Boca Raton Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being accused of any criminal offense can have an immediate negative effect on your life, whether you have faced criminal charges before or have never even seen a courtroom except on TV. The charge alone could lead to you missing work, having to deal with substantial scrutiny in your personal and professional life, and facing various court costs.

Handling criminal allegations in a proactive and effective way requires assistance from skilled and experienced defense attorneys who have helped people like you through situations much like yours in the past. Our dedicated team at Rossen Law Firm puts you first, and we are prepared to fight hard to protect your rights. Retaining an expert Boca Raton criminal defense lawyer will give you the best chances possible of mitigating potential criminal penalties and achieving a positive outcome.

How State Law Classifies Criminal Offenses

The state of Florida divides criminal offenses into one of two categories, felony or misdemeanor, based on their relative severity in the eyes of state authorities. Each state statute that defines each particular offense then categorizes that offense into a subcategory that defines what range of penalties a court may impose against a convicted defendant.

Misdemeanor offenses may be considered second-degree or first-degree offenses, with the former being punishable by a maximum $1,000 fine and one-year jail term, and the latter having maximum applicable penalties upon conviction of a $500 fine and 60-day jail term. Most felony offenses are likewise classified as either third-degree, second-degree, or first-degree offenses, but certain especially severe offenses may be considered “life” felonies or “capital” felonies. The penalties associated with different felony offenses in Florida are as follows:

• Third-degree felony – $5,000 max fine and/or five years in prison
• Second-degree felony – $10,000 max fine and/or 15 years in prison
• First-degree felony – $10,000 max fine and/or 30 years in prison
• Life felony – $15,000 max fine and/or life imprisonment
• Capital felony – death penalty or life imprisonment without any possible parole

A Boca Raton criminal defense attorney can explain in more detail during a free initial consultation what sanctions might be associated with a particular charge or set of charges.

The Importance of Retaining an Expert Defense Attorney

While many people quality for public legal assistance, working with a public defender is not always the best choice. Public defenders play a vital role in the modern justice system, but they usually have hundreds of cases assigned to them at once, and they often cannot dedicate the necessary time to protecting a single defendant’s rights and interests. With this in mind, support from a skilled criminal defense lawyer can be absolutely vital for anyone who wants to effectively fight a misdemeanor or felony charge in Boca Raton.

Speak with a Boca Raton Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Facing criminal charges can be a nerve-wracking experience whether you have been to court before or not, and handling those charges proactively can make an immense difference in your future prospects. However, depending on a public defender—or even worse, representing yourself in court—is a risky play, and potentially one that leaves you facing life-altering criminal sanctions.

If you are facing criminal charges, proceed with the best Boca Raton criminal defense lawyer on your side. We are in this together— get in touch with our team at Rossen Law Firm to learn more about what we can do for you.