Criminal Defense Lawyer in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is home to the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and other iconic sports franchises. It is also where historic events such as the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington and Concord took place. There are several prestigious institutions of higher learning within the state’s borders such as MIT, the University of Massachusetts, and Boston College. Of course, the one place that you don’t want to visit while in the state is the inside of one of its many local jails.
Jail Time Isn’t a Given in a Criminal Case
There is a chance that you might get through the entire legal process without ever setting foot in a jail cell. However, this depends on a number of factors that you may or may not be able to control.
First, state law may dictate that you spend at least a few hours in jail after being taken into custody. In some cases, even if you could be given an appearance ticket, the officer who takes you into custody may believe that letting you go could pose a safety risk to yourself or others.
If you are allowed to go free until your next court date, it doesn’t mean that you case is over; you can still convicted of a crime that carries a jail or prison sentence.
Ideally, you will hire an attorney who may prevent you from saying or doing anything that might convince a judge that you need to be held in county jail. Your attorney will likely discourage you from making statements that might imply that you have committed additional crimes or discourage you from not showing up in court as required.
Furthermore, your legal counsel may take steps to minimize your risk of saying anything at trial that might undermine your legal position. Making an incriminating statement might make it harder to obtain an acquittal or a plea deal that allows you to avoid jail or prison time.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Brian J. Kuester
Former U.S. Attorney
Former DA
Amanda Marshall
Former U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Joe Brown
Former U.S. Attorney
& Former District Attorney
Local Counsel
John W. Sellers
Former Senior Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice
Local Counsel
Linda Julin McNamara
Former Chief, DOJ Appeals
Local Counsel
Joanne Fine DeLena
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Aaron L. Wiley
Former Federal Prosecutor
Local Counsel
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (OIG)
Chris Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Kevin M. Sheridan
Former Special Agent (FBI)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Dennis A. Wichern
Former Special Agent-in-Charge (DEA)
You Need an Objective Advocate on Your Team
One of the other key reasons why you are encouraged to hire a Massachusetts criminal defense attorney from The Criminal Defense Firm is that an attorney can take an objective look at your case. As a general rule, you won’t be able to look at your case objectively because you directly experienced the facts of the case and have to deal with the emotions that they left you with.
Therefore, you may be tempted to claim that a police officer violated your rights when no such violation occurred. You may also make statements to friends, family members or others in an effort to convince them that you did nothing wrong. Of course, saying anything about your case to anyone may be the biggest mistake that you can make.
Looking at a case objectively makes it easier to create a legal defense that takes the facts of the matter into account. If your lawyer does put out a statement to the media, it will be done in a strategic manner as opposed to coming from a place of frustration or fear.
Finally, taking an objective view of a case may make it easier to find errors that can be used to your advantage. For instance, you may not have been a victim of police brutality, but it’s possible that an officer forgot to read your Miranda rights before taking you into custody. It’s also possible that evidence was obtained in violation of your Fourth Amendment rights. This may weaken the case against you to the point where charges are dismissed before trial.
The Types of Case We Handle at The Criminal Defense Firm
Our firm handles almost any type of criminal case that our clients bring to us. Therefore, if you are charged with drunk or reckless driving, one of our attorneys will likely be able to assist. If you are charged with drug possession, robbery, or attempted murder, we can likely help you defend against those charges as well.
Finally, our team will likely be able to handle cases involving sexual offenses, fraud, or crimes involving minors. Let’s take a closer look at some of the more common offenses tried at the state level.
Drunk driving
State law prohibits drivers from operating motor vehicles with a blood alcohol content (BAC) higher than .08%. Commercial drivers cannot have a BAC of more than .04% while drivers under 21 cannot drive with a BAC at or above 0.02%. You may be charged with a drug DUI if you’re found to be impaired by marijuana, prescription medication, or other controlled substances.
Drug possession
You cannot be in possession of any amount of most controlled substances such as cocaine, heroin, or LSD. Furthermore, it is illegal to be in possession of prescription medication that belongs to another person. If you are found with a significant quantity of an illicit substance, you may be charged with felony possession or possession with intent to distribute.
Violent Crimes
Murder, assault, and domestic violence are among offenses classified as violent crimes. This is because they usually involve the use of some sort of force to carry out. Crimes such as armed robbery may also be considered violent even if no one is shot, stabbed, or otherwise injured during the duration of the event. In most cases, violent crimes are classified as felonies.
Financial Crimes
Fraud and tax evasion are two offenses that may be handled at the state level. However, there is a chance that federal authorities will take over the cases as more evidence is uncovered. This may be especially likely if the fraud impacted a federal source of funding or if a crime occurred in multiple states. For example, if you used a computer in Boston to target a victim in New York City, that would likely become a federal case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I refuse to talk to the authorities?
You have the right to remain silent throughout the legal process, and if you are compelled to talk without a lawyer present, any statements that you make may be ruled inadmissible at trial. In addition, you have the right to refrain from testifying during your trial, and your refusal to speak will have no bearing on the outcome of your case. It is worth noting that any statements that you make voluntarily can be used against you regardless of when they were made or why.
What does it mean to be charged with a crime?
If you are charged with a crime, it means that the government believes that there is probably cause to believe that you broke the law. However, it doesn’t mean that you actually did anything wrong, and it is up to the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you should be punished for your actions. Therefore, it’s possible that a charge will be dropped or reduced at some point during the legal process, and it’s also possible that a jury will choose to acquit you of the charge. If you are acquitted, the state cannot try you again for the same crime.
What is attorney-client privilege?
The law says that private communications between an attorney and a client are considered privileged information. This ensures that you have the ability to speak freely about your case and provide your attorney with an adequate opportunity to defend your interests. Generally speaking, an attorney cannot discuss what is said with a client even after a case ends. Furthermore, confidentiality rules may apply to anything that is said during an initial consultation or at other points prior to hiring a Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer.
What can I expect during an initial consultation?
During the initial consultation, you will spend a few minutes telling us about yourself, your case, and providing any other basic information that might be relevant to your situation. We will then provide you with a contract that you can sign and return to us at your convenience. There is no obligation to use The Criminal Defense Firm, which means that you can ignore the document and continue your search for counsel. If you do agree to our terms, we will assign someone to your case and schedule another meeting where you can get more in-depth into the case.
Contact Us Today
If you are in need of a Massachusetts criminal defense attorney, contact The Criminal Defense Law Firm today. Many of our attorneys have spent time as federal prosecutors or have spent time working in federal government agencies such as the IRS, OIG, or DEA. Therefore, they understand how the government works and are capable of creating a defense that has a strong chance of helping you avoid a conviction in your case.
To get in touch with us, call our nationwide intake number at 866-603-4540. Our website also has a chat feature that allows you to get quick responses to your questions during normal business hours, or you can submit our contact form and we’ll get back to you quickly.