The Miami-Dade Public Defender’s office has released a manual for the local community that explains the consequences of having a conviction, or pleading guilty in Florida.
Public Defender Carlos Martinez said his office created "What You Don't Know Can Hurt You: The Collateral Consequences of A Conviction in Florida" after seeing many defendants accept pleas or a withhold of adjudication without understanding what that means.
"When they’re told 'withhold' means you don’t have a conviction record, that’s only half correct. But you do have a criminal record and a finding of guilt, and that record impacts their ability to get a job."
Some of the other consequences outlined in the manual include ineligibility for social services, professional licenses, housing and student loans.
Martinez said the manual was created for his attorneys, but he's also sharing it with the community to debunk common misconceptions or misinformation about the criminal justice system in Florida.
