Even in a less serious case, or if you find yourself arrested while on vacation, an experienced criminal defense attorney can make a serious impact on the outcome of the case by ensuring the rights of the accused are protected throughout each step of the legal process. And even beyond case completion, the accused has grounds to expunge the arrest from their record. For these reasons, it is crucial that those accused of any crime choose the most capable, experienced and effective attorney available. At the Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, we might be able to intervene before any criminal charges are filed. But if they have already been filed, we will use all of our means to either dismiss the charges or reduce them. And should a case result in a trial, our lead Key West criminal defense attorneys are highly experienced in trial work with nearly 100 jury trials in their track record.

If you have been arrested in the Florida Keys, please contact us right away for a free case evaluation with an aggressive and strategic criminal defense attorney. We will work tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcome for your case. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please make sure to hire a local attorney. 

With over 40 years combined and local experience on your side, let us help you navigate the Florida Keys Criminal justice system. We are ready to help. Call us toll-free at 1- (800) 908-9784.

The Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A. are closely familiar with all facets of criminal defense and can help you in many ways at each point of the legal process. If you’ve been charged with any crime, we can:

• Work to get the charges against you dropped or lowered
• Take depositions of police, involved parties, and any possible witnesses to expose any lies or exaggerations
• Ensure no evidence against you was obtained illegally
• Conduct a pre-trial investigation
• Locate expert witnesses to testify on your behalf
• Immediately begin negotiations with prosecutors to make sure you face the minimum possible penalties

At The Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A, we handle All Misdemeanors, All Felonies, DUIs, DWIs, Fish & Wildlife cases, Traffic Violations, Bond Hearings, Domestic Violence, Restraining Orders, Drug cases, Driving without a License and more listed below. We can represent you anywhere in the Florida Keys — Call us for Your Free Consultation Today at 1- (800)-908-9784 . 

• All Drug Cases
• Aggravated battery
• Battery on law enforcement officer
• Grand theft
• Petit theft
• Domestic battery
• Injunctions
• Firearm cases
• Juvenile cases
• Restraining orders
• Seal/Expunge cases
• Violations of probation
• Fish and Wildlife violations
• Driver’s license suspensions
• Traffic Tickets

Expunctions and Sealing Your Record

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement provides a service through which certain criminal records can be expunged (removed from our records) or sealed (placed under highly restricted access). The process required for sealing a record can be a long and costly procedure. As your Key West defense attorney, we can help you ensure that all necessary documentation, fees and motions are completed correctly and submitted on time.

The laws and rules which govern expunction or sealing of criminal history record(s) include: Sections s.943.0585 – s.943.059, Florida Statutes and Chapter 11C-7, Florida Administrative Code.

When it comes to criminal charges involving alcohol-related driving offenses, the permanency of the impact that an arrest or conviction can have on your life and future should not be underestimated. For example, read the following scenarios to see if any apply to you.

1. If you’ve been arrested, you have a record, even if the case was dismissed
2. A juvenile record may not seal automatically when you turn 18
3. A felony conviction never goes away unless it is expunged or sealed
4. Your court arrest record is publicly accessible unless it is expunged or sealed
5. Your arrest record may not ever completely disappear, even if you have a court order

If you fall into one or more of the categories above, you may be eligible. There may be a way for you to seal or expunge the record. Defendant’s whose cases were either dismissed or dropped may be able to seal any record of the arrest or court proceedings. Furthermore, defendants who were not convicted of DUI, but have had their charges reduced, may be eligible to request their record be sealed.

The Difference Between Sealing and Expungement

In Florida, sealing a record and expunging a record are two different legal processes but the practical differences are minimal. The essential different simply depends on the nature of the record you are seeking to seal or expunge. If you were arrested and convicted, either by pleading guilty, no contest or being found guilty by the court but the court withheld adjudication, you may be eligible for sealing the record. If, on the other hand, your case was either dismissed or dropped by the judge or state and you did not have to go to trial, then you may seek expungement of the arrest and charge record.

The other difference between sealing and expungement is the outcome. When a record is sealed, there will be no public access to the specific record and the individual in question may legally answer “No” when asked whether he or she has ever been arrested. Special government agencies and related entities may still have access to an individual’s sealed criminal history and the individual may not legally deny the arrest.

Expunging a record effectively destroys the record of the arrest and any related records as well. The only entity that may access an expunged record is law enforcement and that can only be done by court order. Without a court order, law enforcement will only see a note on the record in question that a specific criminal history has been expunged.

Our firm has handled hundreds of expunction cases. If you are interested in finding out if you
are eligible for an expunction or sealing, please give us a call and we can review your case. If you are eligible, we can handle the process for you at a very fair fee. It is worth clearing your record if that is an option.