Connecticut Criminal Lawyer Blog

Can You Bring Evidence or Witnesses to Family Relations in a Connecticut Domestic Violence Case?

Published on: September 16, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

We had a fight, but I never touched anyone. Now, can I be arrested for domestic violence? It’s a shocking and confusing experience.”

If you’ve been arrested for a domestic violence offense in Connecticut, one of the first things that will happen is a referral to Family Relations. Many of my clients are surprised by this — they expect to see a judge, not sit down with a Family Relations Officer. Then the questions start pouring in: Should I tell my side of the story? Should I bring texts that prove my innocence? Should I have my mother or partner come with me?

These are important questions because what happens in Family Relations can shape the rest of your case. I’ve guided hundreds of clients through this process over 30 years of defending domestic violence charges. My role is to make sure you don’t make early mistakes that make your case harder to resolve.

Top 10 Things to Know About after a DUI Arerst in CT

Published on: September 16, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Out-of-State DUI Arrests in Connecticut – What You Need to Know

Imagine driving through Greenwich or Stamford on I-95 late at night, heading home to New York or New Jersey, when suddenly you see the flashing lights of a police car. The officer suspects you of DUI, and now you’re arrested in a state where you don’t even live. This is one of Out-of-State DUI Arrests in Connecticut – What You Need to Know

the most stressful situations for out-of-state drivers — not knowing how Connecticut laws apply and what impact it will have on your license back home.

Urban Exploring in Connecticut: When Photography Turns Into a Criminal Charge

Published on: September 10, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Is Urban Exploring Illegal in Connecticut?

Urban exploring — sometimes called “urbex” — is a hobby that’s grown in popularity over the last decade. People are fascinated by abandoned factories, forgotten hospitals, and old schools. For many, it’s about art, history, and photography. They’re not criminals — they’re adventurers with cameras, curiosity, and a love of capturing places most people never see.

The problem is that Connecticut law doesn’t make much room for curiosity. In other states, the rules may be looser, or police may turn a blind eye. But here, stepping into an abandoned building without permission is still treated as trespassing, and in some cases, it can escalate into felony burglary charges.

Why Carrying a Pocketknife in Connecticut Can Still Lead to Criminal Charges

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

A lot of people are shocked to find themselves arrested in Connecticut just for carrying a pocketknife. You might think, “It’s just a tool, I use it for work, camping, or opening boxes — how could this be a crime?” I hear this all the time from clients.

The truth is, Connecticut’s weapons laws are strict, confusing, and enforced aggressively. What seems like a harmless item to you can turn into a serious criminal case overnight.

The Law on Knives in Connecticut

Connecticut Prescription Drug DUI – What You Need to Know

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

20170616_162718_resized-225x300 Many people assume that a DUI charge only applies to alcohol. In reality, under Connecticut law, you can be arrested for driving under the influence of prescription medications — even if you took them exactly as your doctor instructed.

As a criminal defense lawyer, I see many clients blindsided by DUI arrests tied to Ambien, Xanax, painkillers, or other legal prescriptions.

The Law: Prescription Drug DUI in Connecticut

Police Searches in Connecticut: When Can They Search Your Phone?

Published on: September 7, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Introduction: The Shock of a Phone Search

Imagine being pulled over late at night. An officer looks at you and says, “Mind if I take a look at your phone?”

Your cell phone holds your entire life — texts, photos, banking apps, emails, and location history. For most people, the idea of police digging through that personal data is terrifying. The immediate question is: Can they really do that?

Connecticut Risk of Injury to a Minor Lawyer

Published on: September 6, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Being arrested for Risk of Injury to a Minor is one of the most stressful and frightening experiences a parent or caregiver can go through. Under Connecticut law, this charge is codified in Connecticut General Statutes §53-21. It’s incredibly broad, and because of that, police often tack it onto cases where children are even near the alleged misconduct.

For example, if you are arrested for domestic violence and children are in the home, you could also face Risk of Injury charges. If you are stopped for DUI with your kids in the car, Risk of Injury is almost always added. Police use this statute as a catch-all to protect children, but it often sweeps up people who never intended to harm anyone.

The stakes could not be higher: Risk of Injury is a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a permanent felony record. Beyond that, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) typically becomes involved, placing your parental rights under scrutiny.

What to Do If You’re Falsely Arrested for Domestic Violence in Connecticut

Published on: September 5, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Domestic-Violence-new-Photo-300x200-300x200 Getting arrested for domestic violence when you did nothing wrong is one of the most frightening experiences anyone can face. The police show up, emotions are high, and suddenly you’re being handcuffed and taken away—even if the other person never wanted you arrested in the first place.

This happens all the time in Connecticut because of the mandatory arrest law. If police believe there is any probable cause whatsoever that a family violence crime occurred, they must make an arrest. They have no choice, no discretion. Even if the alleged victim begs them not to arrest you, the law requires it.

As a criminal defense lawyer with over 30 years of experience handling domestic violence cases, I see false arrests more often than you might think. The good news is these cases are very defensible. If you act quickly and make smart decisions, you can protect your rights and position your case for dismissal.

From Dismissal to Disaster: Blowing a Diversionary Program in Connecticut

Published on: September 4, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Why Diversionary Programs Matter

Connecticut’s diversionary programs — Accelerated Rehabilitation (AR), the Impaired Driving Intervention Program (IDIP), and the Family Violence Education Program (FVEP) — are second chances. Finish the program, and your case disappears — like it never happened.

But if you fail to follow the rules, you can “blow” the program. Once that happens, your case is brought back on the docket, and you face prosecution on the original charges as if the program never existed. Judges and prosecutors take these violations very seriously.

Can You Be Charged with DUI When You’re Not Driving?

Published on: September 3, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Connecticut’s Shockingly Broad Definition of “Operation”

Here’s the hard truth: even if you know you’re intoxicated and pull off the road to a parking lot or stop your car to avoid driving further, you can still be arrested and charged with DUI in Connecticut. You don’t even have to be driving down the road. Simply sitting in your car under the wrong circumstances is considered “operation.”

In my view, that’s a poor policy decision. It punishes people who are actually trying to do the responsible thing and not endanger others by driving further. But it is the law. The Connecticut Appellate Court in State v. Ducatt, 22 Conn. App. 88 (1990) held that “operation” includes taking actions such as inserting the key into the ignition or sitting in a running vehicle, even if the car never moves an inch.