted of a crime, however there are some instances where a…
If you’ve been charged with a crime in Florida, you may have looked into the sentencing range for the crime you were charged with. The general sentencing ranges are: In some cases, specific criminal statutes provide for a possible sentence of life in prison for a first degree felony. Additionally, some statutes impose minimum penalties…
In the movies, criminal trials are often dramatic. The defense attorney springs a surprise witness who reveals the real guilty party, or an alibi witness shows up to prove that the defendant couldn’t have committed the crime because they were rescuing puppies from a dog fighting operation at the time of the crime. In the…
Many people mistakenly believe that only guilty people are arrested and charged with crimes. Unfortunately, that’s not even close to true. Innocent people are suspected and accused of crimes all the time. And, many are convicted. It’s been estimated that between 2% and 10% of people in prison in the United States are innocent. With…
If you’re going to enter into a plea agreement, you may be unsure whether you need a Jacksonville criminal lawyer on your side. But not all plea agreements are created equal. And, if you’re unfamiliar with the Florida criminal justice system, you may not be aware of all of the important elements. Guilty Pleas in Florida and…