Criminal Defense Attorneys in Portland, ME

Charged with OUI, assault, or a drug offense in Portland? A Maine-licensed criminal defense attorney who knows Cumberland County courts will review your charges for free and keep the conversation confidential.

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How we match your Portland criminal defense case

When you submit a Portland 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 Maine law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Maine 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.

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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.

Criminal Defense cases in Portland

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Portland's nightlife around the Old Port and Commercial Street drives a steady stream of OUI, disorderly conduct, and assault arrests, and the city also sees drug and theft cases tied to its role as the region's service hub. Cumberland County handles criminal matters through a unified criminal docket in Portland, where misdemeanors and felonies move through the same court, and some cases involving guns, drugs, or federal programs are charged in federal court instead. Early decisions shape everything after. DearLegal matches you with a Maine-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Portland, with a free review.

Criminal cases from Portland arrests are handled through Cumberland County's unified criminal docket in Portland, covering both misdemeanors and felonies.
Old Port nightlife and summer tourism concentrate OUI, disorderly conduct, and assault arrests in the downtown core.
Some Portland conduct is charged federally in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine rather than in state court, which changes the procedure and the exposure.

Maine criminal defense rules at a glance

Portland cases run under Maine law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Maine page.

Read the full Maine criminal defense guide →

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder; 6 years for most felonies; 3 years for misdemeanors (17-A M.R.S. § 8)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 3 years
3 years for misdemeanors generally (17-A M.R.S. § 8)
Sentencing Structure: Class A-E
Class A-E grading under 17-A M.R.S. § 1604; murder separate (§ 1251); no parole — determinate sentences; mandatory minimums for OUI, firearm offenses
Expungement / Record Sealing: No statute
No general expungement statute. Limited sealing of Class E misdemeanors after 4 years under 15 M.R.S. § 2261; juvenile records under 15 M.R.S. § 3308; pardons by Governor
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under 15 M.R.S. § 1023 et seq.; constitutional right to bail with exceptions for capital and life-eligible offenses (Me. Const. Art. I, § 10)
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Portland criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Maine · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

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 Maine are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Maine work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Maine Rules of Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services oversees indigent defense — Maine recently moved toward establishing a state public defender system.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

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Exhibit F

Portland criminal defense questions, answered

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You will typically see a judge for an initial appearance where bail conditions are set, then move through the county's unified criminal docket toward plea negotiations, motions, or trial. Conditions imposed early, such as no-contact or no-alcohol terms, can be hard to change later. An attorney should be involved before that first appearance if possible.

Maine treats OUI seriously even on a first offense, with license consequences handled separately from the criminal case, so two clocks can be running at once. Whether the stop, the testing, and the paperwork were done correctly often matters more than the reading itself. An attorney can review both tracks quickly.

Maine is restrictive about clearing adult criminal records, so how a case resolves at the outset often determines what follows you afterward. Dismissals, deferred outcomes, and reduced charges can all lead to different long-term consequences. Ask a Maine attorney about record impact before agreeing to any resolution.

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Maine State Police, county sheriffs, and city police (Portland, Bangor) use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Sixth Amendment right to counsel under Miranda.

Yes. Maine Class D misdemeanors carry up to 364 days in jail and $2,000 fines under 17-A M.R.S. § 1704. Filing/Deferred Disposition under 17-A M.R.S. § 1902 can result in dismissal upon successful completion of conditions. DV and OUI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.