Do NOT Just “Plead Guilty and Get it Over With”

The Rhode Island criminal justice system is not for the faint of heart. Pleading guilty, unless you have already negotiated a compromise with the prosecutor, is like stepping into the ring against a prizefighter with your gloves at your waist. Remember, you have one weapon in your defense (if you know how to use it) that can be used to protect you from the notorious aggressiveness of Rhode Island prosecutors: the presumption that you are innocent until proven guilty.

The presumption of innocence will do you only so much good, however, without the ability to use it. And to do that, you’re going to need the assistance of an experienced fighter with intimate knowledge of just how the RI criminal justice system actually works. At Abilheira Law, LLC, we can guide you through the maze of complex criminal procedure and rules of evidence so that you have a fighting chance to win an acquittal or, if that is not possible, a plea bargain.

Retaining an Experienced Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer  Makes a Real Difference

Criminal justice statistics point consistently to an undeniable reality: criminal defendants who are represented by lawyers right from the start are typically treated far better than those who are not. The numbers indicate that, if you are represented by a defense attorney:

• You are more than twice as likely to be released on your own recognizance (without bail);
• If you are not released on your own recognizance, you are four times as likely to have your bail reduced;
• You are less likely to be sentenced to incarceration; and
• You are more likely to win a dismissal or an acquittal.

What We Can Do for You

If you have been arrested by Rhode Island or federal authorities, or if you are simply under investigation, we can provide you with critical assistance in the following ways:

• We can prevent your legal rights from being violated while you are in custody, and we can record any violations that do occur.
• We can protect you during questioning by the police or the prosecutor’s office.
• We can gather admissible evidence in your favor before it disappears.
• We can build a systematic defense that makes life as difficult as possible for the prosecutor.
• We can take advantage of defenses that you might not even realize you have (the entrapment defense, for example).

This is no time to procrastinate or to “play it safe.” The criminal justice system in RI is adversarial, you have to come out fighting – and you need someone in your corner.