Criminal Defense FAQ

There are few events more stressful than being charged with a crime. You’re facing a lot of fear and uncertainty right now. Our office understands that you might have many questions. 

When should I speak with a criminal defense attorney?

Immediately after you are arrested a police officer must read your Miranda Rights. These rights advise you of your rights to remain silent and of your right to an attorney.

Go silent immediately. As soon as the police start asking any questions, say, “I invoke my right to remain silent and my right to an attorney.” Then, refuse to say anything else. Call your chosen attorney immediately.

The sooner we can get involved, the better your case outcome is likely to be. 

What can a criminal defense attorney do if I gave a false confession?

Police officers use many coercive psychological techniques to push even innocent individuals into giving false confessions. 

Ideally you would exercise your right to remain silent. However, if you made a mistake a good criminal attorney may still be able to challenge the confession and the tactics used to push it. 

Will my criminal case go to trial?

Not all criminal cases can or should go to trial.

If there’s very little evidence against you we may be able to convince the prosecution to drop the charges long before your case would ever go to trial. 

If we can talk the prosecution into a deferred prosecution agreement then you also would not go to trial. You’d meet the conditions set by the judge so that you give yourself a chance at making the charges go away.

Sometimes a plea bargain that reduces the charges really is the right call. When a plea bargain is in your best interests, then we will make sure you know. 

In some cases, we have a strong case and going to trial is the best option. 

We must evaluate your case to tell you what the strategy will be in your specific circumstances. 

Do I really need a lawyer if I’m innocent?

Sadly, innocent people are convicted of crimes every day. They serve jail time. They live with the consequences of a criminal record. They lose careers, family, and housing. 

Law enforcement and prosecutors aren’t necessarily worried about whether you’re guilty or innocent. If they think they can make a case against you, they’ll do so. You’re up against juries who have grown up on Law & Order and CSI. Most of them believe that police do everything in their power to get to “the truth” before arresting anyone. 

It takes a highly qualified criminal lawyer to help you navigate this environment. In fact, an innocent person might need a criminal lawyer even more than a guilty person does. 

How much will it cost to hire a lawyer? 

Your first consultation with the Michael F. Rubin Law Group is absolutely free. During that consultation, we’ll take a look at your case and get a sense of what we think it will take to defend you.

From there we will work out a reasonable and doable fee structure. Our intent is to set our fees in a way that lets clients make choices based on the outcome they desire, not financial fear.

Remember, hiring a private criminal defense lawyer could save life as you know it, and your career. In the long run, it’s far more expensive to go without one than it is to work with one. 

More questions? 

Don’t hesitate to reach out to our office at 212-691-9404 today.