What To Expect When Charged With A Misdemeanor In Miami-Dade, FL.

In this article, you can discover…

• Common misdemeanor charges in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
• Whether a misdemeanor can impact your professional future.
• How an attorney can help you if you’re charged with a misdemeanor.

What Are The Most Common Misdemeanors In Miami-Dade County?

In Florida, a misdemeanor is any crime where the maximum possible punishment does not exceed one year in a county jail. The most common misdemeanor charges I handle in Miami-Dade County, Florida involve battery, which is the unwanted touching of another person. For example, if you get into a heated argument with someone and hit them during the argument.

Unfortunately, domestic violence battery charges are also quite common. Shoplifting under a certain dollar amount and criminal traffic charges are also common misdemeanors in Miami-Dade County.

What Penalties Could I Face For A Misdemeanor?

If there is no physical harm to any victim and you don’t have a prior record, there is a good chance your case can be resolved without any jail time, and it is possible that your case could even be dismissed. If your case is not dismissed, you could pay fines, be put on probation, spend up to a year in the county jail, or any combination of those penalties.

Attorney Javier Gonzalez is a respected, determined criminal defense attorney serving Florida. For nearly 15 years, he’s helped clients just like you understand the legal process and protect their rights when facing misdemeanor charges.

Have questions, or in need of legal representation? Reach out to the Law Office of Javier A. Gonzalez, P.A. for an initial consultation today.

Can A Misdemeanor Conviction Affect My Employment Opportunities?

Yes, misdemeanor convictions can affect your employment opportunities, as they are public record. Misdemeanor convictions will appear on background checks, and many employers are unwilling to hire people with a criminal record. Beyond employment, a misdemeanor conviction can also impact other opportunities.

For example, a misdemeanor conviction could impact housing opportunities, as many HOAS, landlords, and condo associations are wary of allowing people with a criminal background into their building or community.

How Can An Attorney Help Me If I’ve Been Charged With A Misdemeanor?

An experienced attorney can help you by holding the State of Florida to their burden of having enough evidence to prove the charges against you. For example, you may have been arrested, but there’s really not a lot of evidence to support the arrest, much less a conviction. An experienced defense attorney can help spot those issues and work to see your charges reduced or even dropped.

In other cases, evidence against you may exist, but the police did something illegal or mishandled your case, and there is the potential to have evidence suppressed and not used against you. It is possible that a motion to suppress evidence that is illegally obtained leaves the prosecutor without their most important evidence, leaving them with no choice but to dismiss the case.

These are all things that an experienced criminal defense attorney can help you with.

How Do You Prepare Clients For Their Initial Court Appearance After A Misdemeanor Charge?

In Miami-Dade County and throughout Florida, when you hire an attorney, you do not have to appear for most of the hearings. Your attorney can appear in your place unless you are going to accept a plea bargain or your case is going to trial, in which case you will need to be present.

While you may not need to be at a specific hearing, you have every right to be there and to attend as many hearings as you want to. If I represent you, I will have a discussion with you as to what to expect at each specific hearing before we go in.

Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?

For more information on the Florida misdemeanor court process, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (305) 917-5284 today.