Criminal Case Process and the Best Time to Hire a Criminal Attorney

The Tampa Police Department consists of at least 1,000 authorized personnel positions and at least 350 civilian and support staff. As the police department aims to lower crime rates in the city, the officers can be really strict in enforcing the law. With this, cases of wrongful accusations may also become possible. An individual accused of a crime must take steps to avoid conviction. In any case, it’s wise to get a criminal attorney as soon as possible.
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Call a DUI Attorney: What are the Penalties for a DUI Conviction?

After 5:00 PM, the nightlife in Tampa comes alive with the city’s many bars and restaurants. Needless to say, drinking alcohol often plays a big part in the night scene. Sadly, some of those who had one drink too many may still choose to drive home. There’s no doubt that drunk driving is dangerous. As such, the police finds the need to strictly enforce drunk driving laws. In certain circumstances, however, mistakes can be made, and wrong or unjust accusations of drunk driving may happen. When this happens, the accused can suffer from the many devastating consequences of a DUI conviction. If you are caught in this kind of situation, it is in your best interest to seek the help of a DUI attorney. Here are some of the penalties that can come with a DUI conviction.
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Why You Need a Competent Criminal Defense Attorney

If you're faced with a criminal charge, you need to mount the best criminal defense possible. By hiring a competent criminal defense attorney who exudes the following qualities, you can be more assured of a positive outcome for your case.

Seek Help from a Criminal Defense Attorney When You’re Stopped for DUI

Realistically speaking, if you’ve had a few drinks before driving home, there’s no way that you won’t get stopped, arrested, and even convicted for drunk driving, no matter how conservatively you drive your vehicle. Once your vehicle is stopped because police officers had probable cause that you’ve been driving under the influence, what you say or do in front of them can either lessen your troubles, or make them worse. Keeping this in mind, you must ensure that you aren’t putting yourself into more trouble for providing the wrong answers. Expect that you might be asked to perform field sobriety tests and undergo breathalyzer exams, but remember that you have the right to refuse them. Aside from these, here are the things you should do when you get yourself apprehended by an officer for DUI, as listed by a trusted criminal defense attorney.
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Qualities Your Defense Attorney Should Have

When you or a loved one are accused of a crime, you may not be thinking clearly. The last thing that you want to do is make a bad situation even worse. Get the help that you need by hiring the right criminal defense attorney.

No Worries: A Good DUI Attorney Can Help Defend Against DUI Charges

It can be stressful to have a DUI charge hanging over your head in Tampa. There are several consequences that you wouldn’t want to experience like license suspension, fines, and others. Plus, having a DUI charge on your record can be bad for your future prospects; colleges and employers don’t look kindly on DUI charges, and these can stay on public record for a few years. A DUI attorney like one working with Bauer Crider & Parry can help a lot fighting the charges against you.
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3 Defenses Against Domestic Violence Charges

As per the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, there were over 65,000 domestic violence-related arrests in 2012 alone. The punishment for this type of offense is contingent on the nature and seriousness of the act, and may include serious consequences like fines, probation, and long-term jail time. Additionally, a person who commits such crime is ineligible for both record sealing and expungement, under Florida Statutes Section 741.28, regardless of whether the judgment is withdrawn. In short, if you plead guilty to a domestic battery charge, your record for that offense becomes permanent. 

Tempering Yourself under Detention

Being flagged down by the police on suspicion of drunk driving is always a possibility. As the precept of ‘innocent until proven guilty’ prevails, you need to have your wits about you if the authorities try to book you. Here are some tips to keep in mind in case a dreaded DUI arrest comes knocking.

Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney: When Should You Plead the Fifth?

It may seem like the stuff you see on TV shows and movies, where distressed suspects of a crime “plead (or claims) the fifth” to avoid answering questions that may further incriminate him, but this situation happens pretty much every day at any court in the United States. Claiming or pleading the fifth—referring to the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution—provides a suspect protection from witnessing against himself. If you’re facing a criminal charge, you can invoke the Fifth Amendment throughout the trial, but the question is when can you effectively plead the fifth? With the help of a dependable Tampa criminal attorney, you can be better informed of the strategic moments to plead the fifth, and the instances when this wouldn’t work.
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A Knowledgeable Tampa DUI Attorney Lets You Know of DUI Consequences

When you’re pulled in for driving under the influence or DUI, it’s nothing to shrug off. People think that since it’s the first time they’ve been arrested, they should be fine. The consequences of a DUI arrest, however, and being convicted for it, can be quite devastating. This is the reason you’d want to get a skilled Tampa DUI attorney as soon as possible to help fight the charges against you. Jail Time One of the potential results of a DUI conviction is jail time. Though Florida doesn’t have any mandated minimum jail time for DUI, a first-time DUI is still a misdemeanor. This means that depending on the judge, you may spend a maximum of up to six months in jail. That’s just for being arrested while DUI; however, if during your driving, you managed to injure or kill someone then it becomes a felony. This could result in several years of jail.
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When Meeting a Lawyer for the First Time

Meeting a lawyer for the first time may seem like a daunting task as you may feel nervous or anxious about your situation. Fortunately, there are a few tips that can help you before you meet with a lawyer. Here are some of them.

Prepare to Explain

Preparation is critical when you meet with a lawyer. Therefore, take time and think about what you are going to say. It can help greatly to write down the entire story. When you do this, it will help you to remember details about what happened. Some people prefer to use a few note cards as reminders to highlight specific points. You may want to practice what you will say to a friend to make sure you remember everything.

Bring Necessary Documentation

You may have a document that orders you to show up in court. Bring it with you. There may be other documents that can pertain to your situation. Bring those documents as well. Legal professionals like to see documentation, and it can help them as they assess your case and respond to your queries.

Dress Appropriately

Remember that you are visiting with a lawyer. You are not on a date or simply going out with friends; thus, dress appropriately. A semi-formal or business attire is a great way to go. When you dress appropriately, you may gain a sense of confidence as you visit with a lawyer. Furthermore, you are showing a lawyer that you care about the meeting.

Options for Criminal Defense

If you have been accused of a crime in the Tampa area, you might wonder what types of defense you could use. The answer depends on many factors, including the crime that you are accused of, the circumstances surrounding the crime, and the evidence, among others. Below are a few of the potential defenses accessible to a defendant.

Pleading Innocent

Defendants may choose to plead innocent. They might back up this plea with evidence, such as witnesses who could provide an alibi demonstrating that the defendant was somewhere else at the time the crime took place. Other types of evidence, such as forensic evidence, might point to someone else being responsible for the crime instead of the defendant.

Other Explanations

In some cases, defendants might admit that they committed an act but argue that they acted in self-defense. In other cases, they might argue entrapment if it appears that law enforcement has caused them to do something they otherwise might not. For example, a defendant persuaded to buy drugs by an undercover police officer might claim entrapment.

Lesser Charges

Even a defendant who does not claim to be entirely innocent may have options. For example, a defendant charged with first-degree murder might explain as part of the defense that he or she did not intend to harm the person who died.

Plea Bargain

Another possibility is pleading guilty without going to trial. In a plea bargain, a defendant usually pleads guilty to lesser charges and receives a lighter sentence.

Noted Tampa Criminal Attorney on Defense Against Child Porn Possession

Sexual offenses involving children always infuriate many Americans, so lawmakers do not hesitate to impose heavy punishments on those caught with child pornography. In Florida, possession of child pornography is classified as a class three felony. Viewing obscene computer images, videos and photographs involving minors is punishable by up to 5 years of imprisonment. One landmark case that spurred debate on the severity of the punishment involves a man who was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole after hundreds of pornographic images were found on his home computer. Indeed, possession of child pornography is a serious crime, but as in any other case, an accused individual also has rights that need to be upheld, including the right to defend himself in court. There are several defenses that someone accused of child pornography possession may use, with the help of a trusted Tampa criminal attorney.
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Fighting Your Sexual Assault Charge

Florida views sexual assault as a serious crime, so if you’re charged with it, never take it lightly. Aside from the penalties and fines associated with it, being charged with sexual assault in Florida entails grave long-term consequences such as being registered as a sex offender.

Also known as rape, sexual abuse, and sexual battery, sexual assault is a crime that occurs when an accused individual intentionally commits any of the prohibited sexual activities enumerated in the state's sexual assault laws without the consent of the victim, or when the victim is a minor.

You Need the Services of a Tampa DUI Attorney Immediately Upon Arrest

Driving under the influence increases the risks of car accidents. To prevent this, DUI laws in Tampa, Florida are indubitably strict. A proven charge may lead to imprisonment, fine, and license revocation. You may also be required to undergo alcohol teaching and prevention programs. These consequences, however, are just short-term. DUI’s long-term effects, such as losing employment opportunities and having a life-long bad driving record, couldn’t be more damaging. Fortunately, with the help of an experienced Tampa DUI attorney, you can avoid these dire effects. A DUI attorney knows the law and therefore can help set you on your path to freedom. However, there are certain things you may need to know if you find yourself in a DUI arrest situation.
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When Your Teen Has a Run-in with the Law

The teenage years are a time when your child is supposed to make mistakes and learn from them. Unfortunately, whether due to being caught up in the moment or simply being in the wrong place with the wrong people, some teenagers may find themselves arrested by the police.

Of course, no one wishes or expects such a scenario to happen to their child, but knowing what actions to take in case it does can help get your child out of trouble faster. In the event your child has a run-in with the law, keep these steps in mind:

There’s No Time for Anger

Keep a cool head and try to figure out what happened and where your child currently is. The last thing you want to do is to add more stress and fear in your teen. The most important thing here is that you get your child out of jail as quickly as possible.

A Tampa Criminal Attorney Can Help Defend You from Various Charges

Criminal charges come in different shapes and forms. Also, they can be leveled against you even if you are innocent. A skilled Tampa criminal attorney from a firm like Bauer Crider & Parry can help you fight these allegations, as legal representation is the best way you can ensure a fair hearing and prove your innocence. There are three types of charges you might face in court: Petty Offenses The lowest level of charges that you might face are petty offenses. A good example of this is a parking ticket; it's a minor infraction that usually results in a fine you have to pay. There is still a trial date, but since the offense isn't that bad, no jury will be called; only the judge will be there to consider the case.
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Get a Tampa DUI Attorney to Help With a DUI Charge to Avoid Problems

Getting charged with a DUI in Florida is serious business. You may think that according to Florida law, you’ll only be paying $500 to $1000. However, that’s just a fraction of what you’ll end up paying when you account for bail, classes, and other additional expenses associated with losing your license. This is why it is essential that you hire a skilled Tampa DUI attorney from an established firm like Bauer Crider & Parry. A DUI conviction will lead to more than just a fine; you’ll also have to do community service or jail time. Additional consequences include the confiscation of your license and the installation of an ignition interlock in your car. If you’re convicted for the first or second time, you’ll have misdemeanors recorded into your personal file. If you manage to get caught for DUI the third time, your case will become a felony, with 10 years of jail time as punishment.
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When Search Warrants Aren’t Needed

Police officers typically need a warrant before they are legally allowed to search you or your property. This limitation helps protect people from factors such as discrimination. Of course, there are always exceptions to every rule.

Although warrants are necessary to conduct searches, there are times when an officer is allowed to do so without a warrant. In most cases, it is because the officer has reason to suspect a crime. These include:

Evidence in “Plain Sight”

This means a police officer finds incriminating evidence without having to deviate from standard protocol. For example, if an officer notices a bag of marijuana in your front seat during a routine traffic stop, he or she has the right to search your entire vehicle.

Factors That Establish Probable Cause for Arrest

The police cannot arrest you based on mere suspicion, even though they may feel strongly about your guilt. In most cases, the law requires police officers to have an arrest warrant.

There are times, however, when the police may legally arrest someone without a warrant. In such circumstances, an officer must establish “probable cause”, or the arrest becomes unlawful. Factors that establish probable cause for arrest include:

Observable Evidence

One of the easiest ways to establish probable cause is through observable evidence, or observations that police recognize as a familiar pattern of criminal activity. Driving around an area repeatedly is a good example of observable evidence. Staggering and other signs of intoxication are other examples.

Criminal Defense Strategies: Self-Defense

The court is the legal battleground for the victim and thee accused as well as their lawyers. Even with the odds against either party, they’ll try every trick in the law book to secure a favorable verdict, if not claim unanimous victory. In this fight, a reduced sentence might as well be the coveted prize.

The Rights of a Person with Criminal Charges

The US Constitution laid out a comprehensive list of rights a person accused of criminal charges has, such as the right to remain silent, to confront witnesses, to have a public and a jury trial (and a speedy one), to be adequately represented by an attorney, and protection against being tried twice for the same offense, or “double jeopardy”.