• Be courteous and cooperative, and politely decline to answer question. You DO have the right to remain silent. That’s not just something they say on T.V.
• Don’t act like you know more about your rights than the cop does (even if you do), and don’t say things like “I know what my rights are”. That just makes cops bristle. If you know you have the right to be quiet, just be quiet.
• You have the right to know what you are being arrested for, but again a simple polite question will do the trick. If you don’t get the answer, saying something like “I have the right to know what I am being arrested for, and I demand to know” will probably get you nowhere. If you don’t get the answer, don’t force it – you will know the answer soon enough.

It is important to get a qualified criminal defense attorney involved as soon as possible after arrest to help protect the your rights, as well as to help friends and loved ones navigate the complexities of post-arrest court proceedings and the procedures associated with posting bail.

The first thing you will want to do if you get arrested is get out of jail. Click here to find out HOW I CAN HELP.

Lately, many underage visitors in New Orleans find themselves with a summons for Municipal Court for a Minor in Possession of Alcohol charge, also known as a MIP.

DON”T WORRY ABOUT IT. I promise you that you are not the first person like you that I have represented. I have done this for 15 years, and as a matter of fact, I represent 10-15 people like you every month!

There are a variety of ways to help you get Municipal misdemeanors dismissed or otherwise kept off of your permanent records. In most situations these cases can be handled without the presence of the defendant, meaning that if you are from out of town, or just can’t be in court, your case can be handled without the need for you to be there.

First things first – If you are here for a friend or loved one who is still in jail for a Municipal violation and they are still in jail please see this post for information on how I can help you get them out of jail.

If you are out of jail on bond know this: the worst is over! Unless you do something really stupid, you are NOT going back to jail, and in most cases your problems are on their way to being a bad memory.

• You can post the entire amount of the bond in cash with the court. This, not surprisingly, is know as a CASH BOND. At the conclusion of the case, you will have the entire amount of the bond you posted refunded to you.
• You can contact a licensed bail bondsman to post a COMMERCIAL SURETY BOND, more commonly known as a bail bond. This service is helpful if you cannot afford to post the entire amount of the bond in cash. For a fee (usually around 13% of the total bond), a bail bondsman will post the total amount of the bond for you. This fee is non-refundable.
• You may post a PROPERTY BOND. The court allows real property to be posted as bond, so long as there is sufficient equity in the proposed property to cover the full amount of the bond. The court holds and records a mortgage against the property in the amount of the bond, and cancels the mortgage only after the conclusion of the case. There is sometimes a fee associated with a property bond (to cover the cost of filing and recording the mortgage).
• A judge may choose to issue a RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE, or ROR bond. This is known in some states as a personal recognizance bond. It requires merely that a defendant sign a promise to return to court for trial whenever notified, but does not require posting any money either with the court or with a bail bondsman. Frequently, the services of a reputable attorney can be useful in appealing for a recognizance bond, as judges are more likely to grant this type of bond when they know a defendant is represented by counsel.
• A judge may grant a PERSONAL SURETY BOND (PSBU). This is similar to an ROR bond, except it is a signature bond by someone other than the defendant who pledges (but does not post) the full amount of the bond. Typically a hearing is held where the person signing the bond must establish that they have sufficient assets to cover the bond amount should the defendant forfeit the bond by failing to appear at court. If the bond is forfeited, the court can demand the amount of the bond from the signer of the bond, otherwise no money is ever required. In Orleans Parish there is a $200.00 fee for a PSBU.

An experienced attorney can:

• Help protect an arrested subject’s rights after arrest
• Insure that a bond is set in a timely manner
• Insure that bond is set at an appropriate amount
• Make a motion to reduce a bond that has been set too high
• Recommend a reputably bonding company to post bond
• Assist in the possible release of a defendant on their own recognizance

Many a vacation or business trip to New Orleans has been ruined by an unfortunate run in with the New Orleans Police Department. Tourists, convention participants and partygoers should be aware that the New Orleans Police Department enforces laws as strictly as possible and arrests individuals that violate municipal, and state criminal laws no matter what the circumstances

THE GOOD NEWS is that I can help you solve your problems, and save your vacation or business trip from failure.

I have represented clients just like you for over 15 years, and have helped many hundreds of tourists and other visitors to the Big Easy put their problems behind them and start over. Not only can I help to minimize the potential criminal consequences of the problem, but in almost all cases I can represent you in your absence so that you can return to your home with the knowledge that your case in in the hands of a capable lawyer with years of experience doing exactly what you need done.

You can call or text me immediately on me cell phone at 504.237.5245, call my office at 504.528.9500, email me at townsend@nolacriminallaw.com, or find @nolalaw on twitter. If you prefer to use the contact form on this page or the “contact” page of this site, I can promise your request will be answered immediately.

I have successfully represented hundreds and hundreds of clients in absentia saving countless hours of time for people across the city and across the country. Busy professionals and especially out-of-town tourists and conventioneers have trusted me to handle their minor criminal matters for years.

You can call or text me immediately on me cell phone at 504.237.5245, call my office at 504.528.9500, email me at townsend@nolacriminallaw.com, or find @nolalaw on twitter. If you prefer to use the contact form on this page or the “contact” page of this site, I can promise your request will be answered immediately.

There is a negligible additional fee involved in representing a client in absentia.

• murder / homicide
• manslaughter
• aggravated assault
• simple battery
• second degree battery
• aggravated battery
• arson
• kidnapping
• rape
• armed robbery
• first degree robbery
• simple robbery

Violent crimes generally carry more serious sentences, and in almost all case do not carry the possibility of probation. Because of this, it is very important that you contact an attorney as soon as possible to begin to prepare your defense for any violent crime charge.

Drug-related crimes usually involve the following illegal drugs:

• Marijuana
• Heroin
• Cocaine (including Crack cocaine)
• Methamphetamine
• LSD
• Ecstasy
• Prescription drugs

In general the types of offenses charged include:

• Drug possession
• Possession with the intent to sell drugs
• Distribution of drugs
• Cultivation and manufacturing drugs
• Possession of drug paraphernalia

Punishment for drug possession varies greatly in severity depending on the type and the amount of drug involved. Possession of marijuana, for instance, is a misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to 6 months in Parish Prison. For all other types of drugs, a convicted individual will face significantly more severe penalties, as even the simple possession of all other drugs (including prescription pills) are felony offenses.

The laws and potential sentences vary depending on the type of drug involved, the particular offense charged, and the amount of drugs involved in the offense. Additionally, in all felony offenses, your sentence can vary depending upon your prior criminal history.

Because of the complicated nature of Louisiana law, you need an experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense attorney to serve you throughout your drug arrest and trial.

In addition to the possibility of incarceration, the  long-term consequences of a felony conviction may include the loss of the right to vote; ineligibility for elected office or professional licenses; and restrictions on the right to possess weapons.

Many felony crimes DO however carry the possibility of probation, and even those crimes that carry mandatory prison time can be negotiated down by a skilled attorney to a lesser charge for which probation is an option. It is extremely important when charged with a felony offense to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney to assist you.

You Should:

• Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. If you have been charged with a felony offense you need a lawyer. The criminal process can be complex and confusing, and it’s important to understand your legal rights. The best way to be informed is to contact a Louisiana criminal attorney.
• Be courteous to police officers and comply with (reasonable) commands.
• Notice if anyone is around during your arrest or processing. They could be considered a witness in your favor.
• Exercise your right to remain silent. You should only answer questions regarding basic information, like your name and address. Do not answer any other questions.

You Should NOT:

• Attempt to represent yourself. In fact, most jurisdictions will not allow a defendant to represent themselves on felony charges. Felonies are serious. There are ways an experienced criminal defense attorney can reduce your sentence or negotiate a lesser charge. Give yourself the advantage of professional legal representation.
• Speak to anyone about details or facts of the case. Only do so if your attorney says otherwise.
• Make any statements. Don’t try to win your case on the street. Be courteous and cooperative, but don’t think for a minute that anything you say to a police officer is going to help you while on the scene. Let an experienced attorney fight and try to win your case in court.

Felonies are serious problems, but at NOLA Criminal Law I have been solving serious problems for people for a long time.

You can call or text me immediately on me cell phone at 504.237.5245, call my office at 504.528.9500, email me at townsend@nolacriminallaw.com, or find @nolalaw on twitter. If you prefer to use the contact form on this page or the “contact” page of this site, I can promise your request will be answered immediately.