Miami Criminal Defense Insights
Aggressive representation for DUI, Domestic Violence, Gun Crimes & more
Federal agents recently arrested a Miramar man for allegedly taking part in an international drug ring. He reportedly used Internet resources and the U.S. mail service to import a type of synthetic heroin known as “fentanyl” which is in circulation in Florida communities and has been claimed to be taking the lives of users in […]
This month is domestic violence awareness month. It is a time when Florida clerks of court are ready to act as a resource for anyone in the state who wishes to be protected from this type of violence. It is a time also to highlight and remind the state’s citizens how alarming domestic violence statistics […]
Facing a felony or misdemeanor charge can be one of the most stressful moments of your life. You shouldn’t have to face it alone. But you don’t want to hire just any attorney to defend you; you need the very best criminal defense attorney that you can get. 1. Should you hire a criminal defense […]
Maybe you’ve been caught shoplifting in Miami. or you’ve been unfairly accused of shoplifting in Hialeah, Coral Gables, Aventura or Coconut Grove. Either way, there’s a good chance the police will get involved. Take it from Miami criminal defense attorney Albert Quirantes: there’s a lot that the cops and store personnel will do to try […]
Possession of cocaine is treated very seriously in Florida, as a University of Miami student found out in August of 2015. Perhaps in hindsight rather naively, he decided to play a joke on the university’s administration just before one of their routine searches for drugs in student dorms. The young man, Harrington, spread rails of […]
The stand your ground defense legislation will be used to defend a man who shot and killed another man in a disagreement about the use of a cell phone in a Florida movie theater. Curtis Reeves, now aged 73, is a retired Tampa police captain. He faces a second-degree murder charge for the part he […]
Everyone knows Miranda … or at least what they’ve seen about it on TV. Whether you’re watching Law & Order or Hill Street Blues, you’ll hear a police officer warn the suspect that he has the right to remain silent as soon as they put the handcuffs on. But is that really how it works? […]
What Is a First-Degree Felony in Florida? A first-degree felony is one of Florida’s most serious criminal classifications. For an ordinary first-degree felony, the maximum sentence is 30 years in state prison. That does not mean every person charged with one will receive 30 years. The actual exposure depends on the offense, the Criminal Punishment […]
What Is a First-Degree Felony Punishable by Life in Florida? A first-degree felony punishable by life is one of the most misunderstood classifications in Florida criminal law. It is not technically a life felony. It remains classified as a first-degree felony, but the statute defining the offense allows the judge to impose a sentence of […]
Florida’s transportation law changes take effect October 1, 2026. One change is already prompting questions from drivers: the amount of apparent property damage that triggers an immediate duty to notify law enforcement after a crash rises from $500 to $2,000. The change is part of Senate Bill 488, Chapter 2026-39. The new threshold appears in […]
What Is a Life Felony in Florida? A life felony is one of the most serious criminal charges Florida law recognizes. It does not expose a defendant to the death penalty, but it does permit a judge to impose a sentence of life in prison. That distinction matters. When someone is charged with a life […]
What Does a Capital Felony Mean in Florida? Florida law places capital felonies in a category of their own. They are not scored and sentenced like ordinary felonies under the Criminal Punishment Code. A conviction can expose an adult defendant to life imprisonment without parole and, in a case where the State Attorney seeks it, […]
The Parent’s Guide to a Juvenile Arrest in Florida A free resource from Albert Quirantes, Esq. Criminal DUI & Ticket Lawyers If your child has been arrested, this guide will help you understand what is happening and what to do next. Keep this page handy, and call us anytime. 1. Take a Breath. Then Take […]
Florida’s July 1, 2026 Criminal Laws: What Changed in Miami-Dade Cases Florida’s new laws took effect on July 1, 2026, and several of them have a direct impact on criminal cases. More than 100 laws took effect that day. Most have nothing to do with criminal defense. But three changes stand out if you are […]
Florida Veterans Can Now Seek Treatment Court Without Prosecutor Approval A new Florida law changed who gets the final say when a veteran asks to enter Veterans Treatment Court. Since July 1, 2026, a prosecutor can still weigh in on the request, but the prosecutor no longer has the power to approve or reject eligibility […]