Will I go to jail or prison?

For some criminal offenses, a court has discretion on whether to impose incarceration as part of a sentence. Courts consider various factors when fashioning a sentence for a convicted defendant, including: The nature and severity of the defendant’s offense(s) of conviction The defendant’s criminal history The defendant’s acceptance of responsibility or cooperation with law enforcement in other criminal cases The defendant’s family history, education, work history, and medical/mental health condition The defendant’s family/community ties The defendant’s rehabilitative needs The need to protect the public from future criminal acts by the defendant Courts have a higher likelihood of imposing incarceration in cases involving severe or violent crimes or when a defendant has a criminal history where lesser penalties have failed to deter continued criminal behavior.

How long does a criminal case take?

Various factors can influence how long it takes to resolve a criminal case. Although Florida law requires the prosecution to bring a misdemeanor case to trial within 90 days of arrest or a felony case within 175 days of arrest, these deadlines can extend for various circumstances outside the prosecution’s control or caused by the defendant. Factors that may affect the duration and timeline of a criminal case include: The type(s) of charges you face The complexity of the evidence in your case Whether you pursue plea negotiations with the prosecution and whether the case ends in a plea deal The number of pre-trial motions filed in the case The trial court’s schedule/availability The number of witnesses presented at trial The verdict reached in your case Whether you file post-trial motions or an appeal after a guild verdict

West Palm Beach Criminal Lawyer | Criminal Defense Attorney West Palm Beach, FL

Brandon Dinetz Criminal Defense Attorney

Criminal Defense Attorney in West Palm Beach, FL, Committed to Protecting Your Rights and Freedom in Palm Beach County, Broward County, Martin County, and Throughout South Florida

After getting arrested by the police in South Florida, talking to a West Palm Beach criminal lawyer as soon as possible can help protect your rights and give you the best chance of securing a favorable resolution to your charges. Contact BD Law today for an initial case evaluation with Attorney Brandon Dinetz to review your options. Brandon uses his extensive experience in the Florida criminal justice system, including his insights as a former prosecutor, to investigate your charges, identify effective defense strategies, and challenge the weaker aspects of the state’s case to fight for the best possible outcome under the circumstances of your case. He will leave no stone unturned in advocating for your interests, even when that means taking your case to trial if needed.

Types of Criminal Cases We Handle

At BD Law, an experienced criminal defense attorney in West Palm Beach, FL, can assist you with defending your rights, freedom, and future against the consequences of an arrest and conviction in cases involving criminal charges such as:

Assault crimes, including assault, aggravated assault, battery, and aggravated battery
Domestic violence offenses, such as assault/aggravated assault, battery/aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking/aggravated stalking, harassment, kidnapping, or false imprisonment
Violations of protective and restraining orders
Drug crimes, including unlawful manufacturing of drugs, drug trafficking, possession with intent to distribute, simple possession, or possession of drug paraphernalia
Theft crimes, such as larceny, robbery, or grand theft auto/carjacking
Shoplifting charges
Weapons crimes, including unlawful possession of firearms/ammunition, possession of unlawful weapons, unlawful discharging of firearms, or possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose
Violent crimes, such as burglary, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or arson
Serious traffic violations, such as reckless driving, speeding in a construction/school zone, DUI, or driving on a suspended/revoked license

Facing Criminal Charges? BD Law Can Help.

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Penalties for Criminal Convictions in Florida

The penalties imposed for a criminal conviction under Florida law depend on the grading of the offense. Each grade of criminal offense has a standard sentencing range. Standard penalties for criminal convictions include:

Capital felony: Death penalty
Life felony: Life imprisonment or a term of 25 years to life
First-degree felony: Up to 30 years in prison and fines up to $10,000
Second-degree felony: Up to 15 years in prison and fines up to $10,000
Third-degree felony: Up to five years in prison and fines up to $5,000
First-degree misdemeanor: Up to one year in jail and fines up to $1,000
Second-degree misdemeanor: Up to 60 days and fines up to $500

Various criminal statutes may impose specific sentencing ranges for the offense contained in the statute, including designating mandatory minimum sentences or higher maximum sentences.

Criminal convictions can also result in additional penalties and collateral consequences for a defendant. For example, a defendant convicted of a serious traffic offense may have to serve a driver’s license suspension or revocation. Defendants convicted of a sex offense may have to register as a sex offender following their release from prison.

Crimes that cause financial losses for victims may result in the court imposing restitution as part of the defendant’s sentence, which requires the defendant to reimburse their victims for their losses. Courts can also impose other aspects of a sentence, such as probation, community service, educational classes, substance abuse/anger management counsel, and no-contact/restraining orders.

How a Local Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help

Depending on the criminal charges you face, you might pursue various defenses to contest the prosecution’s case, such as:

Challenging the legality of police searches or questioning
Challenging the reliability of lab or forensic testing
Self-defense (in assault/homicide cases)
Consent (in sex crime or theft cases)
Mistake of fact
Lack of criminal intent
Mistaken identity/alibi

Brandon Dinetz’s experience as an Assistant State Attorney gave him the opportunity to cultivate invaluable relationships with the local legal community. He is now representing clients for criminal cases throughout South Florida, including the following areas:

Choosing the right attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. At BD Law, our South Florida attorney is dedicated to providing personalized legal guidance to help you navigate your criminal charges with confidence.

Contact a West Palm Beach Criminal Lawyer to Get the Legal Advice and Advocacy You Need to Face Charges

When law enforcement and prosecutors have charged you with a crime, you need experienced legal counsel to help you understand your charges and legal options. Contact BD Law today for a confidential consultation with a criminal defense attorney in West Palm Beach, FL, to discuss how Attorney Brandon Dinetz will stand up for your rights, reputation, and future as you face criminal charges in South Florida.