Experienced New London County Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyer

While any arrest is significant, and can easily pull your life off-course, not all charges are created the same. The penalties you face, the strategies available for your defense, and the steps you and your defense lawyer can take vary, sometimes dramatically, on the charge.

In New London County, there are four main types of criminal charges you can be up against, all of which are serious and require immediate intervention by a lawyer to mitigate:

1. Felonies

Felonies are the most serious crimes you can be accused of in New London, they involve significant property damage or personal harm, dangerous weapons or drugs, and carry severe penalties. From drug distribution to murder, everyone accused of a felony knows their future is on the line, but they are also far rarer than “lesser” charges, which need to be taken equally seriously.

2. Misdemeanors

Misdemeanors represent the vast majority of crimes most people will ever face charges of, from first-time DUIs to simple assault, passing through drug possession, and even many instances of domestic violence. While the direct legal penalties are never as serious, the repercussions of a conviction can be just as devastating to your life.

3. Juvenile Delinquency

The vast majority of crimes, even the more serious ones, committed when under 18, are not considered felonies or misdemeanors, but a special category of juvenile offenses. These charges are treated distinctly, and will usually not show up on an adult’s criminal record, but their consequences can be devastating to you or your child’s trajectory in life.

4. Traffic Offenses

Not serious enough to be full misdemeanors, traffic violations, and offenses are some of the most common and least serious charges that can be brought against you in New London County. They can also be some of the most inconvenient to deal with, and yet, they represent very real threats to your independence. Simple speeding tickets and other infractions can increase your insurance premiums or even add up to a suspension of your driver's license.

No matter the charge, you should never underestimate the impact a conviction can have on your future, and fight to make sure your rights are being protected, and the adverse consequences of this pivotal moment in your life are minimized.

Any criminal charge brought against you comes with two sets of penalties. One set is made up of all the direct legal consequences laid out in the law for your crime or offense. The other is the unwritten set of unforeseen social and economic consequences on your options and future.

How Can A Defense Lawyer Help Reduce The Legal Penalties For A New London County Criminal Conviction?

Every crime from the most dire felony to the mildest traffic violation comes with a set of possible penalties the law can impose on you if you are convicted of it. These might be fines or jail times with a maximum amount the court can give, or they might be just the opposite, minimum penalties the court is obliged to assign if you are found guilty.

In either case, these penalties are not written in stone. Negotiations between your lawyer and the prosecutor or judge can result in reduced sentences, mitigating circumstances can be entertained, and alternative sentencing programs (especially for drug crimes) can provide a path toward a reduced or even non-existent penalty. With the help of a skilled lawyer like Jack O’Donnell you may be able to turn a jail sentence into probation, a fine into a reprimand, or even avoid the conviction entirely by getting the case or charge dismissed.

Can A Lawyer Help You Avoid The Extra-Legal Consequences Of A Criminal Conviction In New London County?

Most criminal convictions have a way of dragging your life out of whatever carefully planned path you are on, and even those who do not do so immediately can rear their ugly heads later down the line. You might be applying for a loan to start your business ten years later, or fighting for custody of your child in a divorce in two decades, only to find the odds stacked against you because of a single poor decision in your youth.

A lawyer gives you the best shot of dodging these consequences in a number of different ways. First, they may be able to provide a strong enough defense or poke enough holes in the prosecution’s case to get your charges dismissed or dropped. Second, they will be able to negotiate away some charges or help you pursue alternative sentencing options that involve your criminal record remaining unaffected. Finally, if you have been convicted of some crimes in the past, a well-rounded defense lawyer like Jack O’Donnell might even be able to get your record expunged so you can start afresh.

But there is nothing any Connecticut criminal defense attorney can do in New London County, Jack O’Donnell included if you do not reach out and get them on your side.

Arrested In New London County? Call An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney

Jack O’Donnell | A Connecticut defense attorney with over 40 years of legal experience stands ready to handle your New London County charges.

If you, or someone you love, have just been arrested in New London County or taken away by the police, the next moments, hours, and days are critical. It is during these moments that a criminal defense lawyer can make the most difference in the case against them.

Do not make the mistake of waiting before contacting an experienced lawyer. Make the choice that will help keep this moment from ruining the life ahead of you or your loved one. Call (203) 787-8603 to get criminal defense lawyer Jack O’Donnell and his team on your side and swing the odds in your favor.