Perjury Attorneys Miami

What Should I Do If I Have Been Charged with Perjury?

Learning that you have been charged with perjury can be an overwhelming and distressing experience. However, the steps you take immediately after receiving such charges can significantly impact the outcome of your case.

Here are some important actions to take if you are facing perjury charges in Florida:

• Retain an experienced criminal defense attorney. Exercise your rights to remain silent and hire a lawyer to defend you. Do not attempt to navigate the legal system alone! A lawyer who has experience with these cases will understand the complexities of perjury laws and can work to build a strong defense. 
• Gather and preserve evidence. Start collecting any relevant documents and information that can support your defense. This may include e-mails, text messages, and any other communications that can demonstrate your state of mind or substantiate your claims of not intending to deceive. Your attorney can help identify important evidence that should be located and preserved.
• Avoid discussing the case. Refrain from discussing the details of your case with anyone other than your attorney. Casual conversations, especially those conducted over phone calls or social media, can be used against you in court. Let your attorney handle all communications related to your case.
• Stay composed and cooperative. Interacting with law enforcement or court officials can be intimidating, but it is important to remain calm and cooperative. Remember that being uncooperative or hostile can negatively affect your case. Provide necessary information, but always do so under the guidance of your attorney, who can help you navigate each stage of the legal process.

Potential Defense Strategies for Perjury in Florida

By examining the nature of your alleged falsehood and the conditions under which it was made, our team at Beckham Law Firm can work to develop a robust defense that puts you in the best possible position. Below are some of the perjury defense strategies we may explore, depending on your specific circumstances.

• Lack of intent. Since perjury requires the false statement to be made willfully and with knowledge of its falsehood, we can potentially argue that you did not know the statement was false at the time it was made. For example, demonstrating that you reasonably believed the information to be true or that there was a misunderstanding can negate the intent required for a perjury conviction.
• Recantation. Florida law provides an opportunity for recantation as a defense in perjury cases. Retracting a false statement during the same proceeding before the falsehood substantially affects the legal process can serve as a valid defense. The timing of the recantation is crucial. It must occur before the false statement has impacted the outcome or the decision-making process of the court.
• Ambiguity of statements. We might argue that the statements in question were not explicitly false but rather ambiguous or open to multiple interpretations. If the language or context of your statement can be reasonably interpreted in more than one way, we may be able to convince the court that your statement was not clearly false.
• Coercion and duress. In some cases, individuals may be compelled to make false statements under threat or coercion. Establishing that you were under significant pressure or duress when making your statement can serve as a mitigating factor or even a full defense. Evidence of threats or intimidation from other parties can help support this defense strategy.
• Insufficient evidence. Florida's perjury laws require corroborating evidence beyond the testimony of a single witness to secure a conviction. We could argue that the prosecution has failed to provide sufficient corroborating evidence to meet this requirement. By challenging the credibility, reliability, or sufficiency of the evidence presented, we can work to create reasonable doubt regarding your guilt.
• Entrapment. Entrapment occurs when law enforcement officials induce an individual to commit a crime they would not have otherwise committed. If we can demonstrate that the authorities essentially created the situation that led to your false statement, we can establish that your perjury charges arose from entrapment, which can be a viable defense. This strategy depends on demonstrating that you were targeted and manipulated into committing perjury by law enforcement.

Serving Miami and Miami-Dade County, Florida

At Beckham Law Firm, our criminal defense lawyers have over 35 years of combined legal experience that we are ready to put to work for your case. We have a comprehensive knowledge of perjury laws in the state of Florida and have effectively handled similar circumstances in the past. You deserve aggressive legal advocates when you are facing the harsh penalties that come with perjury charges, and our team is ready to fight for you.