Am I Going To Have A Criminal Court Appearance In The First Month of My Case?

Almost certainly your next or first court date will be within a matter of a week or two.

Will I Have To Meet With A Pre-Trial Probation Officer Of Any Kind Within The First 30 Days?

No, a probation officer comes into the picture once your case has been resolved and depends upon the sentence you will receive.

Should I Voluntarily Start Counseling Before My First Court Date? Will That Help or Hurt My Case?

It certainly will help your case and under most circumstances it will eventually be mandated by the court. It will help your case if a judge sees that you are serious about addressing whatever potential problems you have and certainly places a judge in the best position to show the most consideration when it comes to sentencing, if in the future, you are convicted of some alcohol related driving offense.

My Friend/Family Member Was Arrested, How Do I Find Out Where He / She Has Been Taken?

In Westchester County, unless you receive a telephone call from the motorist or someone at the police station you will not be able to locate where they are taken. As Westchester County’s police agencies are decentralized for the most part and because there are so many individual police agencies in towns, villages and cities as well as county and state, there is no central location to check on recent arrests.

Should I Call An Attorney Right Away? How Do I Find A Qualified Attorney Right Away?

Yes, it never hurts to contact an attorney as soon as possible. Many times based upon the location of the arrest and the police agency involved, an attorney can track down the location of a friend or family member in order to start the process of helping them. In terms of finding a qualified attorney, you can do so online or through referrals from friends or relatives who have come in contact with an experienced DWI attorney.

Can An Attorney Help My Friend/Family Member Get Out Of Jail Right Away?

In many cases they can. If a motorist is scheduled to appear before a judge an attorney can perhaps be present when that occurs and certainly aid in setting the most reasonable and minimal bail possible. Unfortunately, an attorney usually has very little input with the police if a motorist is going to be released from a police station. In that case it is usually up to police policies as to how much bail will be set.

I Called The First Attorney I Could Find And Now My Friend/Family Member Is Out Of Jail and Wants To Find One Of His Own. Can He Hire Someone Else?

Yes, a motorist/defendant can hire an attorney of his choice at any time in the process and can switch attorneys at any time.

For more information on Court Appearance In The First Month, a free initial consultation is your best next step. Get the information and legal answers you’re seeking by calling (914) 709-7161 today.