The Season for Celebrations — and Legal Risks During 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…
Why So Many Ordinary People End Up Arrested for “Interfering” — and How to Fight Back Introduction You’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…
Understanding When Miranda Really Matters It’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?” Unfortunately, the answer is no, not automatically. The truth about Miranda rights in Connecticut is more nuanced. Whether…
A Second Chance When You Need It Most I 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…
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?” For many people, being arrested for…
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. Most people assume that police need…
Understanding self-defense in Connecticut It’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…
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…
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,…
Why Social Media Can Ruin Your Case Before It Even Begins One of the first things police and prosecutors look at after an arrest is your social media. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and even text screenshots now appear in nearly every Connecticut criminal case. Many of my clients never imagined…