Tallahassee Violent Crime Attorneys

Anyone charged with a violent crime needs to retain the defense representation of a highly skilled Tallahassee violent crimes lawyer who is familiar with how the criminal process works in Florida.  At the law offices of Jansen and Davis, P.A, we have a great deal of knowledge and experience in Florida criminal law, and have been defending clients in the Tallahassee area for more than a decade.  When you come to our office, you can depend on us to provide you with the resources, attention, and aggressive representation you need throughout the criminal process.

The Criminal Process

The criminal process begins as soon as you’re arrested and brought into police custody.  However, the first time you will appear in court is at the arraignment.  During the arraignment the judge will read the charges for the crime you’re accused of committing, and then permit you to enter your plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.  If you plead not guilty, the judge will set a date for trial, where your future will be left in the hands of a jury.  If you plead not guilty or no contest, your case will not move to trial, but rather the judge will impose a sentence based on your charges.

The next stage of the criminal process is the preliminary hearing.  At this hearing, the judge will review the prosecution’s evidence to determine if enough evidence exists to send the case to trial.  Your case will then move to trial, unless your attorney and the prosecution are able to work out a plea bargain, or your attorney can persuade the judge or the prosecution to drop the charges.

During the trial phase of the criminal process, both your attorney and the prosecution will be given the chance to make their arguments, present evidence, and examine and cross-examine witnesses.  At the end of the trial, after hearing both sides of the case, the jury will rule as to whether you are guilty or not guilty of the charges. If you’re found not guilty by the jury, all charges will be dropped and you’ll be free to go on with the rest of your life.  If the jury issues a guilty verdict, you’ll remain in custody until the judge reads your sentence.

For more information about the criminal process in Florida, please feel free to contact a Tallahassee violent crimes lawyer at the law offices of Jansen and Davis, P.A., today!