Criminal Defense Attorneys in Flint, MI

Drug, weapons, assault, and drunk driving charges in Flint are prosecuted through Genesee County, and the stakes are high. A Michigan-licensed criminal defense attorney serving Flint will review your case for free.

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How we match your Flint criminal defense case

When you submit a Flint 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 Michigan law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Michigan 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 Flint

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Charges in Flint are prosecuted by the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office and by city attorneys for ordinance violations, with cases arising from traffic stops along Dort Highway and the I-69 and I-475 corridors, downtown and campus-area incidents, and domestic and drug allegations across the city's neighborhoods. Misdemeanors and the early stages of felonies are handled in Genesee County district court, and felony cases move to Genesee County Circuit Court after a preliminary examination. Some drug and firearm cases are charged federally instead. DearLegal matches you with a Michigan-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Flint, with a free review.

Arraignments, misdemeanors, and preliminary examinations are handled in Genesee County district court; felonies proceed to Genesee County Circuit Court.
Cases are prosecuted by the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office, with city ordinance matters handled separately.
Arrests in surrounding counties such as Lapeer, Shiawassee, Saginaw, or Oakland are prosecuted in those counties' courts.

Michigan criminal defense rules at a glance

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

Read the full Michigan criminal defense guide →

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, terrorism; 10 years for most non-violent felonies; 6 years for assault felonies (M.C.L. § 767.24)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 6 years
6 years for most misdemeanors (M.C.L. § 767.24)
Sentencing Structure: 23 year
Indeterminate sentencing under M.C.L. § 769.8; Sentencing Guidelines advisory after People v. Lockridge (2015); Habitual Offender enhancement (M.C.L. § 769.10-12); HYTA (§ 762.11) for 17-23 year olds
Expungement / Record Sealing: 7 years
Clean Slate Acts (2020/2021 PA, M.C.L. § 780.621-624) — automatic expungement of many misdemeanors after 7 years and certain felonies after 10 years (eff. April 2023); broad petition-based expungement
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under M.C.R. 6.106; constitutional right to bail with exceptions for capital and certain violent offenses (Mich. Const. Art. I, § 15); pretrial risk assessment encouraged
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Flint criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

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

Criminal defense attorneys in Michigan work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under M.R.P.C. 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) and county public defenders represent indigent defendants — recent state-level reforms have improved indigent defense statewide.

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

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Exhibit F

Flint criminal defense questions, answered

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You will first appear in the Genesee County district court for arraignment, and misdemeanors typically stay there through resolution. Felonies begin there for a preliminary examination and then move to Genesee County Circuit Court. Federal charges are heard in federal court in Michigan instead, under different procedures.

You are not required to answer questions, and statements made in an interview are frequently the strongest evidence the prosecution later uses. Politely declining and asking for a lawyer is not an admission of anything. An attorney can arrange any interview on terms that protect you.

Michigan allows some convictions to be set aside, with eligibility depending on the offense, your record, and how much time has passed, and certain offenses are excluded. Some cases can also be diverted or dismissed through programs before conviction. An attorney can tell you which options your specific case qualifies for.

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Michigan State Police, Detroit PD, county sheriffs, and city police use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Mich. Const. Art. I, § 17 right against self-incrimination.

Yes. Michigan misdemeanors carry up to 93 days, 1 year, or 2 years depending on the offense, plus fines under M.C.L. § 769.5. HYTA (M.C.L. § 762.11) can result in no conviction being entered for eligible defendants 17-23. Delayed Sentence under M.C.L. § 771.1 is similar for non-HYTA defendants. DV and OWI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.