In Florida, a felony is a more serious crime that can be punishable by death or incarceration in state prison. The state of Florida has five degrees of felonies that are:
Capital felony: A conviction of a capital felony means that the individual can face life imprisonment or death. Capital felonies in Florida may include armed kidnapping, capital drug trafficking, or murder. The conviction of death is an exclusive decision made final by the judge. Did you know in South Florida alone, there are over 200 death penalty trials every year in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami?
Life felony: A life felony is the second most severe felony an individual can face. If you are convicted of a life felony, you are required to serve the remainder of your natural life in prison without the chance of parole. Life felonies are reserved only for serious crimes such as murder, rape, treason, human trafficking, or severe child abuse in certain cases.
Felony of the first degree: A first-degree felony in Florida can come with a prison term of up to 30 years and fines up to $15,000.
Felony of the second degree: A second-degree felony in Florida comes with a prison term of up to 15 years and fines of up to $10,000.
Felony of the third degree: A third-degree felony in Florida comes with a prison term of up to 5 years and fines up to $5,000.
Does a Felony Go Away?
The first step you should take if you or a loved one is being charged with a felony in South Florida is to contact our office immediately. Our experienced criminal defense attorney will build a strategic defense strategy for your case.
If you have been adjudicated guilty of a felony in the state of Florida, the felony will likely remain on your record permanently unless you ask your governor for clemency to restore some of your rights. While there is little you can do to have a felony removed from your record, a felony can be removed if you are found not guilty.
If you were arrested in the state of Florida for a felony and found not guilty, no-filed, or nolle prosequi (the state will no longer prosecute), you may be eligible to have your case sealed and expunged.
What is Expungement in Florida?
An expungement in Florida is a type of lawsuit in which a first-time offender has the ability for their record to be sealed and no longer available through any state or federal records. What most people don't realize is that it is not easy to have your record sealed and expunged in Florida. Hiring a Florida expungement lawyer to be on your side can make the process a breeze.
If you're looking to have your case sealed and expunged, but you're not quite ready to give us a call, you can view our free webinar here which will teach you everything you need to know about sealing and expunging your case in Florida such as how to evaluate the eligibility of your case to be sealed and expunged, how long it takes, where to go and how to fill out an expungement application and even how to get your mugshot removed off the internet.
Finding a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Florida
Guilty or not, being charged with a crime is scary and serious. You want reassurance that everything is going to be okay. If you were charged with a crime and need expert advice or representation in Florida, contact us immediately at (561) 671-5995 and our experienced criminal defense attorney will provide the help you need.
