Criminal Defense Attorneys in St. Clair Shores, MI

Drunk driving and boating charges, along with drug and assault cases in St. Clair Shores, are prosecuted through Macomb County. A Michigan-licensed criminal defense attorney serving St. Clair Shores will review your case for free.

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How we match your St. Clair Shores criminal defense case

When you submit a St. Clair Shores 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 St. Clair Shores

More about legal help in St. Clair Shores →

St. Clair Shores draws heavy summer traffic to the Nautical Mile's bars and restaurants and to the lakefront, and that mix of nightlife, boat launches, and Jefferson Avenue patrols produces a steady stream of OWI, boating-under-the-influence, and disorderly charges alongside everyday theft and assault cases. Misdemeanors and initial appearances are handled in the local district court, while felony cases move up to Macomb County Circuit Court after preliminary examination. A few matters, especially firearms or drug distribution, can be charged federally instead. DearLegal matches you with a Michigan-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in St. Clair Shores, with a free review.

Misdemeanors and arraignments are heard in the local district court; felonies proceed to Macomb County Circuit Court.
Nautical Mile nightlife and lake and boat-launch activity generate seasonal impaired-driving and boating-related enforcement.
An arrest across the line in Grosse Pointe Woods or Harper Woods is prosecuted in Wayne County courts instead.

Michigan criminal defense rules at a glance

St. Clair Shores 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 St. Clair Shores 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

St. Clair Shores criminal defense questions, answered

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Misdemeanor charges and every case's first appearance happen in the district court serving the city, and felony charges move to Macomb County Circuit Court after a preliminary examination. Where you were stopped controls which prosecutor's office is involved. An attorney can confirm the court and appear with you.

You typically face both a criminal case in district court and separate consequences through the Secretary of State affecting your license. Test results, the reason for the stop, and how the arrest was conducted are all subject to challenge. An attorney can address both tracks, since resolving one does not resolve the other.

Michigan offers avenues for some people, including diversion options for certain first offenses and expungement of some past convictions, but eligibility depends on the offense and your history. Timing rules apply and not every charge qualifies. A Michigan attorney can assess whether any of these options fit 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.