The system has undergone significant changes in recent years, and the process may vary depending upon the borough in which the summons was issued. Since 2016, some summonses that were formerly treated as criminal matters, are now considered civil infractions. In either case, consultation with an experienced New York City criminal defense attorney is the best option for protecting your rights while complying with the legal requirements.
While recipients often see a summons as a minor matter, equivalent to a traffic citation,
serious criminal consequences can result, including a permanent criminal record. Forgetting about a summons, or failing to appear, can also result in a warrant being issued for your arrest.
In most cases, a summons can’t be paid by mail, and will require a court appearance. Additionally, the penalty will be established by a judge, including fines and potential jail time, which for even minor offenses can result in up to 15 days in jail in many cases. In cases where a fine can be paid by mail, the officer should provide a special form and instructions. But even in these cases, admitting to an offense may result in a criminal record.
A New York City criminal defense lawyer will be in the best position to
protect your rights, and can even appear in court on your behalf. The process can be lengthy because the court tends to be quite busy and summonses are generally called in order following a check-in procedure with the Clerk of the Court. Defendants without a lawyer will generally be asked to enter a plea, giving them the option of not guilty, which will schedule a trial, or guilty, which will expose them to fines, potential jail time and the possibility of a criminal record. Those represented by a defense attorney often have ample opportunity to negotiate for lesser charges, or even a dismissal.
As a former supervisory assistant district attorney, Jacob Uriel spent 14 years prosecuting sex crimes, major narcotic cases, presenting cases to the grand jury, and as a prosecutor in the felony trial and vehicular crimes bureaus. Today, he uses his experience as a prosecutor to focus his practice exclusively on criminal defense throughout the metro area, including misdemeanors, felonies,
homicides, sex crimes, domestic violence, drug charges, property crimes and DWI defense.
At Uriel Criminal Defense PC, we believe anyone facing criminal charges deserves immediate access to an experienced New York City criminal defense attorney and we represent clients throughout New York City and the surrounding areas, including the boroughs of Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call
(833) 733-4448.
