Criminal Defense Attorneys in Taunton, MA

Taunton 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 Taunton criminal defense case

When you submit a Taunton 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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Criminal Defense cases in Taunton

More about legal help in Taunton →

Taunton sits at the crossroads of Route 24, Route 44, and Route 140, and traffic stops along those corridors, downtown incidents near Taunton Green, and domestic and drug allegations make up much of the local docket. Misdemeanors and many felonies begin in the Taunton District Court, while more serious felony indictments are prosecuted in Bristol County Superior Court by the district attorney's office. Federal charges are handled separately in federal court. What you say in the first days often shapes the whole case. DearLegal matches you with a Massachusetts-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Taunton, with a free review.

Cases charged in Taunton start in the Taunton District Court; serious felonies are indicted and tried in Bristol County Superior Court.
Bristol County prosecutions are handled by the district attorney's office, with sessions across the county including Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford.
Charges filed in nearby Plymouth County towns or in Rhode Island are handled by different prosecutors and courts entirely.

Massachusetts criminal defense rules at a glance

Taunton 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 Taunton 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

Taunton criminal defense questions, answered

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Most charges begin with an arraignment in the Taunton District Court, and more serious felonies can be indicted and moved to Bristol County Superior Court. Federal charges proceed in federal court under separate rules. An attorney can tell you which track your charge is on and what happens at each stage.

You have the right to remain silent and to counsel, and statements made early are frequently the strongest evidence the prosecution has. Declining to answer questions is not evidence of guilt. Contact an attorney before any interview so the conversation happens on terms that protect you.

It happens regularly, through challenges to the stop or search, weaknesses in the evidence, diversion or continuation without a finding in appropriate cases, or negotiated reductions. Outcomes depend heavily on your record and the specific facts. An attorney can review the discovery and identify realistic options 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.