Connecticut Criminal Lawyer Blog

What to Do Immediately After Being Arrested in Connecticut—Your Rights, Critical First Steps, and How to Choose the Right Lawyer

Published on: November 22, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

If you’ve just been arrested in Connecticut, it can feel like your entire world is crashing down at once. People worry about everything all at once— “Am I going to jail? Will I lose my job? What happens to my kids? Is this on my record forever?”

Take a breath.

One stormy night, one misunderstanding, or one mistake does not have to ruin the rest of your life. I’ve been defending people in Connecticut for over 30 years as a Connecticut criminal defense lawyer. Good, hard-working people find themselves in the criminal system every single day. You are not alone in this.

No-Contact Orders and Social Media in Connecticut: Can You Like, Tag, or Watch Their Stories?

Published on: November 19, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Why “Just Looking” at Their Social Media Can Still Be a Violation

If you’ve been arrested in Connecticut and the judge issued a no-contact order, your whole life changes overnight—especially online.

I hear the same question in my office over and over:

Conspiracy Charges Explained: Why These Accomplice Laws Are So Common and How to Fight Them

Published on: November 19, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Charged As a “Helper”? Why CT Treats You Like the Main Actor

If you’ve just learned that you or a loved one is being charged with conspiracy or as an accomplice, you’re probably thinking:

“But I didn’t actually do it.”

Restitution and Civil Lawsuits After Shoplifting in Connecticut: What Stores Can Really Demand

Published on: November 17, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Why Paying a Store’s Civil Demand Letter won’t make your Shoplifting Case Go Away

If you or a family member has been arrested for shoplifting in Connecticut, you’re probably worried about more than just the criminal charge.

You’re also asking yourself:

Caught in the Squeeze: The High Stakes of Strangulation cases

Published on: November 15, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Strangulation — What You Need to Know if You Were Arrested

If you were arrested for strangulation in Connecticut, you’re probably scared, confused, and worried about what this means for your record, your freedom, and your family.

I frequently observe this in my practice. A heated argument gets out of control, the police are called, and suddenly one person is facing a serious family-violence strangulation charge based on what happened in a few chaotic seconds.

When Someone Else Drives Your Car and Runs: Can You Be Charged with Evading Responsibility in Connecticut?

Published on: November 13, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

When people hear “evading responsibility” (Connecticut’s version of hit-and-run), they usually picture the driver who caused the crash and then sped away. But in my practice, I get a very different kind of call all the time:

“Attorney Friedman, I wasn’t even driving. I lent my car to a friend. Now the police are saying my car was in a hit-and-run. How can I be in trouble?”

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
In Connecticut, if your vehicle is involved in an accident and leaves the scene, and the actual driver can’t be identified, you, as the owner, can be charged criminally with evading responsibility.

Hospital Blood & Medical Records After a Crash: When Can CT Police Get Them for a DUI Case?

Published on: November 13, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

A clear, plain-English guide from a Connecticut DUI defense lawyer

If you land in the ER after an accident, a big question pops up fast: can the police get your hospital bloodwork or medical records to build a DUI case? In Connecticut, the rule is straightforward: for hospital treatment, bloodwork, and medical records, police require a judge-signed search warrant. Period.

The Two Paths Police Use

Immigration Consequences of a Connecticut Arrest

Published on: November 11, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Guide for Non-Citizens

From a Connecticut criminal defense lawyer — how to protect your record, your status, and your future—starting today.

If you were sitting across the table from me—coffee in hand, knot in your stomach—I’d start here: take a breath. What makes your situation different isn’t just the court date. It’s that one criminal case can collide with your immigration life—your job, travel, green card, visa, and future plans. My job is to manage the criminal case and protect your interests.

DETECTIVE LEFT A VOICEMAIL—DO I CALL BACK?

Published on: November 9, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

A Pre-Arrest Playbook (From a Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyer)

Most people’s first instinct is to be polite: “I’ll just call the detective back and clear this up.” I get it. You don’t want to look guilty, and you think cooperation will make it go away. The reality is that calling back without a lawyer can turn a manageable situation into a criminal case. This quick guide explains what that voicemail really means, your rights in Connecticut, and how I handle these calls for clients to keep things simple. Remember, everything you say to a police officer can and will be used against you.

What That Voicemail Usually Means

Carrying a Pistol Without a Permit & Weapons in a Motor Vehicle (Connecticut Guide)

Published on: November 8, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

The Stop, the search, and your next move

In Connecticut, you need a Connecticut pistol permit to carry a handgun—other states’ permits don’t count here. Since October 1, 2023, open carry in public is banned (with narrow exceptions), while concealed carry is allowed if you have a valid CT permit. Guns in cars come with strict transport and storage rules, and many first-time arrests come down to whether the stop and search were lawful. This page breaks down what is actually charged, what the state must prove, and the defenses that work in the real world.

What actually gets charged