Criminal Defense Attorneys in Sunrise, FL

Being charged after an arrest in Sunrise means facing Broward County prosecutors, and you shouldn’t go in alone. A Florida-licensed criminal defense attorney will review your case at no charge.

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How we match your Sunrise criminal defense case

When you submit a Sunrise 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 Sunrise

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Sunrise sits along major western Broward corridors including I-595, the Sawgrass Expressway, and Sunrise Boulevard, and the retail and event traffic around Sawgrass Mills and the arena district produces DUI stops, retail theft arrests, and disorderly conduct charges alongside the usual drug and domestic cases. Felony charges from Sunrise are prosecuted by the Broward State Attorney's Office in the Broward County Circuit Court, with misdemeanors handled in county court. Some cases, particularly fraud or trafficking, can be picked up federally in the Southern District of Florida. DearLegal matches you with a Florida-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Sunrise, with a free review.

Sunrise arrests are prosecuted in Broward County, with felonies in circuit court and misdemeanors in county court.
High retail and event volume in the city contributes to DUI, retail theft, and disorderly conduct arrests.
Federal charges arising in Broward are handled in the Southern District of Florida, under different rules and sentencing exposure.

Florida criminal defense rules at a glance

Sunrise 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 Sunrise 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

Sunrise criminal defense questions, answered

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Cases from Sunrise go to the Broward County courthouse system, with felonies in the circuit criminal division and misdemeanors in county court. If federal authorities charge the conduct instead, the case moves to the Southern District of Florida and the process changes substantially.

It is almost always better to decline questioning politely and ask for counsel, because statements made early are difficult to walk back later. An attorney can handle the contact with detectives or prosecutors and make sure you are not filling gaps in their case.

Sometimes, since Florida offers diversion programs and sealing or expungement in some circumstances, and Broward runs programs that certain first-time defendants qualify for. Eligibility depends on the charge and your history, so ask an attorney before entering 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.