Criminal Defense Attorney in Fort Lauderdale: What You Need to Know About Felony Charges

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15th May 2018

The most serious crimes that a criminal defense attorney in Fort Lauderdale may handle are felonies.  Your criminal defense attorney in Fort Lauderdale may discuss the following information during your confidential consultation.

Types of Felonies

Florida has four degrees of felonies.  Felonies are divided into first, second and third degrees, as well as life felonies.  First degree murder can result in the death penalty and is the only offense in Florida with this capability.  Life penalties can result in a term of life imprisonment.  The three most common felonies in Florida are crimes related to drugs, violence or theft.  All felony convictions in Florida can result in incarceration of greater than one year.

Florida and the federal system have established sentencing guidelines.  These guidelines often consider the severity of the crime, the harm that it caused and the defendant’s prior criminal history.  The sentencing guidelines often call for mandatory incarceration.

Possible Consequences

A felony conviction in Florida can result in many significant consequences.  Incarceration can strip a person of his or her freedom and sever family relationships.  A criminal conviction can impact where a person works, lives and pursues any advancement in his or her life.  Heavy fines may also be imposed.  A felony conviction can also result in the loss of many important constitutional rights, such as the right to vote, serve in the military and bear arms.  Some felony charges for first time offenders are not necessarily a finding of guilt, so it is important to discuss the ability to avoid a felony record with your criminal defense attorney.  A criminal defense attorney can help you minimize the impact that a conviction has on you or may try to fight the charges against you.