Manhattan
Criminal Defense
Lawyer
Manhattan Criminal Defense Attorney
Facing criminal charges in Manhattan is stressful, and it can even be more frightening when you don’t know how your case will go. Depending on your charges, you could be facing severe punishment. If you’re considering hiring a Manhattan criminal defense attorney, it could potentially alleviate a lot of the stress many defendants with criminal charges experience. Having a criminal lawyer take charge of your case can have a significant impact on the anxiety you’re feeling as well as the outcome of your trial.
The premier criminal defense legal team at the Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC, serves clients in Manhattan and throughout New York and New Jersey. Our law firm has had many successful case outcomes due in part to our commitment to our clients. We work tirelessly to provide them with the highest quality legal representation, no matter what criminal charges have been filed against them. We get to know our clients on a personal level, listening to what they have to say. Our firm gives each case the attention it needs to craft an optimal defense strategy uniquely tailored to the people and circumstances involved. Furthermore, our lawyers do all this while defending the interests and protecting the rights of our clients.
What Is Criminal Law?
Criminal law is a vast practice area of the legal system. It is a body of law that serves to modulate criminal offenses by defining the procedural apprehension, booking, charging, and trial of individuals suspected of committing a crime. It also dictates the punishments and applicable manners of penalties applied to respective crimes and defines to what extent those penalties should be applied. Traditionally, the purpose of criminal law was meant to make those guilty of committing a crime pay retribution for the harm they caused, penalizing them proportionately to the severity of the crime they committed. This is still one function of criminal law today, but there are other, more impactful purposes it serves in modern-day society.
For instance, criminal law is vital to communities in preventing crime from happening in the first place. By enacting punishments for crimes, in theory, individuals are deterred from committing crimes because of the potential consequences they face. Other contemporary applications of criminal law include reforming the offender and protecting the public. Ultimately, criminal law does all these things in its overall purpose of strengthening societal norms.
Why Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney?
The NYC court system can be an overwhelming place for many defendants, especially when facing first-time criminal charges. Before clients hire an attorney, they often don’t know where to start to work through the hearings and court dates, whom to talk to, who’s on their side and who’s not, and countless other calamities they face because of the offenses they’ve been charged with. However, when they make the decision to hire a private NYC criminal lawyer, it is possible to feel less bewildered.
A criminal defense attorney can not only explain the charges against you, and the potential punishments you could be facing, but they can also work with you to build a strong criminal defense for your case. A criminal defense attorney has a detailed knowledge of the court system and its procedures, allowing them to keep you apprised of court dates and court appearances. Additionally, they can communicate with the prosecuting attorney to try and minimize charges or the severity of any penalties. If necessary, an experienced criminal lawyer can aggressively litigate on your behalf.
The outcome of your case depends heavily on the way it is approached. Hiring a private, experienced NYC criminal attorney will most likely result in a different outcome for your case. Most cases that are represented by a private law firm that focuses on criminal defense end in a more favorable verdict and sentencing for the defendant than those without.
There are other ways that a lawyer can be an advantage to a criminal defense case, specifically. Some of the most common ways include:
- Investigating Your Case: When a criminal defense attorney accepts a case, the first thing they typically do is conduct a thorough investigation. This begins with a rigorous discussion with the defendant until the lawyer knows everything the client knows about the events in question. They investigate by speaking to witnesses, reviewing evidence, and collecting information about the victim or any other person or situation related to the case.
- Investigating Your Arrest and Booking: The investigation goes further by a scrutinization of arrest paperwork, booking information, and the prosecution’s case against the defendant. This is done to identify any loophole, error, mishandling of evidence, or other contradictory legality that may potentially contribute to a lessening of charges, avoidance of conviction, or reduced penalties.
- Hiring and Managing Investigators: If further investigation seems necessary, criminal defense attorneys often hire NYC private investigators, or other credible professionals, to reveal more insight into the case, the event leading up to the client’s arrest, or even things that occurred after the arrest. Private investigators can locate witnesses and even assist in revealing mistakes made by law enforcement. They may also be able to locate new evidence that corroborates the defendant’s story. It is virtually impossible for a defendant to gather these essential pieces of evidence without the help of professionals and an established NYC criminal lawyer. The goal of investigating a case is to locate and secure information that can be vital in establishing reasonable doubt for the jury.
- Handling Paperwork: There is a substantial amount of paperwork involved in a criminal case in NYC courts. It is easy to make simple errors when compiling forms, gathering documents, and submitting them as evidence or for other purposes. There is little room for mistakes to be made.
- Negotiating With Prosecutors: A criminal defense attorney has skills in negotiating deals with prosecutors to reduce charges or penalties when it applies to a case.
- Navigating You Through Your Trial: When a criminal case goes to trial, which many criminal defense cases do, a defense attorney knows the processes of the court and has been through them before. They know how to prepare necessary documents and connect with professional witnesses for credible testimonies on behalf of the defendant. Your attorney can conduct meaningful cross-examinations that could change the course of a case. They're trained to deliver compelling opening statements and closing statements, which could also significantly impact a criminal defense case if a jury is undecided.
- Offering an Objective Perspective: When a defendant is charged with a crime, they often have a disoriented perspective regarding their options. Remaining hopeful is good, but it's also important to be realistic about the situation. Criminal defense attorneys know how the law works and have experience with precedent cases. They can offer real and sound advice that their clients can use to help them make important decisions regarding their cases. A good attorney can also let their clients know what they can expect in case the outcome doesn't go as favorably as they hoped.
- Selecting a Jury: The experience of an established criminal defense attorney can provide insight into the type of jurors that would be most beneficial to the defendant’s case. They are skilled in determining which jurors may be biased during jury selection and which jurors may be sympathetic to their client.
- Providing Emotional Support: Criminal charges bring on a great deal of stress for defendants. Fear, anxiety, lack of confidence, and emotional distress are just a few of the mental effects a trial and court proceedings can have on an individual. When a competent defense attorney knows what's going on and provides the answers to pressing and important questions, it can greatly reduce stress and anxiety for the defendant, helping them cope with their situation and the possible consequences they're facing.
- Ending the Case Before the Prosecutor Has a Chance to File Charges: This is why it's important to get in touch with a criminal lawyer as soon as you get arrested. If there's time to gather crucial evidence, sometimes lawyers can prevent the prosecutor from filing charges and stop any court proceedings before they even begin.
Criminal Defense Lawyers FAQs
Q: At What Point Should You Ask for a Lawyer?
A: If you think you are under suspicion due to a police investigation, or a crime you knowingly committed, and you think you might be arrested, call a lawyer before that happens. If that’s not an option, ask for a lawyer as soon as you are arrested. Under the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, you have the right to legal counsel. Once you state that you wish to speak to your attorney, the police have to stop questioning you. Even if they don’t, under the 5th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, you have the right to remain silent, which means that you don’t have to say anything without your lawyer present. You do have to verbally state, though, that you want an attorney.
Q: What Should You Not Ask a Lawyer?
A: While it is always recommended that criminal defendants act respectfully and politely towards their lawyer, or anyone else for that matter, there is almost nothing you should feel uncomfortable asking your lawyer. In fact, you should ask your lawyer any question you have regarding their services, court proceedings, and your case, specifically. If a question comes up that your lawyer does not feel comfortable answering, or cannot answer due to the confidentiality of another case or client, they will tell you that they cannot answer it.
Q: Should You Tell Your Lawyer Everything?
A: The attorney-client relationship is unique in that it provides a privileged rapport that protects the information their clients share with them. This means that, if you tell your lawyer that you are guilty of your charges, even if those charges are murder, your attorney can’t tell anyone unless the client gives them permission to do so. It is important to relay the truth and not withhold important case details because doing so could be damaging to your case. Disclosing the complete truth to your attorney is beneficial to your case because, when your lawyer knows all the facts, they can make better use of them.
Q: What Are the Signs of a Good Lawyer?
A: If you’ve been arrested and charged with a crime, you don’t have a lot of time to interview and research lawyers. You do want to be somewhat fastidious, though, when looking for a lawyer because a lot is at stake. While there are dozens of things that make a good lawyer stand out against others, there are a few essential qualities an effective lawyer maintains that you can look for. These are experience and positive reviews, successful cases, and a preliminary personality match for you personally. That way, you can feel comfortable talking with them.
Secure an NYC Criminal Lawyer
Our legal team at the Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC, is prepared to provide you with the service you need to fight your case. We can answer your questions about the possible options you have and give you honest and realistic advice regarding a plea bargain and other possible ways in which your case can play out. We can give you straightforward insight into the penalties you may be facing. If necessary, we can negotiate with prosecutors or represent you in court, seeing you through to the end of your case. Our lawyers have substantial experience and are aggressive in handling criminal defense cases for our clients.
We are available 24/7 and commit to treating you as we do all our clients, like family. The Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC, has a vested interest in the outcome of your case. Our fees are reasonable, and we have a payment plan option for those who need it. Our firm can do everything we can to optimize your trial and your case, defend your rights, and protect your interests.
If you’ve been charged with a crime, contact the Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC.
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