Criminal Defense Attorneys in Tallahassee, FL

Charges from a Tallahassee arrest are prosecuted in Leon County, and early strategy matters, especially for students. Talk with a Florida-licensed criminal defense attorney who handles Tallahassee cases, at no cost.

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How we match your Tallahassee criminal defense case

When you submit a Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee

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Tallahassee's two large universities, downtown bar district near Tennessee and Monroe Streets, and football weekends produce a steady volume of DUI, underage drinking, drug possession, and disorderly conduct arrests, alongside cases handled by Tallahassee Police, the Leon County Sheriff's Office, and campus police. Felony charges are prosecuted in Leon County Circuit Court, while misdemeanors and traffic offenses are handled in county court, and federal charges from this region go to the U.S. District Court sitting in Tallahassee. DearLegal matches you with a Florida-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Tallahassee, with a free review.

Leon County felonies are prosecuted in circuit court, and misdemeanors and traffic offenses in county court.
Arrests come from Tallahassee Police, the Leon County Sheriff's Office, campus police at Florida State and Florida A&M, and the Florida Highway Patrol.
A student conviction can trigger separate university discipline and immigration or licensing consequences beyond the Leon County case.

Florida criminal defense rules at a glance

Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee 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

Tallahassee criminal defense questions, answered

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Felony charges are prosecuted in Leon County Circuit Court, while misdemeanors, DUI, and traffic offenses generally start in county court. Federal charges from this part of Florida are heard in the U.S. District Court that sits in Tallahassee. An attorney can confirm the court and what your first appearance will involve.

The charge is still handled through the Leon County courts, but a campus arrest can also trigger a separate university disciplinary process with its own timeline and consequences. Statements made in one proceeding can affect the other. An attorney can coordinate the criminal defense with any school process.

Florida allows sealing or expungement in defined circumstances that depend on the charge, the outcome, and your prior record, and the process runs through the court and state agencies. Eligibility rules are narrow and there are deadlines that vary by situation. A Florida attorney can review your record and tell you whether you qualify.

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.