Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer
Florida police and prosecutors take violent crimes extremely seriously. You are not likely to get any sympathy from the government or the courts, or from an overzealous prosecutor looking to score career points by putting away violent offenders. At Nichols Law we believe that a person should be judged by who they are, rather than being labeled by a type of accusation. If you or someone you know has been arrested for a violent offense, it is crucial to get a strong legal advocate in your corner as soon as possible. Waiting to start your defense can subject you unnecessarily to the worst consequences of a violent crime conviction. In fact, many times we are able to convince the prosecutor to file lower charges or even to not file any formal charges. Waiting until after formal charges are filed to hire an attorney means you have skipped the most important part of your case.
The dedicated team at Nichols Law approaches each case with fresh eyes and an open outlook, working to ensure that every client is treated with the benefit of the doubt they are guaranteed under the Florida and federal constitutions. We do not prejudge cases or clients, and we do not let overzealous prosecutors and police push our clients into accepting pleas for more serious charges than are warranted. We fight to make sure that our clients’ rights are protected throughout the process. If you have been arrested for a violent crime, the experienced and effective team at Nichols Law is here to help.
Types of Violent Crimes
The seasoned violent crime defense team at Nichols Law has more than 50 years of experience litigating trials in Florida. We represent Florida clients charged with all types of criminal offenses. If you are accused of violent crime in Florida, our Fort Lauderdale violent crime defense legal team is ready to hear your case, no matter the nature of the charges. We represent defendants charged with violent crimes such as:
- Robbery
- Homicide (Murder, Manslaughter)
- Firearms
- Assault & Battery
- Arson
- Domestic Violence
- Weapons Charges
- Hate Crimes
- Kidnapping
- Terroristic Threats
- Carjacking
- Burglary Assault & Home Invasion
Punishment for Violent Crimes
The penalties for violent crimes in Florida vary depending on the nature of the conduct, the nature of the victim, and the amount of injury actually inflicted. Most violent crimes are chargeable as felonies, carrying the potential for lengthy terms in prison. Crimes involving weapons, child victims, or that result in serious injury or death are punished the most severely.
The crime for which a defendant can be convicted often turns on their criminal intent. For instance, the difference between manslaughter and a murder conviction depends on whether the prosecution can prove that the defendant actually intended to kill the victim. A seasoned criminal defense attorney can help you avoid the most serious violent crime charges by establishing doubt as to intent. If you have been charged with a violent crime in Florida, call the experienced violent crime team at Nichols Law for a free consultation.
Firearms
Florida’s gun laws are very harsh and unforgiving. Under the 10-20-Life law, using a gun during a crime requires a mandatory 10-year prison sentence with no early release. That goes up to 20 years if the gun is fired, and if anyone is shot (even for a glancing minor wound) the penalty is life in prison without parole. Many other mandatory prison sentences apply to gun crimes in Florida so your attorney needs to be especially aggressive in your defense of these charges. Nichols Law will aggressively challenge any allegations of gun crimes against you.
Stand Your Ground / Self Defense
Under the Florida Stand Your Ground Law, you cannot be prosecuted for defending yourself even with a deadly weapon if you were in a place you were legally allowed to be and the other person was acting violently toward you. Many clients are falsely arrested for a violent crime because the police or prosecutor did not look closely enough to see that the alleged victim was really the aggressor. Once that fact is proven to a judge, the state is barred from prosecuting you and the case is over… you can move on. At Nichols Law, we look closely at every case to determine exactly who was the real aggressor.
Capital Punishment in Florida
Florida is one of a few states that still clings to the use of the death penalty, but also still actively conducts executions. The only crime that is subject to the death penalty in Florida is firstdegree murder. Firstdegree murder is the premeditated (planned) and illegal killing of another person. Prosecutors can also charge firstdegree murder when the accused commits a homicide during certain other specified crimes, such as arson, kidnaping, sexual battery, armed robbery, terrorism, and a few others.
Since 1976, 99 people have been executed in Florida. As of 2020, 340 capital offenders are awaiting execution on death row. The numbers demonstrate that, while the death penalty is still legal in Florida, it is rarely used. If you or someone you know is facing murder charges in Florida, call the experience defense team at Nichols Law to ensure that the court, the prosecutor, and the jury are aware of any mitigating circumstances that would limit the use of the death penalty. Even where a conviction is a certainty, capital punishment is certainly not.
Call Today for Help Defending Against Florida Violent Crime Charges.
If you or someone you know has been charged with a violent criminal offense call a passionate and dedicated attorney from the team at Nichols Law. We bring more than 50 years of litigation experience to bear in providing passionate and effective service to criminal defendants accused of violent crimes in Florida. Call us today at 954-779-3313 for a free consultation, or fill out our contact form online. We are ready to help protect your reputation, your freedom, and your future.
