Criminal Defense Attorneys in New Bedford, MA

New Bedford arrests for OUI, drug offenses, or assault are handled in Bristol County courts. A Massachusetts-licensed criminal defense attorney will review your case for free and in confidence.

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How we match your New Bedford criminal defense case

When you submit a New Bedford 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 Massachusetts law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Massachusetts 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 New Bedford

More about legal help in New Bedford →

New Bedford is one of the larger cities in southeastern Massachusetts, and its court docket reflects that volume, from OUI stops along Route 18 and Route 6 to drug, assault, and property charges arising downtown and in the North and South Ends. Most cases begin in New Bedford District Court, while felonies are indicted and tried in Bristol County Superior Court, with some matters moving to federal court. Early decisions about arraignment, bail, and whether to speak with police shape everything that follows. DearLegal matches you with a Massachusetts-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in New Bedford, with a free review.

Charges from New Bedford are arraigned in New Bedford District Court, with serious felonies prosecuted in Bristol County Superior Court.
Cases are handled by the Bristol County District Attorney's office, and local practice and diversion options vary by court and session.
Some port, firearm, or trafficking allegations draw federal charges, which are heard in Massachusetts federal court under different rules and sentencing.

Massachusetts criminal defense rules at a glance

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

Read the full Massachusetts criminal defense guide →

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder; 27 years for sex offenses against children; 15 years for first-degree rape; 6 years for most other felonies (M.G.L. c. 277 § 63)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 6 years
6 years for most misdemeanors (M.G.L. c. 277 § 63)
Sentencing Structure: Statute-specific maximums
Statute-specific maximums; Sentencing Commission Guidelines (advisory); mandatory minimums for some firearm and drug offenses; felony/misdemeanor distinction
Expungement / Record Sealing: 3 years
M.G.L. c. 276 § 100A (sealing) — broad eligibility, misdemeanors after 3 years, felonies after 7 years; § 100E expungement for certain categories; juvenile and marijuana automatic relief
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under M.G.L. c. 276 § 57 et seq.; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (Mass. Const. Art. of Amend. Art. 12); dangerousness hearings under § 58A
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do New Bedford criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

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

Criminal defense attorneys in Massachusetts work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Mass. R. 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 Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) represents indigent defendants — combined public-defender and assigned-counsel system.

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

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Exhibit F

New Bedford criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Massachusetts attorney will review it for free.

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Most cases start with arraignment in New Bedford District Court. Felonies can be indicted and moved to Bristol County Superior Court, and a few matters proceed federally. An attorney will explain where your specific charge is headed.

You are not required to answer questions, and statements made early are frequently the strongest evidence against a defendant. Politely declining and asking for counsel is not an admission. Speak with an attorney before giving any account.

Sometimes. Depending on the charge and history, options can include diversion, pretrial resolutions, or later sealing, though eligibility rules are narrow and deadlines apply. A Massachusetts attorney can tell you what is realistically available in your case.

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Massachusetts State Police, Boston PD, MBTA Transit Police, and federal agents operating in Massachusetts use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Article 12 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights (broader than the Fifth Amendment in some applications).

Yes. Massachusetts misdemeanors carry up to 2.5 years in house of correction and fines under statute. CWOF (Continuance Without a Finding) under M.G.L. c. 278 § 18 — uniquely valuable Massachusetts disposition — preserves no-conviction status. Pretrial Probation under § 87 is another path. DV and OUI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.