While some cases can “take care of themselves,” other crimes and arrests in New York absolutely require the assistance of an experienced criminal lawyer. The reason why the services of New York criminal defense attorney in a Desk Appearance Ticket arrest or a “regular” arrest is necessary is fairly simple. If, for example, you are charged with Assault, Menacing, Aggravated Harassment, Criminal Mischief or even Petit Larceny for shoplifting, the date you will be required to appear will be weeks after you were arrested. If you wait for a public defender or Legal Aid attorney, you will not meet that person until the day you are in court. Will the evidence you need to defend yourself still be preserved? Will anyone have obtained a copy of a video or spoken to the witnesses? Will that video or the witnesses memory still be viable or available weeks or months later?
Not only will your counsel be able to identify and preserve a defense that may be forgotten, destroyed or just unavailable on your appearance date, how will meeting your assigned attorney in court for the first time further impact your defense? First, while the Desk Appearance Ticket attorney or criminal lawyer of your choice will have the time to vet the case with you and identify certain defenses to the charges or means to mitigate your conduct, your assigned attorney will meet you for the first time only moments before you see the judge. Compounding matters, while he or she may be a tremendous lawyer, this public lawyer will also likely have dozens of other clients he or she is meeting for the first time. Can that lawyer take the time to really discuss your case? Will you truly understand the collateral consequences years down the road to a plea, such as a Disorderly Conduct, that may be non-criminal, but one which can “pop” on a background check? Will this public defender take the same steps or strategy as an attorney with whom you have consulted? Will a potential defense be lost or will a strategy be no longer viable as a result of your public lawyer’s actions at your arraignment?
Beyond the legal issues, court officers generally call private attorney cases prior to those of the Legal Aid or other public matters. The reason for this is not because of any favoritism, but because many public lawyers are assigned to the court for a an entire shift while a private lawyer may only have one or two cases in that courtroom. Indirectly, this can benefit those who need to get out of court for work. No attorney can guarantee either a result or time spent in court. However, the New York criminal lawyers at Saland Law routinely represent business professionals and are cognizant not only of the results that are needed to protect our client’s futures beyond the courtroom, but are aware of the value of their time merely sitting and waiting. By retaining an experienced and skilled criminal attorney your cost of protection up front can pale in comparison to the costs to your future as a result of a botched case.
Additional brief and substantive articles on D.A.T. crimes, processes and procedures can be found on the Desk Appearance Ticket section of the New York Criminal Lawyer Blog. There you will find material on particular crimes, potential offers and legal case decisions that may impact your case.
Further information on New York Desk Appearance Tickets can also be found at NYDeskAppearanceTicket.Com.
Call our criminal defense attorneys and former Manhattan prosecutors at (212) 312-7129 or contact us online today.