Fort Myers, Florida, The Elements of a Crime
Every crime that takes place must fit a certain concentration of elements. These elements must be prosecuted to prove that the defendant truly did carry out that crime, to begin with. Anyone who is convicted of a crime or is being accused of a crime should speak out to a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible so they can begin working on their case and building a defense, so they do not get charged unjustly in court.
Once a person is arrested, they are usually first brought into the local county jail to undergo the initial processing. In this step, they have their personal information and biographical information recorded to determine if they have any sort of prior criminal history. Anyone who is confronted by police has the right to remain silent. This right should be exercised as many times officers try to lock in a statement from a person and they will manipulate the conversation to get a person to say the words they need to convict them.
In many cases, the best defense a person has is to remain silent until they can get the legal expert advice of an attorney on their side. Once a person goes through the initial process at the police station, they will have to go through the first appearance or what is also known as magistrate court.
They will undergo this hearing within 24 hours of their arrest and in this time the judge will read out the criminal charges and any past criminal history a person may have. The charges may or may not entitle a person to bond and this varies from case to case.
How Long Will a Criminal Case Last in Fort Myers, Florida?
The amount of time a court case will take depends on the complexity of the crime and other factors such as the county they were charged in and whether they committed a misdemeanor or a felony act. Whether a person is guilty or innocent, they should speak to a criminal defense attorney, so they get the assistance they need in defending themselves and possibly reducing their charges as well.
If a person tries to take matters into their own hands, they will likely miss important legal rules, and this could lead to serious consequences and worsening of penalties in the court.
No one should have to fight their case alone, and a criminal defense attorney at the Law Office of Robert Foley can help a person get the help they need and make the required statements, so they are not unnecessarily penalized in court.
Get in touch with them here:
(239) 690-6080
2259 Cleveland Ave,
Fort Myers, FL 33901