Learn About Process After Your Arrest

Criminal Defense Attorney Serving White Plains & Westchester County

Being arrested can be traumatic. The decisions you make immediately after an arrest can dramatically impact the outcome of your case, including your liberty and other rights. It is imperative that you contact a Westchester County criminal defense lawyer to ensure that your rights are properly protected.

Remain Polite & Respectful

Even if you think you were arrested without a basis, it is important that you remain calm and polite. Displays of aggression and hostility will only further aggravate your circumstances. Talking back to an officer may result enhanced charges against you. Showing courtesy and respect can help diffuse a stressful situation and ensure your rights are protected. You will have the opportunity to bring forward any claims you have that either you were mistreated or falsely arrested, but you should do so with the benefit of competent attorney and through the appropriate remedies.

Invoke Your Rights

An arresting officer who intends to interrogate you while in custody must first read you your Miranda Rights.

These rights include:

The right to remain silent
Being told that anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law
The right to have a lawyer present while you are questioned
The right to have a court appointed lawyer if you cannot afford a lawyer

Hire an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney

The New York Penal Law and Criminal Procedure Law can be complex, and unless you are well versed with how the criminal process functions, it can be difficult to understand even in misdemeanor cases. Criminal defense lawyers receive years of law school training and typically have comprehensive experience defending criminal matters. Even if you ultimately plan to plead guilty, you should seek legal counsel to guide you through the process and to ensure that you are not being punished more aggressively than is appropriate. A criminal defense attorney, because of their training, is likely to see issues with the prosecution that a non-lawyer or other type of practitioner, would not typically see.

Procedures After an Arrest

After arrest, you will be taken to the police station where you will be fingerprinted and photographed. You will then go before a judge where you will be arraigned and specifically, learn what charges you are facing. Bail may be set, which is an amount of money which you (or someone of your behalf) will be required to post in order for you to get out of custody and be at liberty while your case is pending. It is important that you seek legal counsel as early as possible in the process; the proper handling of these early stages can often times be critical to the outcome of your case.

You are welcome to contact the Law Offices of John Raimondo. We have handled thousands of cases in Westchester County and New York Metro Area. You may contact us at (914) 996-4511.

Testimonials

“From day 1 John Raimondo was sympathetic and gave nothing but great advice this was my first time being in trouble with the law/DV case and he put my mind at ease. Ultimately John was able to get me ...”
- M.C.
“My family and I were involved in a highly complex commercial litigation involving an asset worth in excess of 20 million dollars. I myself have been admitted to practice law for almost 15 years and ...”
- Joseph S. (attorney admitted to the practice of law)
“I am a former prosecutor in New York City and have been a defense lawyer for almost 15 years. Some years ago, I was involved in defending a felony DWI case on behalf of a client. Knowing the high ...”
- Andrew B. (admitted member of the bar)
“Over the last several years, I turned to John to represent me in several cases. One case was originally charged as a felony DWI and John was able to fight to get me a reduction to a misdemeanor. I ...”
- K.P.
“I was charged with a DWI with a blood alcohol reading which was two times the legal limit in the Town of Mamaroneck. John tried to do everything to resolve the case before trial. The prosecution would ...”
- K.B.