Criminal Justice in Bartow, Polk County, Florida
Polk County Criminal Defense Attorney
If you have been arrested for a misdemeanor, DUI or felony criminal offense in Polk County, Florida, contact an experienced attorney about the best way to fight the charges against you. At the Sammis Law Firm our lawyers focus exclusviely on criminal defense. We represent clients at every stage of the criminal case from the first appearance within 24 hours after the arrest, an emergency bond hearing, arraignment, pre-trial disposition hearings, pre-trial conferences, through a jury trial.
The key to obtaining the best result is often having experienced and aggressive representation early in your case. It is also important to retain a lawyer that is familiar with the particular criminal law procedures and practices that are most effective in Bartow, Polk County, Florida.
Call for a Consultation to Speak with an Experienced Attorney Today
If you are interested in speaking with a criminal defense attorney about fighting your criminal cases in Polk County, FL, then contact the Sammis Law Firm today to speak with a lawyer over the phone or in the office at 813-250-0500. Our criminal defense lawyers are on call to talk with you about your case even after normal business hours or on weekends.
Our website provides information any various criminal offenses in Florida, including the special procedures and considerations that may apply to your criminal case in Polk County, FL. Click on one of the links below for more information about criminal law in Polk County, Florida, involving your particular charge. At the Sammis Law Firm, P.A., we represent clients charged with felony and misdemeanor crimes in Bartow, Florida, including the following offenses:
- DUI, including "refusal" DUI and felony drunk driving charges;
- Driving on a Suspended or Revoked Driver's License, including with or without knowledge and habitual traffic offender cases;
- Reckless driving;
- Habitual traffic offender (HTO), including fighting to remove the five year revocation through a post-conviction motion to undo one of the underlying offenses that caused the HTO revocation;
- Violation of Probation (VOP), including motions for early termination of probation;
- Theft offenses, including shoplifting (petit theft), grand theft, dealing in stolen property, employee theft, fraud, or credit card fraud;
- Domestic violence, including domestic assault, domestic battery, battery, stalking, aggravated battery, retraining orders, or violation of protective order;
- Domestic Battery;
- Drug crimes from possession of marijuana to trafficking, nebia / nebbia hearings;
- Vehicle forfeiture or asset forfeiture;
- Juvenile Court criminal cases;
- Criminal appeals;
- Extradition to Bartow, Polk County, FL on a Fugitive Warrant;
- Resolving an outstanding warrant including a bench warrant, an arrest warrant, or a capias for your arrest after a failure to appear or failure to comply with a court order;
- Seal or Expunge - erase a criminal record from Bartow, Polk County, FL.
Contact an experienced and aggressivecriminal defense attorney for Bartow, Polk County, Florida, about the best way to fight the criminal charges pending against you. Call us today at 813-250-0500 to speak with an attorney about your criminal case.
Particular Criminal Justice Programs Unique to Polk County
The prosecutor's office in Polk County has several programs that are unique to Polk County that allow the prosecutor to drop the charges after the client completes community service and other conditions. In certain misdemeanor cases your attorney may be able to convince the prosecutor to allow you to participate in a pretrial deferred prosecution "PDPP" program.
If the prosecutor agrees, then you will fill out a PDPP recommendation sheet. Within two (2) weeks the director of the program will contact you to schedule an interview. During the interview certain requirements will be assigned such as:
- Payment for investigative costs to the appropriate law enforcement agency (if any);
- Payment of a cost of prosecution to the State Attorney's Office in Bartow;
- Completing community service hours (the number of hours can often be negotiated with the prosecutor prior to being referred to the program);
- Payment of restitution to the alleged victim in the case;
- Attending a behavior modificaiton or conseling program such as an anger management class called A.I.M., which stands for "Anger is Management");
- Having no contact with the victim unless approved by the court (this can often be negotated with the Polk County prosecutor prior to the PDPP referral); and
- Agreeing not to use or possess alcohol or illegal drugs.
Polk County DUI Lawyer - Criminal Defense and DUI Attorney representing men and women in Polk County, Florida, including the cities and towns of Bartow, Frostpoof, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Haines City, Auburndale, Polk City, Davenport, Mulberry, Fedhaven, Lake Hamilton, Dundee, Heights, Eagle Lake, Fort Meade, Highland Park, Hillcrest, Indian Lake Estates, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales, Nalcrest, and Providence, FL. Contact a Bartow DUI Attorny / Lawyer for more information.
Criminal Case Resources in Polk County, Florida
Clerk of Court for Polk County, FL - Includes a criminal search database to track your criminal case prosecuted in Polk County, Florida, by name or case number.
Clerk of the Circuit Court for Polk County
255 N Broadway Ave
Bartow, FL 33830
Phone Number: (863) 534-4540
State Attorney's Office in Polk County - For the Tenth (10th) Judicial Circuit of Florida.
State Attorney's Office255 N. Broadway Ave.Bartow, FL 33830Telephone Number: (863) 534-4800
Polk County Sheriff's Office - The Polk County Sheriff's Office is a full service law enforcement agency serving Polk County Florida. Polk County is the fourth largest county in the state by size at over 2,000 total square miles. The Sheriff of Polk County is an independent constitutional officer who is statutorily charged with the responsibility of providing all primary law enforcement services within Polk County.
Sheriff Grady JuddPolk County Sheriff's Office455 North Broadway AvenueBartow, FL 33830Phone Number: 863-533-0344 / 863-534-6200 / 1-800-226-0344
Bartow Police Department -
Bartow Police Department450 N. BroadwayBartow, FL 33830Phone Number for Non Emergencies: (863) 534-5034
Winter Haven Police Department - The Winter Haven Police Department consists of 83 sworn police officers and and 23 civilian employees serving the second largest municipality in Polk County, Florida, with a population of more than 26,000.
Winter Haven Police Department125 N. Lake Silver Drive NWWinter Haven FL 33881(863) 291-5858
Haines City Police Department
Haines City Police Department35400 Highway 27Haines City, FL 33844Phone Number: (863) 421-3636Fax: (863) 421-3640
DUI School in Polk County, FL
Polk County DUI SchoolTri-County Human Services, Inc.
1811 Crystal Lake Drive
Lakeland, FL 33801
Telephone Number: (863) 701-1919
Fax Number: (863) 293-1214
Lakeland Police Department
Lakeland Police Department219 North Massachusetts AvenueLakeland, Florida 33801Non-emergency Phone Number: (863) 834-6900
Public Defender's Office in Polk County - Court appointed attorneys representing indigent clients in the Tenth (10th) Judicial Circuit in Florida.
Polk County Public Defender's Office255 N. Broadway Avenue
P.O. Box 9000, Drawer PD
Bartow, FL 33831-9000
Florida's 10th Judicial Circuit - Find out more information about the criminal justice system in for the judicial circuit that comprises the following counties: Polk County, Hardee County, and Highlands County.
City of Bartow, Florida - Read more about the City of Bartow, in Polk County, Florida, and the services provided by the city.
Official Website for Polk County, Florida - Information on Polk County, Florida, and the services provided by the county.
Map to Polk County Courthouses