Connecticut Criminal Lawyer Blog
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?”
Articles Posted in Criminal Defense
Connecticut Accelerated Rehabilitation Program (AR): How First Time Offenders Can Get Their Case Dismissed
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 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.
Will a Connecticut Arrest Show Up on a Background Check?
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?”
Can You Be Arrested Without Physical Evidence in Connecticut?
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.
Can You Punch Someone Who’s Yelling at You?
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 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,
Can You Be Charged in Connecticut for a Crime If You’ve Never Entered the State?
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.
From Panic to Plan: Building Calm in the Chaos of an Arrest
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.
Social Media Posts and Connecticut Criminal Cases: What You Need to Know
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 that a simple post, photo, or comment could be used against them as evidence. In reality, I’ve seen prosecutors use posts made in frustration, jokes taken out of context, or old photos to convince judges and juries that someone is guilty or dangerous.
The Quiet Panic: How an Arrest Can Shatter a Professional’s Career Before the Case Even Begins
The Fear Beyond the Courtroom
Getting arrested is always terrifying, but for professionals — such as doctors, teachers, lawyers, financial advisors, and executives — the consequences can feel catastrophic before the case even reaches a courtroom.
I’ve represented countless people over the years who came to me not only worried about fines or jail, but with a more profound fear:
Caught With a Fake ID in Connecticut: What Happens Next?
A Split-Second Choice With Lasting Consequences
In Stamford, Norwalk, and across Connecticut, young people often feel pressure to fit in with friends, get into clubs, or buy alcohol before 21. It might seem harmless to flash a fake ID at the bar or liquor store, but the reality is this: using or even possessing a fake ID can lead to criminal charges that follow you long after the party ends.
I meet clients all the time—college students, interns, and young professionals—who are terrified after being stopped with a fake ID. They worry about their future, their jobs, and their parents finding out. If this happened to you, please understand: you are not alone, and with the right defense, one mistake does not have to define your life.
