Under Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, a suspect who is brought into custody must appear before a judge within 24 hours of arrest. This is the first appearance after arrest that a suspect is brought before a judge in a criminal case. The judge tells the suspect why he was arrested, stating the criminal charges. Then the judge determines whether the police had probable cause to arrest you if you were arrested for the charges. If the judge determines that there was probable cause, he or she will then ask you if you want representation from an attorney. If you opt to hire private counsel, you may do so. Finally, the judge decides whether you should be held with bail. If he or she determines that bail is appropriate, then he or she will decide how much shall be required.

Disclaimer:
The information on this page does not represent legal advice. Because the law is continually changing, some of the provisions contained herein may be out of date. It is always wise to seek counsel from an experienced criminal attorney like Kenneth Hassett.