Criminal Defense Attorneys In Red Hook
No one wants to have to find a criminal defense attorney, but when you need one, you want to be able to put your total trust in them. Your lawyer will, quite literally, have your very freedom in their hands. That’s why clients turn to us.
At the Law Offices of Michael Pollok, PLLC, our attorneys have spent years building a reputation as caring, considerate defense lawyers for people all across Red Hook and the neighboring areas in New York. Our team speaks with clients one-on-one and gives them the attention and representation that they deserve during these extremely trying times.
Charges Our Team Defends
When building your defense, your attorneys will work closely with you, learning everything possible about your case. No matter what you’re facing, our lawyers can help you with charges including the following:
- Assault: New York’s assault law is defined by the intentional actions that cause physical harm to another. This is a broad definition that encompasses a lot of potential charges.
- Drug charges: New York drug law includes a lot of complexity in the approach to different substances and amounts, but these are some of the more aggressively pursued cases.
- Drunk driving: Driving under the influence (DUI) can include alcohol or illicit drugs, and either way, these charges can come with considerable legal trouble, from jail time to loss of license.
- Traffic offenses: Most people consider a traffic offense to be a minor concern, but if you have a lifestyle depending on your ability to drive, a potential loss of driving privileges is not so minor.
- Theft crimes: Theft, burglary and robbery are all types of theft crimes, which can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies based on individual factors of the case.
Our lawyers can also help clients who are seeking to appeal when mistakes and missteps led to an initial guilty verdict.
Always remember that no matter what criminal charge you are facing, you are innocent until proven guilty. No accusation, implication or aggressive investigation makes you guilty unless that case is proven in court. That’s where our team can make the biggest difference – by actively preserving your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Defense
It’s sensible to be worried about a criminal charge, but you don’t have to stay worried. Start by getting answers to your questions. Below are answers to a few questions our clients often ask first.
What should I do immediately if I am arrested or contacted by law enforcement?
The first thing you should do is inform the police that you will need to speak with a lawyer. Then you should cease speaking with law enforcement until you’ve contacted our team. The more you talk to police without an attorney present, the more damage it could do to your case. Our team can help you plan what to tell officers and advise you on when to stay silent.
What is the step-by-step process of a criminal case after an arrest?
After an arrest comes an arraignment, which is the first time you may see a judge on this charge. At arraignment, the court reads the official charges. It’s here that your attorney will first speak on your behalf before the court and enter your plea. After that, there will be pretrial motions, negotiations with prosecutors and, finally, your trial.
At every stage, our lawyers will aggressively defend your rights and strive to minimize the charges facing you. This may lead to a plea deal if they can reach a good outcome, but, when necessary, they may take your case all the way to a jury trial to defend your best interests.
What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor, and how will a conviction affect my future?
Most people consider misdemeanor and felony to be words used to generally describe the different severities of criminal charges. However, the terms have concrete definitions under New York law, and they’re fairly simple ones: Misdemeanors are crimes with a potential sentence of less than a year; felonies are charges with potential sentences of over a year.
That being said, the length of the sentence is not the only way to measure how seriously the consequences of a conviction can affect you. Serving time in jail certainly can be a massive problem for almost anyone, but whether the sentence is for six months or six years in jail, the impact it can have on an individual is difficult to define. In addition, there is the effect that a criminal record can have on your ability to secure a job post-release.
Worst of all, for some, is the potential long-term extra penalties, such as inclusion on the sex offender list for a sexual offense. These penalties – for even a misdemeanor sex offense – can follow a person for years.
Get Help From An Experienced Team Today
Our lawyers have decades of experience fighting for clients against all criminal charges. They are not afraid of what’s ahead, and they will fight for you with the confidence and skill required for you to rest easy. Reach out today to learn more by calling 845-406-9349 or sending an email using this form.