Misdemeanor Criminal Charges in Florida: Degrees, Penalties, and What “Minor” Really Means
First degree misdemeanors carry up to 1 year in county jail, second degree up to 60 days. The common charges, and when a misdemeanor becomes a felony.
From our attorneys
First degree misdemeanors carry up to 1 year in county jail, second degree up to 60 days. The common charges, and when a misdemeanor becomes a felony.
In Florida, agreeing with someone to commit a crime is itself a crime, even if the planned offense never happens. How conspiracy charges are ranked and punished under state and federal law, what prosecutors must prove, and the defenses that apply.
A no-contact order in a Florida criminal case can only be changed by the judge, not by the alleged victim, and not by private agreement. What the order prohibits, how to ask the court to modify it, and how it differs from a civil injunction.
Domestic violence is not a single crime in Florida: it's a designation that changes arrest, bond, jail minimums, probation, record sealing, and gun rights. What the accused and the accuser both need to know.
Leaving the scene is the crime, whether or not you caused the crash. Penalties at each level, the license revocation, and what to do if you are accused.
What makes a criminal charge federal instead of state, who prosecutes federal cases in South Florida, and how federal court differs on bail, grand juries, sentencing, and time served.
Yes, the arrest stays visible after a dismissal. Florida's automatic sealing covers some cases and expungement covers others. See which applies to you.
Why the State Attorney, not the alleged victim, controls criminal charges in Florida, what a victim's wishes can actually change, and what both sides should avoid while a case is pending.
What Florida arrests, pleas, and convictions can mean for green cards, visas, and removal, and why a plea that looks favorable in state court may not be immigration-safe.
Pulled over in Florida with marijuana in the car? The split-second move most people make can turn a citation into a felony. A Fort Lauderdale lawyer explains.