Florida felony charges should always be taken seriously as they can result in significant prison sentences, fines, and can affect the rest of your life. It is important to keep in mind that there may be numerous legal defenses available to you that can possibly get the charges against you dismissed or mitigated. If you or a loved one has been charged with any type of felony offense, contact a Broward felony defense lawyer right away. An experienced criminal attorney can review those charges and evaluate which legal defenses might be available to you so that you can make an informed decision about what is best for your future.
Felony Offenses in Florida
Florida recognizes numerous criminal offenses as felonies (those which carry sentences of a year or more in prison), including:
- Assault (including aggravated assault)
- Battery (including aggravated battery, battery on a police officer and felony battery)
- Burglary
- Child Abuse
- Drug Possession
- Felony DUI
- Grand Theft
- Domestic Violence
- Homicide or Murder
- Kidnapping
- Resisting arrest with violence
- Robbery
- Sex Crimes (including rape, sexual battery, lewd acts, and molestation)
It is important to keep in mind that a person can be charged with more than one offense depending on the facts and circumstances of the situation – which can result in significantly higher penalties if the charges are not dismissed or pled down. This is where the experience of a Broward felony defense lawyer can be especially effective.
Potential Defense Strategies
Florida recognizes numerous criminal defenses to felony offenses – each being very specific to the offense itself and the facts and circumstances surrounding it. However, some of the most common felony criminal defenses include:
- Duress refers to a threat of harm which compelled a person to do something against their will
- Entrapment refers to tricking someone into committing a crime in order to prosecute them
- Infancy refers to someone who cannot be held criminally responsible for a crime due to their young age
- Lack of capacity, which refers to someone who does not have sufficient control over their actions due to a mental disability or being in an altered state (such as being intoxicated or on drugs)
- Mistake of fact refers to not understanding that a certain action or inaction was against the law
- Necessity refers to conduct which may have been necessary to prevent some greater harm
- Self-defense refers to actions taken to protect oneself. In Florida, deadly force may be used if a person fears serious bodily harm or death
These are merely a few of the defenses if charged with a felony criminal offenses. Others may include constitutional challenges regarding search and seizure, arrest procedures, and much more. The bottom line is that a Broward felony defense lawyer can thoroughly investigate the charges against someone and determine the plausibility of every defense which might be available to them.
Help from a Broward County Felony Attorney
If you or a loved one has been charged with a felony offense, contact a Broward felony defense lawyer right away to review the charges against you, determine every legal defense which may be available, and have the peace of mind knowing that you are represented by experienced counsel who understands how Florida’s penal system operates.
