Why ‘Primary Aggressor’ Laws Don’t Always Protect the Real Victim — and How to Fix It in CourtIt’s one of the most heartbreaking calls I get as a Connecticut criminal defense lawyer:
The Season for Celebrations — and Legal RisksDuring holidays and school breaks, Connecticut police departments see a sharp increase in underage-drinking investigations — and often, parents are the ones who end up facing criminal charges.
You may think you’re just keeping your kids safe by letting them “have a few beers” at home with their friends, but under Connecticut’s Social Hosting law, even that small decision can lead to a criminal arrest.
Why So Many Ordinary People End Up Arrested for “Interfering” — and How to Fight BackYou’re standing on the sidewalk trying to understand why the police are arresting someone you care about. You ask a question — maybe you raise your voice — and suddenly the officer turns on you:
Understanding When Miranda Really MattersIt’s one of the most common questions I hear from clients:
“The police never read me my rights — does that mean my case gets thrown out?”
A Second Chance When You Need It MostI tell clients this all the time — the Accelerated Rehabilitation Program, or “AR,” is one of the best opportunities our system gives people who made a mistake to get their case dismissed without having to go to trial. It’s a way to walk out of court without a conviction, clear your record, and move forward with your life.
If you qualify and handle it right, the case disappears — no criminal record, no conviction, no future employer ever knowing it happened. That’s huge.
What You Need to Know About Arrest Records, Dismissals, and Erasure Laws in Connecticut
It’s one of the most common and nerve-racking questions I hear:
“Attorney Friedman, I was arrested, but my case was dismissed — will this show up on a background check?”
Understanding How “Probable Cause” Really Works — and What to Do If You’re Accused Without Proof
Introduction
It’s one of the most shocking realities of the criminal justice system — yes, you can be arrested in Connecticut without a single piece of physical evidence.
Understanding self-defense in ConnecticutIt’s late. You’re at a gas station by your car, and someone starts shouting — inches from your face, red-faced, getting closer. Your heart races. Your first instinct may be to hit them before they hit you.
Before you act, take a breath. Connecticut law lets you use reasonable force to defend yourself from the imminent use of unlawful force — but reasonable is the key word. What feels reasonable in the moment can still put you in criminal trouble. As a Connecticut Criminal Assault Defense Lawyer, I’ve seen many clients face charges because they misunderstood what “reasonable force” really means,
They think they’re safe because they never crossed the border.
They sit in New York, Florida, or California behind a laptop, running a scam, stealing data, or sending money requests to Connecticut residents — convinced that as long as they never set foot here, no one can touch them.
But that’s not how it works.
Why the First Hours After an Arrest Matter More than You Think
When the police knock on the door or flash their lights in the rearview mirror, life can go from normal to upside down in seconds. I’ve seen it countless times over the years: good people with careers, families, and reputations suddenly find themselves cuffed, booked, and overwhelmed with fear. The first reaction is almost always the same — panic. Thoughts race: Am I going to jail? Will I lose my license? How will this affect my job or my family?
That panic is human. But it’s also where mistakes happen. Talking too much to the police, signing something you don’t understand, or missing a critical court deadline can make the situation far worse.
Connecticut Criminal Lawyer Blog
