Criminal Defense Attorneys in Southfield, MI

Southfield arrests for drunk driving, drugs, or assault are prosecuted through Oakland County, and a record can follow you for years. A Michigan-licensed criminal defense attorney serving Southfield will review your case for free.

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How we match your Southfield criminal defense case

When you submit a Southfield 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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Criminal Defense cases in Southfield

More about legal help in Southfield →

Southfield's freeway corridors along I-696, M-10, and Telegraph Road generate frequent traffic stops, OWI arrests, and drug and weapon charges, while the city's retail centers and large office and apartment complexes produce theft, assault, and property cases. Misdemeanors and initial felony proceedings for Southfield arrests begin in the city's district court, and felony cases move up to Oakland County Circuit Court for trial. Charges near the Detroit border may instead run through Wayne County. Early counsel can shape charging decisions before arraignment. DearLegal matches you with a Michigan-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Southfield, with a free review.

Southfield misdemeanors and felony preliminary proceedings start in the city's district court, with felonies then heard in Oakland County Circuit Court.
Traffic enforcement along I-696, M-10, and Telegraph Road drives a steady volume of OWI, suspended license, and search-related cases.
An arrest just south of Eight Mile is prosecuted in Wayne County, where local practice and prosecutors differ from Oakland County.

Michigan criminal defense rules at a glance

Southfield 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 Southfield 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

Southfield criminal defense questions, answered

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Misdemeanor cases and the early stages of felony cases from Southfield arrests are handled in the local district court. If a felony charge moves past the preliminary stage, it goes to Oakland County Circuit Court. An attorney familiar with both will explain what happens at each step and who makes the decisions.

You are not required to answer questions, and statements made before you have counsel are frequently the strongest evidence used against defendants later. It is reasonable to say clearly that you want a lawyer and then stop talking. An attorney can handle contact with investigators and prosecutors on your behalf.

Depending on the charge and your history, options can include diversion, deferred programs, reduced pleas, or later expungement, and Michigan has expanded some of these in recent years. Eligibility is fact-specific and deadlines apply at several stages. A Michigan attorney can assess which paths are realistically available in your case.

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.