Criminal Defense Attorneys in Miami Beach, FL

An arrest in Miami Beach, whether after a night out or a traffic stop, means facing Miami-Dade County prosecutors. A Florida-licensed criminal defense attorney practicing in Miami Beach will review your charges for free.

Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
Matched with a Florida attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Miami Beach criminal defense case review

A Florida attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

By submitting, you agree that DearLegal and the attorneys or law firms we connect you with may contact you by phone and email about your inquiry, including by automated technology.

DearLegal is not a law firm and will not provide legal advice. DearLegal connects users to licensed attorneys.

How we match your Miami Beach criminal defense case

When you submit a Miami Beach 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.

Start my free case review How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Criminal Defense cases in Miami Beach

More about legal help in Miami Beach →

Miami Beach's nightlife corridor along Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue, and Washington Avenue draws heavy police presence, and spring break and major event weekends bring concentrated enforcement of DUI, disorderly conduct, drug possession, and assault allegations against residents and visitors alike. State charges are prosecuted by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, with felonies handled in the Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County and misdemeanors in county court. Port and airport proximity means some cases draw federal attention instead. Early representation matters before bond hearings and filing decisions. DearLegal matches you with a Florida-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Miami Beach, with a free review.

Felony cases from Miami Beach arrests go to the Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County; misdemeanors and traffic offenses are handled in county court.
Entertainment district enforcement, event-weekend patrols, and heavy camera coverage generate a high volume of DUI and public-conduct arrests.
Some conduct near the port, airport, or involving federal agencies is charged in federal court in the Southern District of Florida instead of state court.

Florida criminal defense rules at a glance

Miami Beach 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 Miami Beach 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.

Start my free case reviewTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit F

Miami Beach criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Florida attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

Charges from a Miami Beach arrest are generally handled in the Miami-Dade County court system, with felonies in Circuit Court and misdemeanors in county court. Federal charges are filed separately in federal court. An attorney can tell you which track your case is on and what the next appearance means.

Usually yes, though an attorney can sometimes appear on your behalf at certain hearings or seek to resolve a low-level case without repeated travel. Ignoring a court date risks a warrant. Talk to a Florida attorney before assuming a visitor's case will simply go away.

Sometimes. Florida has diversion programs and sealing or expungement options, but eligibility depends on the charge, your history, and how the case is resolved, and decisions made early can affect whether those doors stay open. Deadlines apply and vary, so have an attorney confirm what is available in your case.

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.