Collateral Consequences of Arrest for Professionals / Careers

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Professionals Charged with Crimes in Florida

Tampa Attorney on Representing Professionals

At the Sammis Law Firm we are experienced in representing professionals charged with criminal offenses, including teachers, pilots, members of law enforcement and the military, nurses and other licensed health care professionals and students who may apply for such a position. If your career is on the line then contact an attorney that can give you advice on how to deal with the criminal charge and still protect your ability to practice your chosen profession.

Remain Silent About the Allegation

After an investigation begins, and certainly after an arrest is made, it is important to seek out qualified legal representation immediately. Never make a statement to a co-workers, supervisor, disciplinary board, or any law enforcement officer until AFTER you have spoken with a criminal defense attorney.

The fact that you invoke your right to remain silent can not be used against you in any criminal proceeding (that means the jury would not be told at trial that you wanted to speak to an attorney or refused to talk about the allegation). Likewise, licensed health professionals in Florida also have the same right to remain silent that applies to administrative proceedings.

College Students

The attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm often represent students from some of the area colleges, including the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa after an arrest or criminal accusation. College or university students have special concerns after a criminal accusation is made against them. Each college or university publishes a "Code of Conduct" which usually provides that any student accused of a crime may be prosecuted under State or Federal law and also disciplined under the Student Code of Conduct.

In order words, the facing additional sanctions imposed on a college student are administrative in nature. Therefore, double jeopardy issues do not typically arises in disciplinary proceedings against a college or university student. If the student is suspended or expelled from the school, the student is not usually able to obtain a full refund for tuition or housing expenses.

Even if the university or college takes no action, students should discuss with their attorney any future employment plans, particular if they intend to pursue a career in the military, law enforcement, the legal profession, the health care industry or as a pilot or CDL driver.

Read more about how we defend College Students Charged with a Crime in Florida.

Teachers and Certified Educators

For public school teachers and other certified educators in Florida, the Office of Professional Practices with the Florida Department of Education is responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct including allegations that a misdemeanor or felony offense was committed.

Florida Statutes Section 1012.796 provides that any complaint and all information obtained pursuant to the investigation by the Florida Department of Education's Office of Professional Practices Services are confidential and exempt from public disclosure until the conclusion of the preliminary investigation.

Once a case has been opened, the Office of Professional Practices Services with the Florida Department of Education will send you notice via certified mail which will inform you that it has information that the teacher or certified educator was arrested and charged with a criminal offense, The letter will state that if the allegations are founded, the allegations could lead to disciplinary action against the teacher or certified educator's Florida Educator Certificate up to and including permanent revocation.

Within ten (10) days of receipt of the letter, the teacher or certified educator and or his legal representation or criminal defense attorney may send to the Office of Professional Practices Services in the Florida Department of Education documents or names of evidentiary witnesses that are pertinent to the case.

At the conclusion of the preliminary investigation by the Office of Professional Practices Services, the teacher or certified educator and his legal representation or criminal defense attorney may be notified by certified mail of the date and time to review the investigation materials and respond to the allegations.

The rules and statutes that govern the process can be found at www.myfloridateacher.com. Read more about teachers and certified educators arrested or charged with a crime in Florida.

Licensed Health Care Professionals

Doctors, nurses and other licensed health professionals have many concerns after an arrest or criminal investigation. In many of these cases a Department of Health (DOH) investigator will begin an investigation. Knowing the reporting requirements and having assistance during this investigation is critical.

Likewise, mounting an effective and aggressive defense requires representation as soon as possible after the investigation begins. A criminal defense attorney can present favorable information to the investigator on your behalf. Your criminal defense attorney is often in the best position to tell your side the story.

Read more about the defending - Health Care Professionals (Doctors and Nurses) Charge with a Crime including the DEA certificate of registration, surrender of controlled substance privileges, former or informal hearing after a Florida Department of Health investigation,

Contact the Sammis Law Firm to discuss your criminal case. We work with professionals in the medical and legal field, as well as military and law enforcement members to minimize the impact of a criminal investigation or arrest on their freedom and their career.

Finding an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney for Professionals Charged with a Crime

Contact our office to discuss how your career opportunities might be affected by an arrest or prosecution. Our criminal defense attorneys represent professionals such as members of the military at MacDill Air Force Base, pilots and airmen, civilian contractors at MacDill, law enforcement officers for the local, state or federal government, teachers in public or private schools and other certified educators, or nurses and other licenses health care professionals.

Call 813-250-0500 today to speak with a criminal defense attorney about the specific facts of your case.

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Sammis Law Firm, P.A.
1005 N. Marion St. Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 250-0500 · Fax: (813) 276-1600
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Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney representing clients throughout central Florida, for felony or misdemeanor crimes including: Hillsborough County for Tampa or Plant City, Pinellas County for St. Petersburg or Clearwater, Pasco County for Dade City or New Port Richey, Manatee County for Bradenton, Sarasota County, Polk County for Bartow or Lakeland, and Hernando County for Brooksville.

Find out information about defending drunk driving charges throughout the Tampa Bay area including :

DUI in Hillsborough County, DUI in Pasco County, DUI in Pinellas County, DUI in Polk County, DUI in Hernando County, and DUI in Manatee County.

We represent clients arrested for misdemeanor or felony charges in the following areas of Tampa Bay including: MacDill Air Force Base (AFB), University of Tampa, University of South Florida, Tampa International Airport (TIA), Raymond James Stadium, Brandon, Temple Terrace, Ybor City, Durant, Seffner, Riverview, Dover, Gulfport, Sun City Center, Gibsonton, Lithia, Apollo Beach, Wimauma, Odessa, Lutz, Mango, Ruskin, Sydney, Thonotosassa, Valrico or for drunk driving arrests in Florida, including: DUI in Clearwater, DUI in Bartow, DUI in Lakeland, DUI in Dade City, DUI in New Port Richey, DUI in Bradenton, or DUI in Brooksville.

This attorney website may contain testimonials from past clients or information about specific results obtained for other clients. Not all results are provided, and the results are not necessarily representative of the results obtained by our Tampa criminal defense lawyers in all cases. Past results are not necessarily an indication of a future result for any prospective client because the individual facts and circumstances may differ from those criminal cases mentioned herein.

We created this website to provide general information and educational materials. For your convenience, we have added links within this internet website that may lead to other websites, including website maintained by public entities or private third parties. The presence of such a third party links does not imply an endorsement of the third party website or its owner or the accuracy of its content.

Deciding which criminal defense attorney to hire for a case in Tampa or the surrounding areas of Tampa Bay is an important decision that should not be based solely upon lawyer advertisements or internet marketing. Before you decide which criminal justice lawyer to retain after a criminal accusation or arrest, ask our law firm to send you free additional written information about our qualifications and experience in fighting criminal cases. The information presented in this internet website should not be construed to be formal legal advice or the formation of an attorney / client relationship. If you need legal advice then you should talk directly with an attorney. Contact our attorneys to request additional written information without cost or obligation today.