Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyer

When you are facing Philadelphia criminal charges there are likely to be a number of questions swirling in your mind. How serious are these charges? Could you end up in jail? How much will this cost you? Will your job be impacted? How will this affect your loved ones, your life, your future? Along with these questions, you may be feeling anxious, totally stressed out, frightened and you may be uncertain of what you need to do at this point to protect yourself. In fact, a criminal conviction—even for a relatively minor offense—can adversely affect your life and your future. You could be let go from your current job, and could later find it very difficult to obtain employment in your chosen field.

You may have been working toward a professional license, and find yourself unable to obtain that license. If you were considering going to college with a government loan, that option may now be closed to you. Depending on your crime, you may be unable to own a firearm, and you could even be unable to rent a home. Your conviction will be a matter of public information, meaning you could suffer embarrassment related to the offense, whether at work, among your family members, or in your church or other type of social group.

For all these reasons, it is imperative that you act quickly if you are charged with a Philadelphia criminal offense. The aggressive legal team at the Ciccarelli Law Offices will work hard on your behalf, always watching out for your rights and your future. We understand that good people can make a bad decision, and we believe one bad decision should not alter the course of your life forever. Our Philadelphia criminal defense attorneys can be contacted by email or by phone at (215) 228-0100.

The Benefits of Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer Early

When you are facing legal questioning or you have been accused of a crime indirectly, seek out legal support right away. Many times, people feel that they have done nothing wrong and therefore should not have to seek out an attorney. We would agree that in the ideal world, this would be possible. Yet, today, it is not.

When you are facing any type of legal matter related to your criminal actions, we highly encourage you to contact an attorney before you answer any questions and long before you take any steps to make a deal or offer insight into what occurred. Here are some of the benefits you will see when you hire our legal team immediately in cases like this:

• We can protect your rights immediately. This means you do not put yourself or your case at risk by making a statement that is taken out of context or made illegally.
• Your attorney will provide you with immediate support to protect your well-being. If you feel unsafe or threatened, we will step in to ensure that you are not at risk.
• Let us handle the questioning as much as possible. Because you can confide in our legal team, we will be able to handle a great deal of the pressure for you so that you do not feel compelled to say something that could put you at risk.
• You are angry, overwhelmed, and scared when you are being questioned. You may also be coerced or even mistreated in order to get you to admit something that is not accurate or fair. Let us help you avoid that type of situation.
• We do not do anything but work for you. This means that you are never faced with a judge without legal help and guidance, and you do not have to worry about having to make big decisions without the information you need and deserve.

In every criminal defense matter, you have the right to request an attorney immediately. While we encourage you to choose your own attorney and to call us for help, having any attorney is better than none. Do not face a court or a police officer without legal guidance. 

We Will Fight for Your Success in Philadelphia PA

As the largest city in Pennsylvania, and the city with the sixth-highest population in the U.S., Philadelphia is known as the cultural and economic “anchor” in the Delaware Valley. The City of Brotherly Love was founded by an English Quaker, William Penn; the city played a major role in the American Revolution, as the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia in 1776.

More than 1.5 million people call Philadelphia home and there are 385 constituent neighborhoods – making it the largest community in Pennsylvania. It has a mixed workforce of both white and blue collar jobs and it is racially and ethnically diverse. Sadly, the unemployment rate in Philadelphia is higher than the national average. In 2014, some 8,800 jobs were added to the economy to help boost employment, mostly in education and health services.

Philadelphia is also considered a top international study destination because of the number of universities and colleges in the area, and is home to seven Fortune 1000 companies. The Philadelphia area has a total gross metropolitan product of $347 billion making it the 7th largest metropolitan economy in the United States. There are 67 National Historic Landmarks in the Philadelphia area, accounting for $10 billion tourism-generated dollars each year.

Philadelphia is also the home of the first medical school, the first zoo, the first hospital the first library, the first Capital, the first stock exchange and the first business school, as well as the birthplace of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Crime in Philadelphia is High

Unfortunately, Philadelphia has consistently ranked higher than the national average for criminal offenses, particularly violent crimes, and is among the dozen American cities which have more than a million residents. Philadelphia also has a relatively high poverty rate. High poverty rates often lead to an increase in criminal offenses, and an increase in incarceration rates.

According to recent statistics, Philadelphia is only safer than 10% of the U.S. cities – making it a dangerous place for many residents and visitors. Annually, more than 16,000 violent crimes occur here and more than 49,000 property crimes. The crime rate here is well above the average for the state of Pennsylvania. In fact, residents here have a 1 in 97 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 32 chance of becoming a victim of a property crime. This is significantly higher than throughout Pennsylvania where residents only have a 1 in 317 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 55 chance of becoming a victim of a property crime.

In Philadelphia, assault and robbery are the two most common types of violent crimes committed each year. When it comes to property crimes, theft is by and large the most common property crime occurring at a rate of 23 per 1,000.

When it comes to violent crime in Philadelphia, the safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia are Chestnut Hill, Manayunk, East Falls, and Somerton. The most dangerous neighborhoods for violent crime are Fairhill, Tioga/Nicetown, and Kingessing. When it comes to property crime, however, Northern Liberties/Fishtown and Center City are the worst neighborhoods to live.

When it comes to crime on school campuses, surprisingly, urban city schools fared better than suburban campuses. For 2015 statistics, Temple and Drexel had the lowest crime rates. St. Joe’s and Villanova fared far worse. From sexual assault to hate crimes, schools across Pennsylvania and in Philadelphia aren’t as safe as residents might believe.

An Experienced Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help

On any given day in Philadelphia, there will be those who require an experienced, highly respected, knowledgeable criminal defense attorney. If you are one of these, you need a Philadelphia criminal defense attorney from the Ciccarelli Law Offices. Our attorneys will fight for your rights at every turn, and have a deep understanding of the effect a criminal conviction will have on your future.

It is almost a certainty that no one ever expects they will be forced to call a Philadelphia criminal defense attorney. Should that day come for you, or a loved one, the Ciccarelli Law Offices are ready and able to help you. From Avondale to Oxford, our Philadelphia county criminal defense attorneys have the experience and resources needed to fight for you and your rights after an arrest. Our attorneys are passionate in their defense of clients, offering compassionate, zealous legal representation to those in need. If you have been charged with a criminal offense, an attorney from the Ciccarelli Law Offices can help you with any of the following:

• Violent crimes (burglary, murder, attempted murder, assault)
• Drug crimes (possession, manufacturing or selling
• DUI charges
• Sex crime
• Juvenile crime
• Crimes of theft
• Traffic violations

How Do You Prove You Are Innocent of a Criminal Charge?

One of the many questions our attorneys face routinely is if there is hope. You may be facing a stack of evidence that seems to make it impossible for you to protect your future or to prove that you do not serve the consequences you are facing. Even in these situations, we encourage you to reach out to our criminal defense attorney in Philadelphia so we can create a legal strategy that protects your future.

As highly experienced criminal defense attorneys, we will work to develop any evidence possible to protect you in these types of situations. To prove you are innocent, we look at all factors that can offer some insight. Here are some examples:

• Witness testimony. Often, there are witnesses the police or investigators did not talk to that can shed additional insight into the legal matter. If they are out there, we will do all we can to find them and work with them to produce statements that may work in your favor.
• We consider social media. One of the areas that often reveals details of crimes and what actually occurred in social media. There are numerous tools that your criminal defense attorney can use to find evidence that proves your innocence that is on social media – remember, too that social media is public record and can be used to support or hurt your case.
• Forensic evidence is always a valuable component in any investigation. However, there are times when a detective or investigator will reach a conclusion without having all of the available evidence. Expect us to be exhaustive in finding any type of data that could help you with your case.
• Employment and financial records are another resource. There are often times when a simple receipt or transaction can prove that you did not commit a crime or that you could not be held accountable.
• Surveillance video is another resource we use to investigate what took place. Now that cameras are everywhere, this tends to be more of a possibility than ever before. However, you cannot just expect the police to obtain every camera angle on their own.

These are just some of the ways our criminal defense team will work to gather evidence and create a legal strategy for you. Even if we have every bit of evidence, our legal defense strategies will help to minimize the impact whenever possible. 

Experience You Can Trust

Our attorneys have nearly 100 years of combined experience, successfully assisting those charged with a criminal offense in Philadelphia County and throughout the Philadelphia area. Our firm takes a unique approach to criminal cases which allows us to face the most challenging court cases, presenting you with an effective, solid defense. We understand what is at stake for every client who walks into our office. We know your freedom and your future depend on our ability to successfully investigate and expose flaws in the case against you. We have successfully tried and won cases across all areas of criminal law in virtually every District Court and trial courtroom in Philadelphia County.

Unlike other counties in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County does not have Magisterial courts. Instead, cases that would be handled by a Magisterial Court are handled by Municipal Courts. Some of these cases include disputes between tenants and landlords, civil matters less than $12,000, summary offenses, municipal ordinance violations, and preliminary hearings and arraignments in greater misdemeanor and felony offenses.

In addition to District Courts and Municipal Courts, Philadelphia has the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. This is the trial court that hears felony-level criminal cases and civil suits over $7,000. In addition, Philadelphia has three appellate courts: The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, and the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. It is also home to the federal United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our skilled criminal defense attorneys have extensive experience representing individuals accused of committing crimes throughout Philadelphia. We have successfully tried cases in numerous courtrooms across the city and our track record for winning these cases speaks for itself.

How to Evaluate a Criminal Defense Attorney

This could be the biggest decision of your life. The skill and experience of a criminal defense attorney ultimately determine what the judge and jury believe in your case. Even with a lot of evidence against you, a solid attorney will work to get that small amount of doubt out there to help improve your situation.

Choose an attorney you feel comfortable with and one capable of helping you. We encourage you to consider the following:

• Experience with cases like your own. Choose an attorney who has successfully helped or partnered with other attorneys who have helped people facing the same risks you are.
• Trusted communication matters. If you do not feel you can trust this attorney or you do not feel comfortable sharing with them, that means you need someone else.
• Time matters. Choose an attorney who has the time to dedicate to your case and one who is willing to be there for you when you need it the most.

If our criminal defense attorneys meet your needs, expect us to fight for you and be a fierce advocate for your future. You can count on us to always support you throughout your case.

Choosing a Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney

Choosing your criminal defense attorney may be the single most important decision you will face after being charged with a Philadelphia Pennsylvania criminal offense. The best Philadelphia criminal defense attorneys are generally in very high demand, so you must make your decisions regarding an attorney quickly. At Ciccarelli Law Offices, success is our mission—we are driven to serve and ready to fight. The criminal defense lawyers at Ciccarelli Law Offices have successfully defended citizens throughout Philadelphia who have been arrested and accused of committing a crime.  Our office is located at 1515 Market Street, Suite 1200 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to better serve you. Contact Ciccarelli Law Offices at (215)228-0100.