Criminal Defense Attorneys in Boca Raton, FL

A DUI or other arrest in Boca Raton is prosecuted through Palm Beach County, and what you do first matters. Get a free case review from a Florida-licensed criminal defense attorney serving Boca Raton.

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How we match your Boca Raton criminal defense case

When you submit a Boca Raton criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Florida law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Florida who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

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Criminal Defense cases in Boca Raton

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Boca Raton's nightlife around Mizner Park and Federal Highway, heavy I-95 and Glades Road traffic enforcement, and the student population at Florida Atlantic University's main campus mean DUI, drug possession, theft, and disorderly conduct arrests are routine here. Felony cases are prosecuted in the Palm Beach County Circuit Court, while misdemeanors and traffic offenses are heard in county court, both within the county's judicial system in the courthouses serving South County. Some cases, especially fraud or trafficking matters, can instead be charged federally. DearLegal matches you with a Florida-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Boca Raton, with a free review.

Felony charges from Boca Raton are prosecuted in the Palm Beach County Circuit Court; misdemeanors and traffic cases go to county court.
Nightlife districts, campus-area enforcement, and I-95 traffic stops drive many local DUI and possession arrests.
An arrest just south of the county line is prosecuted in Broward County, and some charges are brought in federal court instead.

Florida criminal defense rules at a glance

Boca Raton cases run under Florida law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Florida page.

Read the full Florida criminal defense guide →

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for capital, life, or first-degree felonies punishable by life; 4 years for first-degree felonies; 3 years for other felonies (Fla. Stat. § 775.15)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 2 years
2 years for first-degree misdemeanors; 1 year for second-degree (Fla. Stat. § 775.15)
Sentencing Structure: Criminal Punishment
Criminal Punishment Code (Fla. Stat. § 921.0024) scoresheet system; 10-20-Life firearm mandatory minimums (§ 775.087); Habitual Offender (§ 775.084) and PRR (§ 775.082(9)) enhancements
Expungement / Record Sealing: Fla. Stat. § 943.0585
Fla. Stat. § 943.0585 (expungement of non-convictions); § 943.059 (sealing of records); narrow eligibility, one-time use, many exclusions; juvenile expunction under § 943.0515
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.131 and Fla. Stat. § 903; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (Fla. Const. Art. I, § 14); Arthur hearings for capital and life felony cases
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Boca Raton criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Florida · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Florida are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Florida work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Fla. R. Prof. Conduct 4-1.5(f)(3)(A) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases (homicide, federal healthcare fraud, multi-count) use hourly billing with substantial retainers. Florida’s 20 elected Public Defender offices represent indigent defendants.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

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Exhibit F

Boca Raton criminal defense questions, answered

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Misdemeanors and traffic offenses are handled in Palm Beach County court, while felonies go to the Circuit Court, and cases from Boca are typically set at the county's South County facilities. Federal charges are handled in federal court instead. An attorney will confirm the court and what happens at your first appearance.

You are not required to answer questions, and statements made before you have counsel are frequently the strongest evidence prosecutors later use. Politely declining and asking for an attorney is not an admission of anything. Speak with a Florida attorney before giving any account of what happened.

Diversion programs, withheld adjudication, and later sealing or expungement are sometimes available depending on the charge and your history, but eligibility rules are narrow and deadlines apply. Decisions made early in a case can affect whether those options stay open. An attorney can assess eligibility before you enter any plea.

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Florida law enforcement — Miami-Dade PD, Broward Sheriff, Orlando PD, FHP, FDLE — use trained interrogation techniques. Anything you say can and will be used against you. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and your right to counsel under Miranda.

Yes. Florida first-degree misdemeanors carry up to 1 year in jail and $1,000 fines under Fla. Stat. § 775.082. Pretrial intervention (PTI) under Fla. Stat. § 948.08 can result in dismissal for first-time offenders, but enrollment requires prosecutor consent. Convictions trigger collateral consequences — license suspension, federal firearm bans for DV, immigration consequences.