White Plains Criminal/DWI Lawyer Darren DeUrso

Compassion for people in trouble in New York

If you or a loved one is being investigated for a crime, the ramifications can be life-changing. The laws are changing and you need an experienced and compassionate criminal attorney to immediately protect your rights.

Darren DeUrso is a dedicated and aggressive defense lawyer who will advise you of all the legal consequences and guide you through the complex system. As a former prosecutor with over 24 years of criminal law experience, Darren uses his experience coupled with his in-depth knowledge of the law to constantly bring excellent results for his clients. Darren uses a common sense, hands on approach and keeps his clients actively involved in their representation. 

Darren believes that the more educated his client is, the better position they will be in to make the right decision regarding their case. When you face the stress and trauma of family legal issues or the anxiety of criminal charges, Darren DeUrso will serve as an unwavering advocate.

Criminal Law Attorneys vs. Public Defenders

When it comes to criminal charges, you are best off retaining criminal law attorneys early in the investigation or at the beginning when you are charged with a crime.  Part of your rights regarding criminal charges is that you have the right to be represented by attorney and that if you cannot afford to hire an attorney that an attorney will be provided for you free of charge, or at a reduced rate.  

Provided lawyers are called public defenders.  They are appointed by the state to represent people who are charged with criminal charges and cannot afford to hire a criminal attorney to defend them in regard to the charges.  

For minor charges, it may be reasonable to use an appointed attorney because they do in fact practice criminal law.  For more serious charges, especially felonies, it is advisable to retain your own criminal law attorneys if it is at all possible to make sure that you get the best defense available.  

Public defenders are generally more apt to bargain with the prosecution to settle a criminal case by pleading guilty or no contest to a lesser charge in order to clear the case load.  No offense to the public defenders office or the lawyers that work for them, but generally these lawyers are overworked and underpaid.  The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that in 2007, public defense offices handled about six million cases.  Their case load is unreal, especially in populous communities like Westchester County.  They deserve a lot of respect for what they do.  

When settling in a criminal case, you do need to be aware that any charges on your criminal record, no matter how minor, have the ability to affect you and your career throughout your life.  Pleading no contest is basically the same as pleading guilty.  If you wish to pursue the case by pleading not guilty and to go to trial to defend yourself in front of a jury, hiring criminal law attorneys is highly recommended. More...