Criminal Defense Overview

The United States has an unusually high arrest rate compared to many other developed countries. Having a brush with the law and being charged with a crime—whether rightly or wrongly―is not at all uncommon in the course of a lifetime. According to some estimates, about one in every three Americans has a criminal record of some kind.

How do people get implicated by the criminal justice system? It could be the result of an error in judgment, financial challenges, being coerced by someone else, losing your temper and ending up in a fight, driving home when you’ve had one drink too many or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You might have been wrongly accused, mistakenly identified or there could be extenuating circumstances. The arresting officer may have even conducted an illegal search to obtain evidence against you.

A criminal conviction can mean loss of your freedom, your good name, your civil rights, your right to own a firearm, and much more. You could be separated from your family and friends, and you might have difficulty obtaining housing, employment, certain types of professional licenses, and access to higher education.

Whether you are ultimately convicted or not, an arrest record can follow you for the rest of your life. That’s why it is so important to contact an experienced Rhode Island criminal defense lawyer immediately if you’ve been arrested, or even if you’ve been questioned and feel that an arrest may be imminent.

You Need a Criminal Defense Attorney Dedicated to Your Best Interests

Too many people make the mistake of assuming that if they tell the arresting law enforcement officer their side of the story, everything will be fine and they’ll be sent home without being charged. Although the law requires police to first read you your Miranda Rights, police officers are nevertheless trained to encourage people to submit to an interrogation without having an attorney present; and they may use inappropriate tactics to attempt to coerce a confession from you.

You may assume that if you are innocent of any wrongdoing or have a rational explanation for your actions, there is no reason not to cooperate. This is simply not true, and regardless of your innocence or guilt, you should never, under any circumstances, answer any questions until you have a criminal defense lawyer present to ensure that your constitutional rights are being upheld. Although we would like to think our criminal justice system works perfectly, we know that it doesn’t. People have lost years of their lives serving prison time for crimes they didn’t commit – so avail yourself of your right to counsel before you say anything at all.

Types of Cases the Law Offices of Stefanie A. Murphy Handles

Rhode Island criminal defense attorney, Stefanie A. Murphy, handles a broad array of criminal cases including:

Being arrested can be a frightening and humiliating experience. But the United States Constitution guarantees you important rights. Keep in mind that an arrest is far from a conviction. There are legal defenses to almost any charge you may be facing if you have the right criminal defense lawyer. In some cases, Stefanie can avoid having prosecutors even file the charges against you if you bring her on board without delay. In others, she will work to have charges dropped or reduced, or will take your case to trial to fight for an acquittal. She will never push you into entering into a plea bargain if it is not in your best interests.

Questions About Criminal Defense In Rhode Island

The sooner you put Stefanie A. Murphy to work for your criminal charges in Rhode Island, the better the chance of avoiding the worst possible consequences you could be facing. Don’t assume the problem will go away; it probably won’t on its own. Call the Law Offices of Stefanie A. Murphy immediately if you are confronted by police, questioned or arrested. Your initial consultation is always free, and your rights will be protected.