Criminal Defense

The criminal justice system is designed to catch & prosecute criminals. However, not everyone who is arrested is a criminal or a bad guy. Sometimes Law Enforcement Agencies make mistakes which your lawyer can use on your behalf to protect your rights. If you, or a family member or firend are accused of committing a crime and/or are arrested, the information below will help you to understand your rights:

A Police Officer, Sheriff or State Trooper may stop you and ask you questions to ascertain whether or not you are involved in a criminal defense. Depending on what information the law enforcement officer has about you, and the type of crime being investigated, are all material issues to determine if you can be stopped, verbally or physicaly, for the purpose of detaining you and questioning you about a crime. Whether the alleged offense is a felony, misdemeanor or traffic offense, and whether or not the Officer has seen you commit the alleged offense or is stopping you based upon inforamtion that he has received describing someone that looks like you, from an Annonymous tip, Reliable Informant, or Fellow Officer Officer. Observation, are all critical factors which a lawyer may review to determine if your arrest was lawful or not. There are two tpes of Arrests: Arrests with warrants and Arrests without Warrants:

ARREST WITH WARRANT: ANY CRIMINAL QUESTION, ASK FORREST FREEDMAN 954 7174 1037

An arrest warrant is a written order signed by a Judge directing the Police Officer to arresst you either at your home, work or in a public place. If the Officer tells you that you are being arrested on a warrant, ask to see the warrant, and then consider telling the officer that you ar enot going to make any statements without having your lawyer present. You cannot talk yourself out of an arrest if the office rhas a warrant, so the smart thing to do, is cooperate, do not resist arrest( will lead to additional charges), listen whil eyour Mirranda rights are read to you, or remeber to tell your attorney that your Mirranda Rights were not read to you and SHUT UP.

A Lawyer can often help you to get out of jail, if you are arrested, but a Lawyer cannot put words back into your mouth once you have utterred them.

Just Remember- EVERYTHING YOU TELL THE POLICE OFFICER WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU.
Be Courteous to the Officer, but don't volunteer any information!!! You will be brought to the police station, photographed, fingerprinted, and allowe dto call your attorney. Unless it is a capital offense( murder) , you ar eprobably going to be leigible for a bond. Remember the booking process can take between 12 and 20 hours, so STAY CALM and DON'T SAY ANYTHING WITHOUT YOUR ATTORNEY. ( If you can't stay quiet, keep asking the Officer when you will be allowed to call your attorney!) In most cases, you cannot be arrested in your home without a warrant, unless you consent to the arrest.

ARRESTS WITHOUT WARRANT:

The Police do not have to have a warant to arrest you if they have reason to believe that you have committed a felony( Crime punnishable by one yea or more in State Prison), such a murder, armed robbery, or drug trafficking. The police cannot arrrest you without a warrant for committing a Misdermeanor,( Crime punnishable by one year or less in county jail) unless the Officer actually sees you commit the offense. Misdemanors include drunk driving 1st or 2nd offense- no serious accident, Driving without a valid or suspended license( With or Without knowledge), leaving the scene of an accident, shoplifting or retail theft under $250.00, disorderly conduct and public drinking.

There are a few misdemeanors for which you can be arrested even if the Police Officer does not see you commit the crime. One example is when a citizen, security guard or store owner may arrest and detain you if they believe that you have committed the crime retail theft in their presence.

Retail Theft is leaving the store without paying for merchandise or materially altering the merchandise int eh store for the purpose of hiding it and leaving the store without paying for it- or paying less by altering the price.

REMEMBER: If you are stopped before you leave the store by a security guard, store owner or private citizen and they accuse you of retil theft, DO NOT SAY ONE WORD TO THEM!!!- except to tell them that you want your attorney present. DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING AND DO NOT CONFESS NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY TO YOU SO LONG AS YOU HAVE NOT LEFT THE STORE!
Wait until a polcie officer arrives, arrests you, brings you to the police station, and then call an Attorney Immediately. Do not make or sign any statements or confessions because they will be used against you in court.

The same is true if you are stopped by someone who accuses you of leaving an accident scene. Do not say a thing, wait until you are arrested, and call your attorney after you are booked a the police station.
ANY CRIMINAL QUESTION, ASK FORREST FREEDMAN 954 7174 1037
Arrests are only lawful if you committed the crime for which you are arrested, and your attorney will be able to figure this out by examining the police report and witness statements. By not saying anything when arrested, you are not giving law enforcement any rope to hang you with in case including uncounseled admissions when your case goes to trial. In fact, you might even be entitled to recover civil money damages for an unlawful arrest that you did not commit depending on the damages incurred by you due to the unlawful arrest.

RESISTING ARREST: DO NOT RESIST ARREST EVER. IF YOU RESIST ARREST, YOU WILL MAKE YOUR CASE THAT MUCH WORSE AND MORE EXPENSIVE TO DEFEND. IF YOU RESIST ARREST WITH VIOLENCE, THAT IS A FELONY AND YOU WILL FACE ADDITIONAL CHARGE IN FELONY COURT. IF YOU RESIST ARREST WITHOUT VIOLENCE, YOU FACE HAVING THIS ADDITONAL OFFENSE ADDED TO YOUR CHARGES IN MISDEMEANOR COURT.
ANY CRIMINAL QUESTION, ASK FORREST FREEDMAN 954 7174 1037
RESISTING ARREST WITH VIOLENCE = FELONY
RESISTING ARREST WITHOUT VIOLENCE= MISDEMEANOR
ANY CRIMINAL QUESTION, ASK FORREST FREEDMAN 954 7174 1037
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THE OFFICER HAS NO LEGAL RIGHT TO ARREST YOU, YOUR ATTORNEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET AN ILLEGAL ARREST DISMISSED BEFORE A JUDGE.
ANY CRIMINAL QUESTION, ASK FORREST FREEDMAN 954 7174 1037
DON'T GET INTO A FIGHT WITH ARMED OFFICERS AND DONOT ATTEMPT TO SMASH THE WINDOWS IN THE POLICE CRUISER. IF YOU STAY CALM, THE POLICE WILL DO LIKEWISE. IF YOU START SWEARING ANDF THREATENING THE POLICE OFFICERS, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE WHATEVER FORCE IS NECESSARY TO COMBAT ANY THREATS MADE UPON THEM. YOU COULD EVEN FACE ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR ASSAULT AND BATERY AND EVEN IF YOU ARE FOUND INNOCENT OF THE CRIME FOR WHICH YOU ARE ARRESTED, YOU COULD BE FOUND GUILTY OF THE ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF RESISTING ARREST. 
ANY CRIMINAL QUESTION, ASK FORREST FREEDMAN 954 7174 1037
FORREST FREEDMAN's friendly advice to you "IF YOU ARE ARRESTED":
JUST REMEMBER : IF YOU ARE ARRESTED WITHOUT A WARRANT FOR A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR, YOUR ATTORNEY CAN SET A HEARING TO DETERMINE IF THE OFFICER HAD THE MINIMUM LEVEL OF EVIDENCE REQUIRED FOR A LAWFUL ARREST. IF THE OFFICER DID NOT HAVE THAT MINIMUM LEVEL OF EVIDENCE REQUIRED FOR A LEGAL ARREST, YOUR ATTORNEY WILL GET THE ACTION AGAINST YOU DISMISSED. THAT IS WHY IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU SAY NOTHING, BECAUSE WHAT YOU SAY CAN BE USED AGAINST YOU AND CAN MAKE AN OTHERWISE ILLEGAL ARREST , LEGAL.

WILL YOU BE SEARCHED PURSUANT TO A LAWFUL ARREST?

YES; after you have been arrested and before you are read your Mirranda Right, the police will search your physical body, and any of the area that was within your wingspan, glove compartment of car, back seat of car, ground near where you are being arrested, to search for weapons and contraband. If the polcie find something that it is a crime to possess, drugs or firearms, they will confiscate it and arrest you for possessing it. The police will also take your money and car keys, and will not return them to you if they are to be used as evidence. Otherwise you will get the non contraband items back after you are relased from the polcie station, so make sure that you verbalize to anyone present , even at booking, if you notice that the arresting officer has taken money out of your wallet.
Arrested?, CALL FORREST FREEDMAN NOW 954 7174 1037

ARREST PROCESS; BEING READ YOUR MIRRANDA RIGHTS AND BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

AFTER YOU ARE ARRESTED & SEARCHED, AND IF YOU DON'T SAY ANYTHING OTHER THAN INFORMING THE POLICE OFFICER THAT YOU WILL NOT SAY ANYTHING WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY, THE POLICE WILL NORMALLY HANDCUFF YOU AND READ YOU YOUR MIRRANDA RIGHTS, BEFORE PLACING YOU IN THE POLICE CAR AND TKING YOU TO THE POLICE STATION FOR BOOKING.

DO YOUR BEST AND TRY TO REMEMBER THE EXACT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS SURROUNDING YOUR ARREST. THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, AND IF AND WHN YOU HAVE BEEN READ YOUR MIRRANDA RIGHTS, MAY BE A USEFUL TOOL THAT YOUR ATTORNEY MAY USE AT A HEARING TO INVALIDATE YOUR ARREST.
Your Mirranda Rights are read to you by one of the police officers, during your arrest. Remember exactly what the polcie officer says to you as what the police officer says me be critical to your defense. 

AT THE POLICE STATION, YOU WILL BE REGISTERED, FINGERPRINTED & PHOTOGRAPHED.

YOU WILL HAVE A RIGHT TO CALL YOUR ATTORNEY (CALL FORREST FREEDMAN @ 954 714-1037). YOUR LAWYER WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRYING TO GE TYOU RELEASED OR WILL BE PRESENT AT YOUR INTITIAL BOND HEARING TO TRY TO GET YOU A REASONABLE BOND.ANY CRIMINAL QUESTION, ASK FORREST FREEDMAN 954 7174 1037

IF YOU ARE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN A LINE UP WHERE WITNESSES WILL BE ASKED TO IDENTIFY YOU OUT OF A GROUP OF SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT MEET YOUR DEXSCRIPTION, TELL THE POLICE OFFICER THAT YOU WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY LINE-UP WITHOUT HAVING YOUR ATTORNEY PRESENT. 

BEST ADVICE; GET LEGAL ASSISTANCE WHENEVER IT IS OFFERED;

CALL ATTORNEY FORREST FREEDMAN 95 4714 1037- WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

1. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO TELEPHONE A LAWYER OR FIREND TO TELL THEM THAT YOU ARE ARRESTED;

2. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH A LAWYER AND HAVE THE LAWYER PRESENT WHEN THE POLICE QUESTION YOU;

3. WITH OR WITHOUT A LAWYER, YOU HAVE THE ABOSOLUTE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT. REMAIN SILENT AS ANYTHING THAT YOU SAY CAN BE USED AGAINST YOU IN A COURT OF LAW;

4. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY.

5. ALL OF THE ABOVE RIGHTS MUST BE TOLD TO YOU BEFORE THE POLICE BEGIN INTERROGATING YOU. THE POLCIE ARE TRAINE DTO GET YOU TO SAY THINGS THAT CAN BE USED AS EVIDENCE AGAINST YOU.
THEREFORE, SAY NOTHING AND ASK TO SPEAK WITH YOUR ATTORNEY;

6. Once you have made arragements with your attorney, tell the police that you have exercised your right to counsel and that your attorney is on the way.

DUMB PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY KNOW WHAT TO SAY, OR HOW TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, AT THE TIME OF THEIR ARREST OFTEN END UP IN JAIL.

SMART PEOPLE DON'T GO IT ALONE & DON'T SAY OR DO ANYTHING UNTIL THEIR LAWYER ARRIVES & ADVISES THEM WHAT TO DO OR SAY, IF ANYTHING.

NEED BAIL? CALL FORREST FREEDMAN TO ARRANGE BAIL! 
954 714 1037- 954 494 5010 24/7

FORREST FREEDMAN SAYS; I CAN OFTEN GET YOU OUT OF JAIL, BIT I USUALLY CANNOT PUT YOUR WORDS BACK IN YOUR MOUTH INCLUDING CONFESSION AFTER YOU HAVE UTTERRED THEM.

DON'T GO IT ALONE, CALL ME IF YOU ARE ARRESTED. I WILL REPRESENT YOU, GET YOU A REASONABLE BOND, & GET YOU A BAIL REDUCTION HEARING, IF NECESSARY. IF YOU STILL CAN'T MAKE A BOND i will ask for an adverse probable cause hearing & I WILL START WORKING ON YOUR DEFENSE IMMEDIATELY.

IF YOU ARE ARRESTED OR DETAINED CALL CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY FORREST FREEDMAN
954 714 1037 954 494 5010 Any Time