In New York State, if you are charged with a misdemeanor or felony, you are required to have an attorney present with you at all stages of your case after you are arrested.  If you are charged with a non-criminal violation, such as disorderly conduct or harassment, or a non-criminal traffic offense, you will not [...]

No.  It is usually not in your best interest to plead guilty even if you committed the crime you are charged with. An experienced criminal defense attorney may be able to negotiate a plea to a lesser charge which could eliminate your criminal exposure entirely, or lessen potential penalties, fees, and/or surcharges.

At LaMarche Safranko Law, we pride ourselves on our teamwork approach.  Every case gets assigned to one of our partners and one of the associate attorneys so you will always have two points of attorney contact.  We hold weekly firm meetings to discuss and address cases so that in the case of an emergency ANY [...]

There is no set formula for how often you will hear from your attorney. However, the key to a successful attorney client relationship is communication. Whenever there is an important occurrence in your case you will be contacted or notified.  This will range from calls to discuss the discovery in your case, the results of [...]

When you’re charged with a crime in New York, one of the most important questions you’ll have is: “How can I get the best possible outcome in my case?” While every case is unique, the steps you take early on, from hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney to building a strong mitigation package, can [...]

You should bring all documents that you have regarding your arrest or the investigation including copies of any charges or subpoenas, appearance tickets, documents regarding any items seized, names/addresses of any witnesses, and any other information you deem important for your case.  At your initial meeting, your lawyer will begin to formalize and strategize regarding [...]

How long a criminal case takes will vary based upon the nature of the charges, the number of people charged, where you are charged, the complexity of the case and the amount of discovery involved.   For a breakdown of your criminal case and an overview of the criminal process, please see the Criminal Defense [...]

This answer depends on  many factors, including the seriousness of the charge(s), the significance of the investigation, whether the case will proceed to a trial or be resolved by way of a plea bargain,  the amount of  time devoted to your case, , the location of the court, whether written motions are submitted to the [...]

In general, it is best not to speak to the police or law enforcement without an attorney present.  You and your attorney can always decide whether to speak to the police or other investigators.  When you speak to law enforcement, your statements could potentially incriminate you and be used against you in your criminal case.

Prior to going to the police station, it is always best to contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer.  By contacting a lawyer first, law enforcement will likely tell your lawyer if charges have been or will be filed against you.  If charges are filed your lawyer can help, ensure that you will be released and/or [...]