Charles E Jarrell, PA

03/22/2020

Dear friends:

Out of an abundance of caution and in order to do our part to promote the health and well-being of our community, we will be closing our physical office until further notice due to COVID-19. However, we will remain open remotely and we will continue to take telephonic consultations and appointments.

If anyone is in need of legal guidance or assistance during this time, please feel free to call/text me at (772) 242-3305 or email me at [email protected].

I am hopeful that life will return to normal sooner than later and I wish everyone the absolute best during these crazy times.

Stay safe and healthy!

Sincerely,

Charles E. “Eddie” Jarrell

10/10/2019

FYI: If you have unpaid court fines that were moved to collections (which may be preventing you from getting your license) you can go to the courthouse on Saturday, Oct. 12th and pay those fees without the extra 40% collections surcharge.

IRC: 9AM - 2PM at IRC courthouse
SLC: 9AM - 4PM at SLC clerk of court

https://www.flclerks.com/page/greenlight

07/23/2017

I am happy to announce that I will be moving to a new office on August 1, 2017! My new address will be 722 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960 (right next to social security administration office)!

05/22/2017

This is a great post from Chief Touchberry!

05/18/2017

Thank you to everyone for liking my page! I am happy to announce that my law firm website is now up and running. It is still a work in progress, but feel free to check it out!

http://www.jarrellpa.com/

05/05/2017

Senate Bill 118 has recently passed the Florida Legislature and is awaiting Governor Scott's signature to become law. If this law passes, anyone who has their criminal charges dropped or is found not guilty will have that arrest record sealed automatically.

Right now (even if this law doesn't get signed), if your charges were dropped or if adjudication of guilt was withheld, you can still have your records sealed so long as you follow the right steps; but it is a lengthy and moderately complex process. Under the current laws, no adult criminal records are automatically sealed or expunged.

Some disagree with this law and have called for Governor Scott to veto it. Some argue that the public has a right to know what a person was accused of doing even if those charges were later dismissed. They argue that people like Casey Anthony or George Zimmerman--or someone who is a serial child abuser but who keeps getting their charges dropped--would be entitled to have their arrest information sealed under this law.

Another thing this law would do is give people the ability to sue websites that profit off of publishing their sealed mugshot photos if those websites refuse to remove their information. There are many of these shady websites that take advantage of Florida's broad public record laws--they collect mugshots and arrest information and post it for everyone to see. Some of these website have a "click here to remove your photo" feature where they offer to remove your information so long as you pay them a steep fee (usually $400-$600 per posting). This seems like borderline extortion. This law would allow someone to demand that those companies remove their information without cost or face a lawsuit and attorney fees.

What do you think?

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/118/BillText/er/PDF

02/22/2017

The new removal policies from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are very different from President Obama's guidelines. Before, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was directed to focus primarily on removing undocumented people who were convicted of violent and dangerous crimes. Now, ICE is directed to target undocumented people who "have been charged with any criminal offense that has not been resolved" or who "have committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense." The policy also targets immigrants who have "abused" any public assistance program (but does not define what the word "abused" means), and targets any person who may "otherwise pose a risk to public safety or national security."

This is extremely broad language and it includes anyone who has been arrested for any minor criminal offense (even if the person is not actually guilty). Also, since entering the United States without being inspected by an immigration officer is technically a federal crime (8 U.S. Code § 1325), this new policy could apply to any person who entered the United States without inspection.

The DHS is telling immigrant families "do not panic" over its new removal policies; however, it is very difficult for families to not feel a sense of panic when it appears that the DHS plans to target an extremely broad group of people for removal.

If you or anyone you know has questions about what these new policies mean, now is the time to avoid rumors and incorrect internet forums and ask a professional. Also, if you or anyone you know has been arrested or may be at risk of arrest, it is very important to understand the consequences that criminal defense strategies may have on your immigration status.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/21/516433342/homeland-security-outlines-new-rules-tightening-enforcement-of-immigration-law

Two memos, signed by Secretary John Kelly, greatly expand the number of immigrants prioritized for removal. The rules do not affect "Dreamers" — people brought to the U.S. illegally as children.