Just Arrested?

What to do if you or a family member is arrested or contacted by the police

The first thing you obviously want is to get out of jail. We can assist you. Miami-Dade County has programs for releasing people without cost. This is usually for non-violent offenses.

Click here for more information on getting a bond, or getting your bond lowered.

Once we have done everything we can to get you out of jail, we will begin working on your defense. You need to understand that in many cases, the police are still investigating the case against you, even after you’ve been arrested. But you have rights.

You can never be forced to speak with police or prosecutors and provide them with evidence against you.

It is crucial to remember that no defendant ever has to speak to the police and the decision of a defendant not to speak to the police can never be used against that person in court.

Once you’ve been arrested, let your attorney do the talking.

At Woodward and Reizenstein, we will investigate the case against you, looking for ways to challenge the evidence or present new evidence that may serve to exonerate you.

One of the things we can do is file a motion to suppress specific evidence because it was not properly collected or is in some way legally insufficient. If you have already spoken to police, we can challenge the legality of any statement you may have given and work to get that thrown out of court.

We will depose the witnesses against you, looking for inconsistencies that may go in your favor, either in pre-trial motions, or during a trial.

We can also negotiate with prosecutors in an effort to get you a favorable plea offer. If your case does go to trial, we’ll be there beside you, ensuring that your rights are respected and everything possible is done to win a favorable verdict.

Jackie Woodward and Phil Reizenstein have taken hundreds of cases to trial. And they have won many of them.