Call Today for a Free Consultation
Call Us 24 hours / 7 days a week
Call Us 24 hours / 7 days a week

Do not talk to police, enter a plea, or decide how to handle criminal charges until you have talked with a Tampa criminal defense lawyer.  Defendants in criminal cases are guaranteed a right to a lawyer because they need one to get due process and make sure their interests are protected.  

Katz & Phillips, P.A. is here to help clients as they face the frightening prospect of responding to criminal accusations. Call any time to speak with a member of our legal team so you will have an advocate in the criminal process. When you contact our criminal defense firm, we’ll offer you insight into how we can help with your specific case and we’ll also answer questions you may have including:

  • What should I do after I get arrested in Tampa?
  • Will I have to go to jail?
  • How can a Tampa criminal defense lawyer help?

What to Do After an Arrest, According to a Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney

After an arrest, you should cooperate with the police, which means responding to direct requests and being polite to the officers who arrested you or who are processing you and inputting your info into the system.  Cooperation, however, does not mean confession. You have the right to have a lawyer present during any interrogation and you have the right to stay silent and not provide any incriminating information.

You’ll be informed of charges against you after your arrest and you will get the chance to argue for bail and enter a plea. Before you come before a judge, you should strongly consider securing legal representation so your Tampa criminal defense lawyer can provide advice on legal strategy. Your attorney can argue to the judge why bail should be low, and can help you decide how best to plead.

Will You Have to Go to Jail?

After an arrest in Tampa, you may spend some time behind bars until you are arraigned, but you are entitled to a speedy bail hearing. As long as bail is granted, you shouldn’t have to stay behind bars as your case is pending. The goal of a Tampa criminal lawyer initially is to get you released on your own recognizance or get bail you can afford.

Once you’ve been released on bail, you must come back to court dates or you face further legal problems. However, with the help of a Tampa criminal defense lawyer, you may be able to negotiate a plea agreement that keeps you out of jail or you may be able to avoid conviction altogether.  Without a conviction or with a favorable plea deal, you shouldn’t have to spend any time behind bars or you can minimize your period of incarceration, depending upon the crime.  

How Can a Tampa Criminal Defense Law Firm Help?

At Katz & Phillips, P.A, our legal team is solely focused on defending clients accused of breaking the law. Our team is made up of attorneys who have experience working as prosecutors and working as investigators. We have decades of combined legal experience and we remain committed to providing top-notch client advocacy during a difficult time in our client’s lives.  

We provide legal representation to clients in a wide variety of cases including in situations, including when defendants are accused of:

  • Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
  • Theft crimes
  • Burglary
  • Robbery
  • Assault
  • Drug crimes
  • Weapon offenses
  • Sex crimes
  • White collar crimes
  • Probation violations

 

Request a FREE, Confidential Consultation

Regardless of the type of criminal charge you’re facing, it’s very important to have a defense attorney working on your case as soon as possible. This not only gives them more time to develop an effective defense strategy, but also ensures that you don’t miss any important deadlines or make any other mistakes that can seriously damage your case.

Katz & Phillips, P.A. is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your call. We offer free case evaluations, and a variety of flexible payment plans depending on your individual situation. Contact us by filling out the online form right here on our website. We look forward to hearing from you.