Suppose you or someone you love has been charged with a crime, especially in New York. In that case, you’ll need a skilled Rochester criminal attorney to help you avoid becoming a part of some scary state statistics.
Rates of Incarceration and How a Rochester Criminal Attorney Can Help
The United States is the world’s leader in incarceration. With an incarceration rate of 664 per 100,000 citizens, the likelihood of being convicted once charged with a crime is staggering.
New York State’s rate alone is triple other NATO countries like Canada, France, and Italy.1
It’s important to note that you don’t need just any attorney to represent your case. You have to right to a public defender or to defend yourself. However, having a skilled Rochester criminal attorney with experience navigating the court system can be the key to keeping your freedom.
You’ll also want to ensure that the criminal defense attorney you hire has lots of experience with the crime you’ve been accused of.
Here are some of the most common cases requiring a Rochester criminal attorney.
Misdemeanors
A huge mistake that people make is thinking that they don’t need an attorney unless they’re facing a felony charge. Even with misdemeanors and non-incarceration cases, New York defendants should always ask a Rochester criminal attorney to evaluate their case.
Misdemeanor cases comprise over 80 percent2 of the cases processed by the U.S. criminal justice system. Yet, to many, misdemeanors don’t seem as serious as driving under the influence, domestic violence, or assault and battery felony charges.
Even misdemeanors must be taken seriously. This is because they can come with severe consequences like separation from family, time away from work, a criminal record of an arrest, and a possible conviction record.
Drug Crimes
New York state is known for being tough on drug crimes. You’ll need to hire an attorney immediately if you have been accused of possessing, distributing, or trafficking drugs.
Why?
Drug crimes in New York often come with serious add-ons. These include:
- Charges for distributing to someone under 21
- Paraphernalia charges
- Conspiracy charges
- Charges for proximity to a school zone
- Weapons charges
- Charges for driving under the influence
These add-ons can lead even simple charges to carry serious time.
Those accused of drug crimes significantly benefit from hiring an attorney with prosecution experience. This type of Rochester defense attorney knows how the other side thinks and how to avoid a conviction.
DWI (Driving Under the Influence)
Driving under the influence is strictly prohibited in New York State. Penalties for breaking DWI laws include:
- Loss of driving privileges
- Fines
- Jail time
A seasoned Rochester criminal attorney can help those charged with DWI reduce their charges or even get them dismissed.
Violent crimes
Rochester criminal attorneys also successfully defend against violent crimes such as domestic assault and assault and battery. However, unlike other kinds of crimes, violent convictions have severe direct and collateral consequences. These include up to 25 years in prison and loss of voting and gun ownership privileges.
Courts are cracking down on crime, especially when the felony charge is related to domestic violence. However, without a skilled Rochester criminal attorney, it is unlikely that complete dismissal of charges, a plea to a lesser offense, or a not-guilty verdict at trial is a possibility.
Sex Crimes
Being charged with a sex crime, even when innocent, is a life-changing event. Sex crimes are some of the most severely prosecuted offenses.
Types of sex crimes include:
- Child pornography
- Internet sex crimes
- Statutory rape
- Sexual assault
- Sexual abuse
- Prostitution
If you are convicted, you could face a lengthy prison sentence and lifetime registration as a sex offender. In addition, becoming a societal outcast is another huge possibility.
Even if released from prison, a sex offender is restricted in where they can live, where they can visit, the kind of job they can have, and even the type of credit they can obtain.
Thankfully, there is a big difference between a criminal arrest and a criminal conviction. A Rochester criminal attorney with experience defending serious cases is key to beating any charge involving sex.
Federal Crimes and White Collar Crimes
The federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigate federal charges. Federal charges include a range of crimes, from tax evasion to weapons charges to acts of terrorism.
Because federal prosecutors have virtually unlimited resources at their disposal, statistics3 show that they rarely lose.
This is why anyone charged with a federal crime hires a criminal attorney to investigate the best options.
Contact a Rochester Criminal Attorney Today
Regardless of the type of crime you’ve been accused of, the right to legal defense makes a big difference for you and your family. Contact the Law Office of Frank Ciardi for a free consultation with an experienced Rochester criminal attorney.
Resources:
[1] https://www.prisonpolicy.org/profiles/NY.html
[2] https://www.cato.org/research-briefs-economic-policy/misdemeanor-prosecution-recidivism