The moment you’re arrested, everything changes.
The handcuffs, the police car, the booking process. It all feels like you’ve already been found guilty. Your mugshot might end up online. Friends and family start asking questions. Your employer might find out. In high-profile cases, your name could even appear in news reports before you’ve had your day in court.
But here’s what many people forget in that moment of crisis: an arrest is not a conviction.
The Difference That Defines Your Future
Being arrested simply means law enforcement believes they have probable cause that you committed a crime. That’s a much lower standard than the proof required for conviction.
Probable cause is just enough evidence to justify taking you into custody. It’s not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. It’s not a jury verdict. It’s not a judge’s ruling.
A conviction only happens after the prosecution proves your guilt in court, you plead guilty as part of a negotiated agreement, or you’re found guilty at trial. Until one of those things occurs, you are legally innocent. The presumption of innocence isn’t just a legal phrase. It’s your constitutional right and the foundation of our justice system – and what Pakett Law aims to protect for each and every client we work with.
The gap between arrest and conviction is where experienced criminal defense attorneys in West Palm Beach do their most important work.
The Pakett Law Group, PA is committed to providing our clients with the highest quality representation. With over a decade of legal experience, West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer Brian T. Pakett and his team of West Palm Beach criminal lawyers possess a comprehensive understanding of Florida criminal law – which can benefit you in your time of need.
Why Skilled Defense Matters From Day One
Prosecutors and police want you to believe the case against you is airtight. They want you to think fighting the charges is pointless. They hope you’ll panic, make statements without an attorney present, or accept a plea deal out of fear rather than careful legal analysis.
This is exactly when you need an attorney who’s handled difficult, high-stakes cases and knows how to find weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. At Pakett Law, we’ve built our reputation defending clients in some of West Palm Beach’s most challenging and publicized criminal cases. We know that what looks like strong evidence to law enforcement often falls apart under scrutiny.
Evidence gets excluded because police violated constitutional rights during searches or interrogations. Witnesses change their stories or turn out to be unreliable. Forensic evidence gets challenged by our experts. Prosecutors overcharge cases, hoping defendants will plead to lesser offenses rather than risk trial. An experienced defense attorney recognizes these tactics and knows how to counter them.
The Stakes Are Too High to Accept Defeat
An arrest might be public, but a conviction has consequences that follow you for life. A criminal record affects employment opportunities, professional licenses, housing applications, and even child custody matters. Some convictions carry mandatory minimum sentences that judges can’t reduce regardless of circumstances. Sex offense convictions require a registry that restricts where you can live and work.
This is why the distinction between arrest and conviction matters so much. With aggressive, skilled legal representation, many arrests never become convictions. Charges get dismissed when we prove the prosecution can’t meet their burden of proof. Cases get reduced to lesser charges that don’t carry the same long-term consequences. Sometimes we win outright acquittals at trial.
Don’t Let an Arrest Define You
If you’ve been arrested in West Palm Beach or anywhere in Palm Beach County, remember that you haven’t been convicted of anything. You still have rights. You still have options. You can still fight back.
At Pakett Law, we represent clients facing serious criminal charges, including cases that attract media attention and public scrutiny. We understand the pressure you’re under and the fears you’re facing. We also understand how to build winning defense strategies that protect your rights and your future.
An arrest is not a conviction. Don’t accept one without a fight. Contact Pakett Law today for a confidential consultation about your case. Your future is too important to leave to chance.
The Pakett Law Group, PA is committed to providing our clients with the highest quality representation. With over a decade of legal experience, West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer Brian T. Pakett and his team of West Palm Beach criminal lawyers possess a comprehensive understanding of Florida criminal law – which can benefit you in your time of need.