Criminal Defense Attorneys in Plantation, FL

Plantation arrests are prosecuted in Broward County, and early legal help can shape the outcome. A Florida-licensed criminal defense attorney practicing in Plantation will review your charges for free.

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How we match your Plantation criminal defense case

When you submit a Plantation 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 Plantation

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Plantation is policed by its own city department alongside the Broward Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol on the surrounding highways, and traffic stops along State Road 7, Broward Boulevard, and the I-595 corridor lead to many DUI and drug charges. Retail theft arrests near Broward Mall and domestic and battery cases are also routine. Felonies are prosecuted in the Broward County Circuit Court in Fort Lauderdale, misdemeanors in county court, and some cases move to federal court in the Southern District of Florida. DearLegal matches you with a Florida-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Plantation, with a free review.

Plantation arrests are prosecuted in Broward County circuit court for felonies and county court for misdemeanors, both in Fort Lauderdale.
Plantation Police, the Broward Sheriff's Office, and state troopers on I-595 and nearby expressways all generate local cases.
Certain charges, including some drug, firearm, and fraud matters, can be brought federally in the Southern District of Florida instead.

Florida criminal defense rules at a glance

Plantation 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 Plantation 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

Plantation criminal defense questions, answered

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Misdemeanors are generally heard in Broward County court and felonies in the circuit court, both located in Fort Lauderdale. Some cases, particularly larger drug, firearm, or fraud matters, may instead be charged federally. An attorney can tell you which court and prosecutor's office is handling your case.

Generally no. You have the right to remain silent and to counsel, and explanations given without a lawyer are frequently used against people later. Being polite and declining to answer substantive questions is not an admission of anything. Speak with an attorney before giving any statement.

Sometimes. Florida allows sealing or expunging certain records depending on the charge, the outcome, and your prior history, and many dispositions do not qualify. How a case is resolved now can decide whether that option exists later. An attorney can factor eligibility into the defense strategy.

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.