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Robinson Law Group’s Criminal Defense Team is
comprised of former Public Defenders experienced
in representing the accused in Misdemeanor and
Felony matters. Our attorney’s have handled
criminal cases from Arraignment through Trial
and are here to help!!! Come into our office for
a FREE CONSULTATION and let us evaluate the
potential strengths and weaknesses of your case.
Call our office 24 hours a day 7 days a week
toll free at 1-877-LAW-CALVIN for scheduling. |
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assist our potential clients with some of the
questions they may be facing regarding the
criminal process we have created a brief guide
to help educate you. To discuss your personal
case and get specific questions you may want
answered, schedule a FREE CONSULTATION with The
Robinson Law Group at 1-877-LAW-CALVIN today. |
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FIRST APPEARANCE:
If you are arrested and
placed in custody, you will appear before a
judge within 24 hours of your arrest. At this
first appearance the judge will inform you of
the charge(s) for which you have been accused
and subsequently arrested. The judge will make a
probable cause determination as to whether the
police had sufficient legal reason in which to
arrest you. You should not make statements
regarding your case at this hearing. What you
say CAN and WILL be used against you. The judge
will also ask you if you wish to be represented
by an attorney, if so, he/she will inquire
whether you plan on retaining a private
attorney. It is in your best interest to contact
The Robinson Law Group toll free at
1-877-LAW-CALVIN for a FREE CONSULTATION with an
experienced criminal attorney before discussing
your case with anyone. We offer convenient
payment plans available for our clients so don’t
hesitate, call now!!! |
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BAIL:
Bail is intended to guarantee that you, the
arrested party, will appear for future scheduled
court appearances. Although bail is common, you
may not have a right to bail if you are charged
with a crime that carries a penalty of life
imprisonment, death, or if you are facing a
violation of probation. The judge may ask how
long you have lived in the area, whether you
have family or other ties in the community,
whether you are employed, whether you are
willing to hand over your passport to the court,
if you have previously appeared in court as
required and what your previous criminal record
has entailed. If the judge determines your
charge not to be a serious offense, that you
will likely appear in court as ordered and you
will not be a threat to the community upon
release, the judge has the option to release you
without bond or on your own recognizance. If you
cannot make the original bail the Robinson Law
Group has experience handling bond modification
hearings and may be able to help convince the
judge to reduce the bail set in your case. It is
important to understand that you do not have a
right to multiple bond hearings so having an
experienced attorney handle and prioritize your
release is imperative. Call our office 24 hours
7 days a week at 1-877-LAW-CALVIN for a FREE
CONSULTATION in your case. |
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CLIENT CONFERENCE:
While you are held in custody or shortly
following your release a member of The Robinson
Law Group’s legal team will meet with you to
discuss the pending charges. While reviewing
your case the information you provide our
attorney’s is confidential. When evaluating your
case, its strengths and weaknesses, you will be
asked a number of important questions regarding
your arrest. It is vital that you fully
cooperate with our team of attorneys and answer
all questions truthfully so we can fully assist
you in your case. Without communication,
cooperation and trust it is difficult to give
your case the necessary attention and priority
it deserves. The Robinson Law Group takes pride
in its accessibility for it’s clients and
welcome’s you to call our firm 24 hours 7 days a
week toll free at 1-877-LAW-CALVIN with any
questions or concerns you might have so we can
set a conference regarding the alleged charges. |
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FILING FORMAL
CHARGES:
The State Attorney has 33 days from the date you
were arrested to file formal charges against
you. If formal charges are not filed within 33
days and you are still in jail, the court, on
the 33rd day with notice to The State Attorney,
may order you automatically released on your own
recognizance. The State Attorney may request an
extension of time to file formal charges if they
can show good cause for doing so to the court.
The extension can be for no more than 40 days
from the date of your original arrest. The State
Attorney has the sole discretion whether to file
formal criminal charges against you. A defendant
must understand that even if witnesses don’t
want to testify against you or request to stop
the case, the State Attorney may still file
charges. The law in the State of Florida
provides the State Attorney this type of
discretion. Therefore, it is in your best
interest to contact The Robinson Law Group as
soon as possible regarding your case at
1-877-LAW-CALVIN. We can help secure vital
information regarding your arrest and contact
the State Attorneys Office in an attempt to
persuade them from filing criminal charges. |
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ARRAIGNMENT:
After your first appearance, if formal charges
are filed, an arraignment will be scheduled.
Simply put, this is an opportunity for the
accused to be formally read their charges and
enter a plea of Guilty or Not Guilty. Evidence
is not presented at Arraignment and is deferred
to pre-trial court dates. The judge often
inquires whether or not an attorney is
representing a defendant or if they are eligible
to have one appointed at this hearing. Florida
Statute allows Defendants to waive appearance at
arraignment and enter a plea of not guilty
requesting a pre-trial date. When you retain the
Robinson Law Group we will formulate all the
appropriate forms on your behalf and handle all
Arraignment and Pre-Trial matters so you can
continue to work and live your daily life
without interruption. |
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INVESTIGATING
YOUR CASE:
Anything you tell the attorneys at The Robinson
Law Group is confidential although conversations
with others are not!!! Examples of
non-confidential communications include those
with family, friends, cellmates, news reporters,
probation and police officers. The Robinson Law
Group has represented Defendants who have had
recorded jail conversations used against them in
their case as well as cell mate confessions. It
is important that you fully cooperate with our
office as we begin formulating your defense.
Clients are most helpful when they provide the
names, address and contacts of potential
witnesses for our firm to contact. These
witnesses can be anyone with information
pertinent to your case or that may provide an
alibi on your behalf. Once we are hired it is
very important that you allow the attorneys at
the Robinson Law Group to handle the
investigation. If you contact, threaten or send
others to speak to potential witnesses for the
prosecution you may be charge with tampering.
Our attorneys will set depositions and conduct
other fact-finding inquiries and investigations
on your behalf. |
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PREPARING FOR
BATTLE:
Once the Robinson Law Group has been appointed
we will secure a copy of the charges against
you. Our attorneys will explain the charges as
well as the potential sentence you might face if
found guilty of the crime alleged. Every client
is a priority and we will immediately begin to
work your case including filing defense motions
if necessary. We will be thoroughly prepared
before we head to battle on your behalf. Our
team will advise and guide you throughout the
legal process so you fully comprehend the steps
we are taking in your defense. We will file a
Request for Discovery to get witness lists,
police reports, witness statements, expert
reports and all other important facts in your
case. We will speak to the State Attorneys
Office to get an idea of their intentions in the
case. In certain cases the State may be willing
to drop charges or consider a “plea bargain” in
which certain charges may be dropped or reduced
in exchange for a plea of Guilty of No Contest.
In addition, we will fight for entrance to
diversion and pre-trial intervention programs on
your behalf. These programs serve as an
alternative to formal prosecution and are
sometimes available to first-time offenders.
These offers can be beneficial to you and
sometimes warrant the charges being dropped
following successful completion of the
underlying program. Every offer received in a
case will be immediately relayed to our clients
allowing them to make a decision whether they
may be interested in agreeing to these terms in
lue of trial. |
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COURT APPEARANCES:
When allowed, the attorneys at The Robinson Law
Group will cover all court appearances on behalf
of the client. Florida Statute allows a
defendant to waive appearances at pre-trial
conferences which allows our attorneys to handle
your claim without the inconvenience of you
having to appear in court. When possible we will
cover court appearances allowing you to continue
living your life and attend work with no
interruption. |
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PLEAS:
The law presumes you are innocent until proven
guilty. You can only plea one of three ways in
criminal cases: 1) Not Guilty; 2) Guilty and 3)
No Contest. A not guilty plea is entered when
you are innocent; when you are not certain which
plea to enter; when there is not enough evidence
against you to prove guilt; when you want more
time to investigate your case and decide whether
to proceed to trial; or when you want to demand
a public trial. If you plead guilty or no
contest to the charge(s), the judge will ask you
questions to confirm that you know what you are
doing, and that no one is forcing you to enter
the plea. If you plead guilty or no contest,
there will be no trial and the judge will then
proceed with sentencing. The judge decides if
your plea will be accepted. This is true even if
you, your attorney, and the State Attorney have
negotiated a plea agreement. If you enter a plea
the judge will require you to pay fines, court
costs and restitution (if applicable). Before
entering a plea the attorneys at The Robinson
Law Group can fully explain the consequences of
such action. Prior to resolving your case call
our firm at 1-877-LAW-CALVIN to receive a FREE
CONSULTATION regarding your case. |
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TRIAL:
If you enter a plea of not guilty, you will have
a trial unless the charges are dismissed or you
change your plea prior to trial. In a jury trial
a judge presides over the courtroom proceedings,
and members of the community are chosen to hear
the evidence
presented against you. This jury of your “peers”
determine whether a crime has been committed and
whether you are criminally responsible for that
crime. When available, you must decide whether
you want a jury or non-jury trial. The State
Attorney must agree to a non-jury trial. In a
non-jury trial, only the judge decides whether a
crime has been committed, and whether you are
criminally responsible for that crime. A jury is
used for most trials. The attorneys at the
Robinson Law Group will question the prospective
jurors and, with your assistance, try to select
the best panel to hear your case. After both
sides question the prospective jurors and the
jury is agreed upon the trial will commence.
Next, each side may make an opening statement
telling the jury what the case is about. Then
the prosecutor presents their witnesses and
evidence. Our attorneys will cross-examine the
State’s witnesses and challenge the evidence.
The attorneys at The Robinson Law Group will
attend depositions, when applicable, to question
these witnesses prior to the day of trial to get
important information in your case. If the
witnesses do not appear for the trial, the judge
may dismiss your case, or decide to postpone it
at the request of the prosecutor. This decision
is up to the judge. After the prosecution
witnesses testify, our attorneys may present
witnesses and evidence which the State Attorney
will also have the opportunity to rebut. You,
the accused, have the right to testify in your
trial but do not have to. The decision as to how
to best defend your case is complex and should
be discussed in detail with the Robinson Law
Group. After all evidence is complete, each side
will present its closing arguments to the jury.
The judge then explains the applicable law and
rules applicable to the jury to be applied in
their deliberation. The jury then recesses to
the jury room to talk about the facts presented
until they reach a unanimous verdict, meaning
every juror agrees on either a guilty or not
guilty verdict in your case. If the jury is
unable to reach a unanimous verdict then a
mistrial is announced and the case will be set
for trial at a later date. When facing trial it
is crucial to have an experienced trial attorney
in your corner. With experience from arraignment
through jury trial speak to The Robinson Law
Group about your case at 1-877-LAW-CALVIN 24
hours a day 7 days a week and secure your FREE
CONSULTATION with one of our attorneys. |
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PRE-SENTENCE INVESTIGATION:
SENTENCING:
At sentencing, you will have an opportunity to
address the judge. Our attorneys will set a
conference in anticipation of this date. We will
advise you as whether to speak and, if so, what
to say. The judge will also allow the Robinson
Law Group and other interested persons a chance
to speak on your behalf. Advise our attorneys in
advance the names and contact information of the
people whom you wish to speak at sentencing. It
is important to understand that each case is
different and not to compare your criminal case
to that of others. The Robinson Law Group will
continue to fight for your rights and remain in
your corner but ultimately the decision is in
the hands of the presiding judge. |
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ALTERNATIVE
SENTENCING:
If you feel alcohol, drugs or mental issues
caused your arrest, tell our attorneys. Some
judicial circuits have Alternative Sentencing
Programs that may assist you in getting the
treatment you may need. Your voluntary
involvement in a treatment program may assist in
leniency from the prosecutor and the judge in
your case. The Robinson Law Group’s focus is not
just criminal representation but also doing what
is best for our clients. The criminal system is
set up to help rehabilitate offenders so if
there are alternatives short of jail to assist
our clients we will fight for access to such
programs. |
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PROBATION:
Probation is a privilege – not a right. If you
are a first time offender The Robinson Law Group
will fight for access to such an programs in the
efforts to keep you from serving time in jail.
If you are placed on probation, the usual
conditions include: 1) reporting regularly to
your probation officer; 2) notifying and
receiving permission from your probation officer
before changing your address, changing your job,
or leaving the country; and 3) leading a
law-abiding life and not committing any other
crimes. If you violate any of these probation
conditions, or any special conditions required
by the judge, the judge may sentence you to
jail. If the violation of probation is a new
crime committed by you while on probation, the
judge can revoke your probation without warning
until the charge is resolved. A probation
violation hearing will be filed by the judge
without a jury which could bring harsh
consequences. For these reasons the attorneys at
The Robinson Law Group will fight for early
termination of probation and do everything
within our power to see our clients are in
programs they are likely to successfully
complete. |
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APPEAL:
If you are convicted and want to appeal your
case, you must do so within 30 days of
sentencing. You have no right to an appeal if
you entered a voluntary and intelligent plea,
with or without a plea agreement, and the
sentence was legal. An appeal will help you if
the judge did not follow the law and as a result
of that, your case was prejudiced. You or your
attorney must advise the Appellate Court exactly
how the judge did not follow the law before a
conviction can be reversed. If your case is
appealed, the judge may allow your release on
bail until a final decision is reached. The
judge will only do this if he or she believes
you have a good reason for appealing and
believes you will re-appear in court; however,
you do not have an automatic right to bail when
appealing. If you wish to appeal your case, you
should discuss this matter with The Robinson Law
Group as soon as possible following trial at
1-877-LAW-CALVIN so we can refer you to one of
our trusted appeals attorneys. In no event
should you wait more than 30 days before
contacting our office. |
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| If you
or a loved one were arrested and have any
questions, Dial toll free 1-877-LAW-CALVIN
immediately for a FREE CONSULTATION with The
Robinson Law Group regarding your Rights. |
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EMPOWER YOURSELF: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
My lawyer has told me not
to talk to anyone about my case, not to answer,
and not to reply to accusations. Call my lawyer
if you want to ask me questions, search me or my
property, perform any tests, any lineups, or any
other I.D. procedures. I do not agree to any of
these things without my lawyer present and I do
not want to waive any of my Constitutional
Rights. |
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Disclaimer:
The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision
that should not be based solely upon
advertisement or a webpage. Before you decide,
ask us to provide you free written information
about our firms qualifications and experience.
Please be advised that no communication
resulting from your use of this website will
create an attorney-client relationship. In order
to create an attorney-client relationship you
will need to meet with an attorney and sign a
separate written retainer agreement. Call
toll-free 24 hours a day 7 days a week for a
FREE CONSULTATION at 1-877-LAW-CALVIN |
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