Being charged with a crime can be a scary, overwhelming experience. Whether it’s your first charge or you have been involved with the system in the past, the possibility of jail time and other penalties can be incredibly stressful. In these situations, you want a skilled, aggressive criminal defense lawyer who will fight for your rights.
Criminal charges can significantly affect your life. Having a criminal record can affect your ability to get a job, own a gun, find housing, or even go to school. That is why it is so important to hire a criminal attorney who knows the system, and how to get the best possible result for you.
With law offices in Hartford and Waterbury, Sills Law Firm represents clients throughout Connecticut. We offer free consultations, where we will explain your legal rights and options for resolving the case. If you hire our law firm, we will advocate for you and help you achieve a favorable result.
Types of Cases We Handle
Our law firm handles a range of criminal charges on behalf of our clients, from less serious misdemeanors to violent felony offenses. For each case, we thoroughly investigate the facts while simultaneously researching the law to put together a strategy that works for our clients. We have significant legal experience in each of our practice areas, allowing us to effectively defend our clients against these and other charges.
We represent clients who have been charged with:
- Weapons offenses
- Theft and related crimes
- White collar crimes
- Sex crimes
- Property crimes
- Violent crimes
- Assault
- Probation violations
- Domestic violence
- Drug crimes
- Driving under the influence (DUI)
In addition, we handle appeals, using our legal knowledge and skill to request that a higher court address a wrongful conviction or incorrect decision by a lower court judge. We also help clients with expungement, a process that allows you to clear your criminal record.
An Aggressive, Proactive Approach to Defending Our Clients
With more than 20 years of experience, our team understands how the Connecticut criminal justice system works. That is why we take a proactive approach to each of our cases, working to prevent our clients from being charged, whenever possible, or to get a case resolved as soon as possible so that our clients can move forward with their lives.
This strategy often involves conducting our own investigation, finding favorable defense witnesses and gathering evidence that can be used to defend you. We reach out to prosecutors and law enforcement, offering an alternative theory of the case or other evidence (such as an alibi) to convince the state’s attorney’s office to not charge you.
If charges are filed, we immediately begin putting together a defense. Instead of waiting for law enforcement to hand over police reports and other evidence, we work with investigators to:
- Locate and re-interview witnesses;
- Canvass neighborhoods;
- Obtain surveillance videos;
- Perform background checks on key witnesses for the prosecution; and
- Find evidence that can confirm our clients’ version of events.
Based on the evidence that we gather and our knowledge of Connecticut law, we work to get our clients’ charges reduced or dismissed. For example, if we discover that the police conducted an illegal search of your home, we may file a motion to dismiss any evidence obtained as a result of that search, and request that all charges against you be dismissed.
After being charged with a crime in Hartford, CT, you may be worried about your future. Our aggressive approach will give you peace of mind, knowing that we are working hard to help you get the best possible outcome, including a reduction or dismissal of the charges.
Why It Is So Critical to Work with an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you are accused of a crime, your life may change dramatically. Depending on the type of criminal matter at issue, you could face a license suspension, job loss, or notoriety in your community. These are all consequences that you may face before a conviction.
If you are convicted of a criminal offense, you may face additional penalties, such as:
- Incarceration in jail or prison
- Steep fines
- Court-ordered community service, rehabilitation, classes, and more
- Probationary restrictions
- A permanent mark on your criminal record
- Loss of professional licensing
- Suspension or permanent revocation of your driver’s license
- Loss of your Second Amendment rights (right to bear arms)
- Immigration consequences
If you are charged with a DUI, you may also lose your ability to drive. . In some situations, your driver’s license can be suspended before you are ever convicted of the DUI. Even if you are later found innocent of driving under the influence, the suspension could remain for a period of time.
These serious consequences make it all the more important to hire an experienced attorney in Hartford County who knows Connecticut criminal law — and how to advocate effectively for you. At the Sills Law Firm, we understand what our clients are going through, and how a criminal conviction will affect their lives negatively for years to come. That is why we work hard to get our clients’ charges reduced or dismissed — or take cases to trial to achieve a not guilty verdict.
As members of the Hartford legal community, we know the local prosecutors and judges. We work within the system to get results, whether by negotiating with prosecutors or by arguing your case before the judge. For each of our clients, we evaluate all available options to determine the best way to resolve your case.
What to Do If You Are Arrested
If you are arrested, you may not know what to do or where to turn. It can be hard to remember your rights in this situation. There are a few things that you can do to protect your civil rights and reduce the likelihood of a conviction.
Most importantly, remember that you have a right to remain silent. Talking to the police without a lawyer will almost never help. Law enforcement officers may pretend to be on your side to get you to talk, but their real goal is to obtain evidence that will lead to a conviction. Don’t fall for their bait.
Instead, ask for a lawyer in a clear, unequivocal way. You have a right to an attorney if you have been charged with a crime. Request one, and do not talk to the police until after you have consulted with an attorney.
After being released on your own recognizance or on bail, do not talk about your case with anyone but your attorney. Your lawyer is bound by the attorney-client privilege, and will give you legal advice on how to proceed. If you share information about your case with someone else, such as a loved one, they may be compelled to testify against you.
The Police Want to Talk to Me about a Crime. What Should I Do?
The answer depends on whether you are a witness to a crime, or a possible target of the investigation. If you believe that you may be a target, then you should not talk to the police without first consulting with a Hartford criminal defense attorney.
Law enforcement officers often try to convince you to talk, using a variety of tactics to do so — like telling you that it’ll be good to get it off of your chest, or that they’ll make sure that you are treated well. In reality, anything that you say to the police can and will be used against you. For this reason, it is important to reach out to a lawyer before talking to the police in order to protect your rights and your freedom.
I’ve Been Charged with a Crime. Do I Really Need an Attorney?
Yes. Even a relatively minor criminal charge can seriously affect your life, making it hard to get a job, find a place to leave, or even get student loans so that you can go to college. Having a criminal record may affect you in other ways, like taking away your right to bear arms or even leading to deportation if you are an immigrant.
A skilled criminal defense attorney will investigate the facts of your case and use their knowledge of Connecticut criminal law to put together a strong defense to the charges against you. In some cases, this may lead to a reduction or dismissal of the charges against you. In other cases, your lawyer may be able to secure an alternative sentence so that you can avoid jail or prison time.
Your lawyer can also protect your rights by holding the prosecutor to its burden of proof and filing motions to have illegally-obtained evidence tossed out of court. While you can certainly represent yourself on a criminal charge, you will likely achieve a better outcome by hiring a lawyer to advocate for you.
How Do I Choose a Criminal Defense Attorney?
If you have been charged with a crime, you are likely feeling incredibly stressed and overwhelmed. This is completely normal, but it can make it difficult to make important decisions like selecting a Hartford criminal lawyer to represent you.
The most important thing to look for when choosing an attorney is experience. You want a lawyer who regularly appears in court, and who knows the judges and prosecutors in your area. A seasoned attorney will be able to advocate for you most effectively, including by negotiating a favorable deal for you with the district attorney’s office.
Look for a law firm that has a solid reputation in your community, and that has strong reviews from former clients. You can then schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case, so that you can better understand your legal rights and options.
Charged with a Crime? We Are Here for You.
The criminal justice system is heavily weighted in favor of the prosecution. A seasoned Hartford criminal defense lawyer can help to level the playing field, working hard to ensure that you get due process and a fair trial.
The Sills Law Firm represents clients throughout the state of Connecticut, from New Haven to Middletown to Farmington to East Hartford. We use our experience and knowledge of the law to defend our clients against criminal charges. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation with a Connecticut criminal defense lawyer, call us today at 866-971-2913 or email us at any time.
PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS BY GETTING IN TOUCH WITH OUR HARTFORD OFFICE TODAY.
