Misdemeanors in New York City (Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan or Staten Island)
If you or someone you know is charged in New York City with a misdemeanor such as petit larceny, trespass, assault, criminal mischief, criminal possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, endangering the welfare of a child (or many others), you are probably confronted with one of two extreme views about your situation.
Accused of Misdemeanor? Disaster or Nothing to Worry About?
On one hand, you may be under the impression that your good name is now ruined and that you now have a criminal record and are destined for prison. On the other hand, people may be telling you that being charged with a misdemeanor in New York City is little short of a joke that you need not be concerned about. Both of these extreme views are wrong.
Information about Misdemeanor Trials and Negotiations
In this site, you will find a calm, reasonable outline of misdemeanor practice in New York City criminal courts, including Queens Criminal Court, Manhattan Criminal Court, Brooklyn Criminal Court, and Bronx Criminal Court. If you feel as if you were wronged and want your day in Court, visit the Trials Section above and read about some practical realities involved with having your day in Court on a misdemeanor in New York City. (More articles coming soon.) On the other hand, if you think all you want to do is settle your matter in some reasonable way, visit the "Negotiations" section and read the article about what is really at stake in misdemeanor cases in New York City Criminal Court. (More articles coming soon.)
Most Common Misdemeanors Explained with Outlines of Possible Settlement Outcomes
Interested in learning about the most commonly charged misdemeanors as well as the likely range of negotiated settlements for those offenses? Click on the common misdemeanors in the menu above to see many of the common misdemeanors in New York City discussed in terms of what factors influence what outcomes, what to look out for as problems with negotiations, and some specific commentary by New York City Criminal Defense Lawyer Don Murray. More articles will be added, but for the time being, there are discussions of assault, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon, patronizing a prostitute, criminal mischief, and endangering the welfare of a child.
Frequently Used Terms in New York City Misdemeanor Practice
Look above for the "Terms" section to see a list of articles explaining the meaning of many of the most common terms important to misdemeanor criminal court in New York City. At the moment, there is an article about the meaning of the ACD (Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal), but coming soon will be individual articles about "Violations" like Disorderly Conduct, Misdemeanor Probation, and more. Don't see a term defined that you are curious about? Call us at 718-268-2171 to set up your free consultation.
Find out Why Hiring A Lawyer for "just" a Misdemeanor Might be a Wise Choice
If you think that misdemeanors in New York City are not taken seriously by Courts in New York City, you may be considering just showing up in Court and "seeing how things play out" perhaps expecting that one of the public defenders will take care of your case for you. Read the "Hiring a Lawyer" Section to find out why this might not be the best approach. Here you will read about what your own private lawyer can offer to you even if your goal and expectation is that you want to work it out without a trial. In this article by veteran New York City criminal defense attorney Don Murray, you will learn that a private criminal lawyer can make your experience charged with a misdemeanor in the Criminal Justice system quicker and more convenient, and at the same time provide you with a high level of confidence in the quality of representation - and all the while at a very affordable price.
Shalley and Murray - New York City Criminal Lawyers for More than Twenty Years
The information in this site is provided for free by the New York Criminal Defense Law Firm Shalley and Murray. James Shalley and Don Murray have been representing people accused of crimes in New York City, including countless misdemeanors for more than 20 years. Shalley and Murray has offices located in New York City and Westchester.