Connecticut Criminal Defense Attorneys
At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Connecticut criminal defense attorneys who know the state’s Accelerated Rehabilitation program, its 2023 Clean Slate automatic record-erasure law, and Connecticut’s nuanced sentencing scheme.
- Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
- Matched with a Connecticut attorney in 24 hours
- 30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide
Free Connecticut criminal defense case review
A Connecticut attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.
How we match your Connecticut criminal defense case
When you submit a Connecticut criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.
Case type
A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.
Size and complexity
Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.
Jurisdiction and licensing
Your matter is decided under Connecticut law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Connecticut who regularly appears where your case would be heard.
Capacity and fit
Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.
Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.
DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.
Exhibit A
What happens with a criminal defense claim in Connecticut
Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Connecticut criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Connecticut, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.
Exhibit B
When to call a criminal defense attorney in Connecticut
Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.
Exhibit C
Criminal Defense cases we take in Connecticut
Which one is closest to yours?
DUI / OUI
Connecticut DUI under § 14-227a (.08 BAC). First offense: 48 hours mandatory minimum, fines $500–$1,000, 45-day license suspension, 1 year IID. Second offense: felony 120 days minimum. Third: 1 year minimum, Class D felony.
Sound like yours? A Connecticut attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewDrug possession and sale
Connecticut legalized recreational marijuana in 2021 (S.B. 1201) — adults 21+ can possess up to 1.5 ounces. Possession of other controlled substances under § 21a-279 is generally a misdemeanor for personal use (after 2015 reclassification); sale under § 21a-277 remains a felony.
Sound like yours? A Connecticut attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewAssault and threatening
Connecticut assault: First-degree (§ 53a-59, Class B felony), Second-degree (§ 53a-60, Class D felony), Third-degree (§ 53a-61, Class A misdemeanor). Threatening (§ 53a-61aa/§ 53a-62) by class depending on circumstances and weapon use.
Sound like yours? A Connecticut attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewDomestic violence / Family violence
Connecticut has mandatory arrest under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-38b when officers find probable cause of family violence. Family violence cases go to special docket with mandatory criminal protective orders. Federal § 922(g)(9) firearm ban attaches to qualifying convictions. Family Violence Education Program (FVEP) diversion is available.
Sound like yours? A Connecticut attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewTheft and larceny
Connecticut larceny tiers under § 53a-119 to § 53a-125b: First-degree (over $20,000, Class B felony), Second-degree ($10,000–$20,000, Class C), Third-degree ($2,000–$10,000, Class D), Fourth-degree ($1,000–$2,000, Class A misdemeanor), Fifth ($500–$1,000), Sixth (under $500).
Sound like yours? A Connecticut attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewWhite-collar crimes
Connecticut prosecutes larceny, forgery, identity theft (§ 53a-129a et seq.), and securities fraud through State’s Attorneys and the Department of Banking. Federal exposure for wire fraud, healthcare fraud, securities fraud common in financial sector (Stamford, Greenwich hedge funds).
Sound like yours? A Connecticut attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewGun and firearm charges
Connecticut has some of the strictest gun laws in the country — post-Sandy Hook reforms (2013) banned many assault weapons, large-capacity magazines, and tightened background checks. Concealed carry requires a permit (§ 29-28). Carrying without permit, by prohibited person, or unregistered assault weapon = serious felony.
Sound like yours? A Connecticut attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewSex offenses
Connecticut sex offender registration under § 54-251 et seq. — 10-year, 20-year, or lifetime tiers. Sexual assault degrees (§ 53a-70 to § 53a-73a) with severe mandatory minimums for first-degree sexual assault.
Sound like yours? A Connecticut attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewHomicide
Connecticut homicide: Murder (§ 53a-54a, Class A felony — 25 to 60 years, life without parole possible), Murder with special circumstances (life without parole; death penalty abolished 2012 and held unconstitutional retroactively 2015), Manslaughter (§§ 53a-55, 53a-56, varying classes), Negligent Homicide.
Sound like yours? A Connecticut attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewJuvenile offenses
Connecticut’s Raise the Age framework keeps most 16- and 17-year-olds in juvenile court under § 46b-120 et seq. Discretionary and automatic transfers to adult court for serious offenses under § 46b-127.
Sound like yours? A Connecticut attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewProbation violations
Connecticut probation revocation under Conn. P.B. § 43-29. Technical violations addressed through graduated sanctions. Adult Probation Services handles supervision; CSSD (Court Support Services Division) administers many programs.
Sound like yours? A Connecticut attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewFederal crimes in Connecticut
Federal cases in the District of Connecticut. Common: I-91 and I-95 drug trafficking, § 922(g) firearms, wire fraud, securities fraud (Stamford/Greenwich), healthcare fraud, and Hartford-based political corruption cases.
Sound like yours? A Connecticut attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewExhibit D
How much do Connecticut criminal defense attorneys cost?
Typical fee schedule
Connecticut · Criminal Defense
Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.
Criminal Defense matters in Connecticut are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.
Criminal defense attorneys in Connecticut work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Conn. RPC 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing with retainers. The Connecticut Division of Public Defender Services represents indigent defendants.
A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.
Exhibit E
What your Connecticut criminal defense compensation can include
A Connecticut criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.
Charge Dismissal
Outright dismissal through motion to suppress, motion to dismiss for insufficiency, speedy trial under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-82c, or nolle prosequi (absolute after 13 months under § 54-142a).
Charge Reduction
Reduction from felony to misdemeanor or to lesser-included offense. Removing persistent offender or weapon enhancements during plea negotiation.
Accelerated Rehabilitation / Diversion
Accelerated Rehabilitation (§ 54-56e) — one-time-use diversion ending in dismissal. PDED (drug), PAED (alcohol), FVEP (family violence), Youthful Offender (§ 54-76b), Supervised Diversionary Program (mental health) all available.
Plea Agreement
Negotiated resolution through judicial pretrial conferences under Conn. P.B. § 39-1 et seq. Includes charge reductions, dismissed counts, recommended sentences, and Alford pleas where appropriate.
Trial Acquittal
Not guilty verdict by Connecticut jury or judge. Connecticut criminal juries are 6 jurors for misdemeanors and 12 jurors for serious felonies, and must be unanimous.
Post-Conviction Relief
Connecticut habeas corpus under § 52-466 (5-year limit), motion to correct illegal sentence (Conn. P.B. § 43-22), Clean Slate erasure (P.A. 21-32), and pardons through the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.
Exhibit F
Connecticut criminal defense questions, answered
Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Connecticut attorney will review it for free.
Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Connecticut
Same Connecticut rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.
