3942 people were forcibly deported from South Florida by Homeland Security during the first six months of 2007.

5889 people were deported from South Florida during the first six months of 2008.

An increase of over 2000 deportations during the first six months of 2008.

Starting in 2007 federal authorities have focused on deporting inmates in Florida correctional institutions: those charged with aggravated assault, weapons charges, kidnapping, sex offenses, cocaine possession, drug trafficking, money laundering, sexual assault and sexual battery are priority deportations.

The expanded scope of federal authorities in seeking deportation of those charged with or convicted of crimes means a successful criminal defense is critical.

Criminal lawyers throughout South Florida increasingly have to consider the immigration and deportation consequences of an arrest and conviction.

For many criminal defense attorneys in South Florida this new focus on the immigration aspects and considerations of their clients is uncharted territory. Increasingly those arrested and charged with crimes in South Florida are demanding their criminal defense lawyer give them quality advice on immigration issues.

Attorney Ralph Behr, whose practice is limited to criminal defense and state and federal court, has expanded the scope of criminal defense services to include immigration consultations with prominent immigration attorneys in Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

For more information or consultation call one 800-761-3446

In Florida anyone convicted of a sex crime, or sexually motivated crime, can be designated either as a sexual offender or a sexual predator.

These sex crimes designations come with the most restrictive forms of supervision of any category of crime. Drug trafficking, cocaine possession and cocaine delivery, theft crimes and murder does not restrict where you may live. Sex offense probation does.

Drug crime convictions usually get you drug offender probation.

In drug cases you are supervised as to your use of controlled substances.

Sex crimes come with onerous restrictions which are almost impossible to observe. Many if not most probationers on sex crime probation have the most problem with housing. Now it gets even tougher.

Obtaining housing, either alone or with family in South Florida cities and towns, such as Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and Hollywood may soon be more restricted than most probation and community control rules.

Many towns have by local ordinance increased the State mandated 1000 foot range to 2500 feet. Living if you’re a sex offender or a designated sexual predator soon becomes much harder.

Florida law makes it a crime for sex offenders and predators tot live within 1,000 feet of a school, park or child care facility. Many local towns, such as Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, and soon West Palm Beach have followed the lead of other Florida cities and counties.

Soon towns may mandate a 2,500 feet distance: a full quarter mile. Nowhere in Broward County can you be more than a quarter mile from a school bus stop.

Probation violations are a problem every convicted felon on probation must deal with.

Contact your local criminal attorney for a consultation. The Law offices of Ralph Behr is available to counsel you or a family member under probation supervision or community control in Florida.

Now those convicted of crimes in Florida and serving time in prison can prepare for work in casinos while completing their sentences.

Florida convicted inmates received gift packs of playing cards from the West Palm Beach Police.

The cards will soon be given to every prisoner in custody serving sentences with the Florida Department of Corrections.

The playing cards have information, photographs and criminal information concerning closed and unsolved criminal cases.

Blackjack anyone in cellblock C?

The West Palm Beach police department dedicated time over the past six months searching through old cases and tracking down photos from closed cases.

The playing cards contain pictures of victims and information about the crime.

Cold cases in South Florida, with an emphasis on homicides in West Palm Beach dating back to January of 2000 are on the playing cards.

South Florida, Palm Beach, Broward County, Fort Lauderdale and Miami have a large number of inmates serving in prison. If anyone has information from the cards they can contact a criminal defense attorney in any Florida city or town and ask for a sentence modification.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Florida criminal defense attorney Ralph Behr was recently featured at North America’s largest book show the Book Expo America, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The book CAN THE POLICE LIE TO ME? is the first true self-help book for the 13,000,000 Americans who are brought into the criminal justice system as defendants every year. The book is currently available at amazon.com and other leading book retailers.

Criminal attorney Ralph Behr, is representing or has been retained to counsel and advise other local criminal lawyers for over ten clients being prosecuted under the new statewide and federal task forces targeting mortgage brokers.

Criminal lawyers throughout Florida have seen a marked increase in arrests of mortgage brokers in the major cities of Fort Lauderdale and Miami .

Over 400 arrests have been made nationwide in what is now regarded as the first in a wave of prosecutions aimed at mortgage brokers and providers.

South Florida has been in the news because of falling real estate prices and rising mortgage defaults.

The prosecutions have been under theft and wire fraud criminal statutes and are both federal and state. Mortgage related crimes such as fraud are prosecuted as misstatement, misrepresentation, or omissions by an underwriter or lender.

In a press release to Florida newspapers, criminal attorney Ralph Behr announced his commitment to the fight to defend those charged with mortgage fraud.

Contact Information