Those who have been charged with a crime will have an option to be assigned a public defender or hire a private criminal defense attorney in Rhode Island. It’s important to understand the benefits of hiring a criminal defense attorney in these circumstances. Criminal defense attorney John L. Calcagni makes himself available and accessible to his clients, conducts comprehensive investigations into each case, uses his years of experience as a prosecutor to your advantage, and dedicates all of his time and resources to produce the best possible outcome. If you’re facing serious penalties, such as excessive jail time, you don’t want to risk your criminal case with a public defender that may not have the time or the resources to develop a defense plan. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and learn more about your options.

It is always advised to hire an attorney with extensive trial experience. At the pre-trial stage, a prosecutor and your defense attorney might try to reach a deal after reviewing the evidence and investigating the circumstances surrounding your case. If a plea deal or other arrangement, such as a dismissal, can’t be reached — your case will very likely go to trial. At this point, you want to have a criminal defense lawyer with the skills and knowledge to handle any jury or non-jury trial, and who’s already familiar with the details of your case. To learn more about John L. Calcagni’s lengthy history as a successful trial lawyer, contact our law firm today. Read more about why hire a trial attorney.

The cost of a Rhode Island criminal defense lawyer will vary depending on the circumstances of the charges. Some criminal cases take more time and resources than others, and that’s typically reflected in the cost. What we can tell you is that our previous clients with successful results will often say that the cost of a criminal lawyer is worth it, especially when you consider the consequences of a conviction. If you’d like to avoid severe penalties and work with a skilled and knowledgeable defense lawyer, call our law firm today to schedule a free consultation. Read more about how much does it cost to hire an attorney.

We understand that facing an arrest can be a scary experience, especially if this is your first time being accused of a crime. The best possible path you can take after an arrest is to contact a trustworthy and experienced criminal defense lawyer. The sooner you call, the better the results will be.

You want to make sure your defense lawyer is there to support you and coach you through your arraignment hearing, which will happen at a District Court shortly after an arrest. If you’ve recently been arrested, contact The Law Office of John L. Calcagni as soon as possible to discuss your case.

A criminal offense in Rhode Island can be broken down into three levels:

• Petty Misdemeanor
• Misdemeanor
• Felony

A petty misdemeanor is the least serious offense and a felony is the most serious offense. An example of a petty misdemeanor includes things like using offensive language in public or disrupting the peace. Penalties for petty misdemeanors can result in up to 6 months of jail time and $500 in fines. Even though these are considered lower-level crimes, it’s still highly recommended to work with a criminal lawyer if you’re charged with a petty misdemeanor.

A misdemeanor is more serious than a petty misdemeanor but less serious than a felony. Examples of misdemeanors are petty theft, vandalism, or trespassing. The maximum penalties for misdemeanors in Rhode Island are 1 year of jail time and no more than $1000 in fines.

A felony is the most severe offense. Examples of felonies include rape, drug crimes, kidnapping, or murder. A person can face anywhere from 1 year in jail to a lifetime in prison, depending on the severity of the crime. Rhode Island prosecutors take felony offenses very seriously and will likely want to punish a defendant to the fullest extent of the law, especially if violence was involved. It’s vital to have a skillful and knowledgeable attorney with trial experience if you’re charged with a felony. Contact our law firm today to learn more.

After you’ve been formally charged with a crime in Rhode Island, you’ll soon get a notice with the date of your arraignment hearing. At an arraignment hearing, a defendant stands before a judge in court and enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere.

It is never advised to plead guilty without speaking to a defense attorney first. Many times, those accused will feel as though they have no options and plead guilty due to the intimidating nature of the criminal justice system. Remember that a criminal defense lawyer can explain your case from a different perspective and help you to see your options. The way your case unfolds from the arraignment hearing forward will heavily depend on the skills of your lawyer.

Put simply, our law firm can handle any criminal charge that you’re facing. It doesn’t matter if it’s considered a serious crime or a lower-level crime, we can represent you.  Here is a list of services we provide and criminal charges and cases we defend:

• Military cases
• Federal charges
• Assault charges
• Drug charges
• Gun charges
• Sex crime charges
• View all criminal charges we defend

If you require a powerful defense and legal representation, contact our law firm immediately to speak with an attorney.

You want to keep a few key things in mind when looking for a good criminal defense attorney. First and most importantly, you want them to have extensive experience in Rhode Island criminal law.

After an arrest, you may be tempted to call a friend or acquaintance that practices law, but remember that there are many different areas of law, and your friend who’s a real estate lawyer isn’t going to be your best choice. You also want to make sure that your criminal defense lawyer has trial experience.

While some attorneys are knowledgeable and appear to be accessible, without experience in the courtroom, it can put you at serious risk if your case does go to trial. Finally, you want to look for exceptional qualities that place your lawyer above the rest. For instance, a criminal defense lawyer with experience as a prosecutor can make a huge difference in your defense plan.

John L. Calcagni, III is a Rhode Island criminal defense lawyer that checks all of these boxes. He’s got the experience, the skills, and the unique qualities that place him above your average defense lawyer. Contact The Law Office of John L. Calcagni, III today to schedule your free consultation.

The criminal case process in Rhode Island may start with a criminal complaint and lead to an arrest warrant, followed by the arrest. The other parts of the process include:

• Indictment
• Criminal Information
• Initial Appearance
• Arraignment
• Discovery
• Pre-Trial Motions
• And more

To view all the criminal case process in Rhode Island with details of each part of the process check out the Rhode Island Criminal Case Timeline and the Travel of Case Timeline.