Hillsborough County Criminal Defense Attorney,
Brancato Law Firm, P.A.
Brancato Law Firm, P.A.
Hillsborough County Criminal Defense Attorney | Brancato Law Firm, P.A.
| Short answer: A Hillsborough County criminal defense attorney represents people charged in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, where criminal cases are heard at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse and the Criminal Courthouse Annex in downtown Tampa, and some east county misdemeanors are heard at the Plant City Courthouse. Every arrest in the county is booked at the Orient Road Jail, and first appearance is held by video within 24 hours. The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. is located at 620 E. Twiggs Street, on the same street as the Edgecomb Courthouse, and defends felony and misdemeanor cases throughout Hillsborough County. |
Rocky Brancato, founder of The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., has practiced in Hillsborough County courts for more than 25 years. He served as Chief Operations Officer and Chief Assistant Public Defender of the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, overseeing a staff of over 100 attorneys, and he has tried more than 150 jury trials to verdict. Our attorneys at this Tampa criminal defense firm know the courthouses, the divisions, the prosecutors, and the diversion programs, and that local knowledge shapes every case from the first appearance on.
Where Are Criminal Cases Heard in Hillsborough County?
| Location | Address | What happens there |
|---|---|---|
| George E. Edgecomb Courthouse | 800 E. Twiggs St., Tampa | Criminal cases |
| Criminal Courthouse Annex | 401 N. Jefferson St., Tampa | Criminal cases and weekend first appearance by video |
| Plant City Courthouse | 301 N. Michigan Ave., Plant City | East county misdemeanor cases, including domestic violence |
| Orient Road Jail | 1201 Orient Rd., Tampa | Booking for every arrest in the county |
| Falkenburg Road Jail | 520 N. Falkenburg Rd., Tampa | Housing for people held in custody |
Sources: Thirteenth Judicial Circuit locations, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office facilities, and Administrative Order S-2025-012. Hillsborough County is the most populous county in Tampa Bay, with an estimated 1,574,115 residents in 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau), and law enforcement agencies here made 32,519 arrests in 2020 (FDLE).
What Happens After an Arrest in Hillsborough County?
- Booking. Every person arrested in Hillsborough County is booked at the Orient Road Jail. Family members can check custody status through the Sheriff’s Office arrest inquiry.
- Bond. Many charges have a set bond under the 2026 uniform statewide bond schedule, but some, such as domestic violence, require the person to see a judge first. Cash bonds are posted at Orient Road in the exact amount, and the Sheriff’s Office explains what is accepted.
- First appearance. First appearance is handled in Criminal Division O by audiovisual link under Administrative Order S-2024-030, within 24 hours of arrest. The judge reviews probable cause and sets release conditions.
- The filing decision. The State Attorney’s Office decides what charges to file, which can be different from, or less than, the arrest charges.
- Arraignment, discovery, and depositions. The defense receives the evidence and can question witnesses under oath.
- Resolution. Cases end in a decision not to file, a dismissal, a diversion program, a negotiated plea, or trial.
Hillsborough County does not have a supervised release program that replaces a money bond, as Pinellas County does. Pretrial supervision here is mainly GPS and alcohol monitoring run by the Sheriff’s Office as a condition of bond, under Administrative Order S-2026-038, and a 2025 state review found Hillsborough’s program accepts only defendants who have posted a secured bond (OPPAGA Report 25-10). That makes the bond argument at first appearance especially important. See our guides to bond hearings in Tampa, turning yourself in through a bond walkthrough, Hillsborough County jail inmate search, and the criminal court process in Hillsborough County.
For a step-by-step checklist, see our guide on what to do after being arrested in Tampa. If the arrest was for DUI, our post on the Hillsborough County DUI arrest timeline covers the 10-day license deadline and each court date.
Who Prosecutes and Defends Cases in Hillsborough County?
Felony and misdemeanor cases are prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Suzy Lopez, who took office in January 2025. The Public Defender for the Thirteenth Circuit, Lisa McLean, also took office in January 2025. Most arrests are made by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Chad Chronister, and the Tampa Police Department, along with the Plant City and Temple Terrace police departments, the University of South Florida police, and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Our post on choosing a public defender or private attorney in Tampa explains how the Public Defender’s Office is organized and what changes when you hire private counsel.
If you already have a lawyer and are thinking about a change, read How to Switch Criminal Defense Lawyers in Florida. Families who need a lawyer who speaks their language can learn about our Spanish-speaking criminal defense lawyer in Tampa.
Two of our guides explain how a case can end before trial: whether criminal charges can be dropped or dismissed in Florida and how the Florida speedy trial rule works after the 2025 amendments. For the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor in Florida, including the maximum penalty for each degree, see our charge-level guide.
What Diversion Programs Are Available in Hillsborough County?
The State Attorney’s Office lists several diversion and intervention programs, and the circuit runs problem-solving courts. Eligibility depends on the charge, the person’s record, and the prosecutor’s approval.
- Adult Pre-Arrest Diversion.
- Misdemeanor Intervention Program.
- DETRR, for drug possession cases. See our guide to the DETRR drug diversion program in Hillsborough County.
- Domestic Violence Intervention Program.
- Felony Pretrial Intervention, supervised by the Department of Corrections.
- Traffic Diversion.
- Adult Mental Health Court, Veterans Treatment Court, and Adult Drug Court.
Getting into the right program usually depends on what the prosecutor sees before the filing decision. Read our article on how early intervention can save a criminal case.
Families should also know about the Hillsborough County jail bond scam and the 21-day rule and adversarial preliminary hearings. If English is not your first language, read about the right to an interpreter in Florida criminal court. For more answers at each stage, see our stage-by-stage guide to the Florida criminal case process.
Criminal Charges We Defend in Hillsborough County
- DUI and criminal traffic offenses
- Drug crimes, including trafficking
- Violent crimes and gun charges
- Domestic violence
- Sex crimes and internet crimes
- Child abuse
- Homicide
- White collar and theft charges
- Cases involving mental health or forensic evidence
- Investigations before charges are filed
Our guides cover several of these charges in more depth: drug trafficking in Florida, aggravated battery charges in Hillsborough County, and the DUI defenses our attorneys use in Hillsborough County. We also defend people whose careers depend on the outcome, including college students arrested in Tampa, nurses and other healthcare workers, and teachers facing criminal charges.
Charged with shoplifting or another property crime? Our guide explains how to fight a theft charge in Florida, including the value thresholds that separate petit theft from grand theft. Facing a burglary charge instead? Read how to fight a burglary charge in Florida.
In some juvenile sex cases, a rehabilitation plan in Hillsborough County juvenile court can lead to dismissal of the charges.
Results in Hillsborough County Cases
These are results our firm has obtained. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
- Not guilty, kidnapping and robbery. A mistaken identity defense at trial in Plant City.
- Bond set at $75,000 on first-degree murder. Discovery showed there was no burglary and the facts were consistent with self-defense.
- Ybor City arrest: no charges filed. Video showed the conduct was not disorderly intoxication, and the client completed 10 hours of community service.
- A four-year-old felony warrant quashed and the case dismissed.
- Not guilty, robbery with a firearm (two counts). The firm’s own scene investigation supported mistaken identity.
See more on our case results page.
Areas We Serve in Hillsborough County
We defend clients from Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Plant City, Temple Terrace, Valrico, Seffner, Ruskin, Apollo Beach, Sun City Center, Wimauma, Lutz, Town ‘n’ Country, Westchase, and every other community in Hillsborough County.
Hillsborough County Criminal Defense FAQs
Where is first appearance held in Hillsborough County?
First appearance is handled in Criminal Division O by video with the jail, within 24 hours of arrest, and a duty judge handles weekends and holidays by video from the Criminal Courthouse Annex. The Brancato Law Firm can appear at first appearance to argue for release.
How do I find out if someone is in the Hillsborough County Jail?
Use the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrest inquiry online, which shows custody status, charges, and bond. The Brancato Law Firm can also check the status and the first appearance time for you; see our inmate search guide.
Does Hillsborough County have pretrial release supervision?
Hillsborough County does not have a supervised release program that replaces a money bond, but the Sheriff’s Office runs GPS and alcohol monitoring as a condition of bond. The Brancato Law Firm presents a release plan at first appearance that addresses the judge’s concerns.
Can charges be dropped in Hillsborough County before court?
Yes. The State Attorney’s Office decides what to file after the arrest, and a defense presentation before that decision can lead to no charges, reduced charges, or diversion. The Brancato Law Firm has had many Hillsborough cases declined before filing.
What diversion programs does Hillsborough County offer?
The State Attorney offers pre-arrest diversion, a misdemeanor intervention program, a drug diversion program, a domestic violence intervention program, traffic diversion, and felony pretrial intervention, and the circuit runs mental health, veterans, and drug courts. The Brancato Law Firm advises clients on which program fits and how to qualify.
Where is your office?
The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. is at 620 E. Twiggs Street, Suite 205, in downtown Tampa, on the same street as the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse.
Talk to a Hillsborough County Criminal Defense Attorney Today
Our attorneys at The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., founded by Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Rocky Brancato, are minutes from the Hillsborough County courthouses and can begin working on your case today. Call (813) 727-7159 for a confidential consultation. We also defend clients in Pinellas County and Pasco County.
The Brancato Law Firm, P.A.
620 E. Twiggs Street, Suite 205, Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 727-7159
Serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties
The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. is a Tampa-based criminal defense practice. We are not affiliated with any other Brancato-named law firms.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is unique, and outcomes depend on the individual facts and circumstances involved. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
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Tampa Office
620 E Twiggs St Suite #205
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 727-7159
Located minutes from the Hillsborough County Courthouse.
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