Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorneys
Minnesota does criminal sentencing differently than most states: a Sentencing Guidelines grid drives felony outcomes, and the Stay of Adjudication / Stay of Imposition framework can keep a conviction off your record entirely.
- Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
- Matched with a Minnesota attorney in 24 hours
- 30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide
Free Minnesota criminal defense case review
A Minnesota attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.
How we match your Minnesota criminal defense case
When you submit a Minnesota 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 Minnesota law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Minnesota 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.
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.
Exhibit A
What happens with a criminal defense claim in Minnesota
Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Minnesota criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Minnesota, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.
Exhibit B
When to call a criminal defense attorney in Minnesota
Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.
Exhibit C
Criminal Defense cases we take in Minnesota
Which one is closest to yours?
DWI / Aggravated DWI / Felony DWI
Charged under Minn. Stat. § 169A.20 (.08 BAC). The degrees escalate fast: a first offense (4th-degree) is a misdemeanor — 90 days, $1,000 fine, 90-day suspension. A second within 10 years (3rd-degree) is a gross misdemeanor carrying 1 year, as is a third (2nd-degree). A fourth in 10 years (1st-degree) is a felony with 7 years of exposure.
Sound like yours? A Minnesota attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewDrug possession and sale
Recreational marijuana has been legal since August 1, 2023 (Cannabis Act, HF 100), with adults 21+ allowed up to 2 oz of flower in public — but everything else remains charged under Minn. Stat. § 152.021-.027, with degrees keyed to substance and quantity. First-degree drug crimes carry significant Sentencing Guidelines exposure.
Sound like yours? A Minnesota attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewAssault
Five degrees: First-degree (Minn. Stat. § 609.221, great bodily harm or deadly weapon — felony, 20 years), Second-degree (§ 609.222, dangerous weapon — felony, 7-10), Third-degree (§ 609.223, substantial bodily harm — felony, 5), Fourth-degree (§ 609.2231, based on victim status — gross misdemeanor or felony), and Fifth-degree (§ 609.224, misdemeanor base).
Sound like yours? A Minnesota attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewDomestic assault
Minn. Stat. § 609.2242 stacks quickly: misdemeanor on a first offense, gross misdemeanor for a second within 10 years, felony for a third within 10 years. Mandatory arrest applies under § 629.341, an Order for Protection (OFP) can issue under § 518B.01, and the federal § 922(g)(9) firearm ban follows a conviction.
Sound like yours? A Minnesota attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewTheft
Tiered by value under Minn. Stat. § 609.52: under $500 is a misdemeanor, $500-$1,000 a gross misdemeanor, $1,000-$5,000 a felony carrying 5 years, $5,000-$35,000 a felony carrying 10 years, and over $35,000 a felony carrying 20 years.
Sound like yours? A Minnesota attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewWhite-collar crimes
County attorneys prosecute theft by swindle, identity theft (Minn. Stat. § 609.527), forgery, financial card fraud, and securities fraud. Federal exposure in the District of Minnesota covers wire fraud, healthcare fraud, and tax fraud — and the state has been home to several major federal fraud prosecutions (Feeding Our Future, among others).
Sound like yours? A Minnesota attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewGun and firearm charges
Minnesota is a "shall issue" state — a permit to carry a handgun is required under Minn. Stat. § 624.714. Possession by an ineligible person under Minn. Stat. § 624.713 is a felony carrying 5-15 years; carrying without a permit (§ 624.714 subd. 1a) is a gross misdemeanor. Federal § 922(g) prosecutions here are aggressive.
Sound like yours? A Minnesota attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewSex offenses
Criminal Sexual Conduct is charged in degrees under Minn. Stat. § 609.342-.3451. CSC-1 — penetration with aggravating circumstances — carries a 12-year presumptive prison term and a 25-year maximum, with CSC-2 through CSC-5 descending in severity. Registration under § 243.166 is lifetime for many offenses.
Sound like yours? A Minnesota attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewHomicide
Murder First-Degree (Minn. Stat. § 609.185) means mandatory life — Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911. Murder Second-Degree (§ 609.19) carries a presumptive 367 months, Murder Third-Degree (§ 609.195) a presumptive 150 months. Manslaughter First/Second-Degree falls under § 609.20-.205, Criminal Vehicular Homicide under § 609.2112, and felony murder is included.
Sound like yours? A Minnesota attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewJuvenile offenses
Handled under Minn. Stat. § 260B. The fights worth having: certification (waiver) to adult court under § 260B.125 — presumptive for 16- and 17-year-olds charged with serious offenses — and EJJ (Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction) under § 260B.130, which permits a blended sentence.
Sound like yours? A Minnesota attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewProbation violations
Revocation proceeds under Minn. R. Crim. P. 27.04, with a Modified Step Process for technical violations. The danger is real: a stayed sentence can be executed in full upon revocation, and the career offender enhancement applies on revocation where applicable.
Sound like yours? A Minnesota attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewFederal crimes in Minnesota
Prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Recurring case types: drug trafficking along I-94 and I-35, § 922(g) felon-in-possession, offenses on federal land (the Boundary Waters, Voyageurs National Park, federal Native lands), wire fraud, and major federal fraud investigations (Feeding Our Future, Twin Cities Medicare/Medicaid fraud).
Sound like yours? A Minnesota attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewExhibit D
How much do Minnesota criminal defense attorneys cost?
Typical fee schedule
Minnesota · Criminal Defense
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 Minnesota are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.
You won't find contingency fees in Minnesota criminal defense — they're prohibited in criminal cases under Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Instead, expect a flat fee for misdemeanors and most felonies, with hourly billing reserved for complex matters. If you can't afford counsel, the Minnesota Board of Public Defense oversees state public defender offices that represent indigent defendants statewide.
A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.
Exhibit E
What your Minnesota criminal defense compensation can include
A Minnesota criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.
Charge Dismissal
Outright dismissal — via a motion to suppress, a motion to dismiss for insufficient probable cause, a speedy-trial demand under Minn. R. Crim. P. 11.09 (the 60-day demand rule), or a County Attorney motion to dismiss.
Charge Reduction
Stepping a felony down to a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor, moving to a lower severity level on the grid, or stripping career offender or firearm enhancement allegations.
Stay of Adjudication / Stay of Imposition
Minnesota's signature outcomes. A Stay of Adjudication (Minn. Stat. § 152.18 for drug cases; § 609.095 generally) means no conviction is entered and the case is dismissed after successful probation. A Stay of Imposition enters a felony conviction but deems it a misdemeanor upon completion. Drug court, mental health court, and veterans court are also available.
Plea Agreement
A negotiated resolution under Minn. R. Crim. P. 15 — charge reductions, dismissed counts, recommended sentences within the guidelines, and dispositional or durational departure motions.
Trial Acquittal
A not-guilty verdict from a Minnesota jury or judge. Juries here seat 12 for felonies and 6 for misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, and the verdict must be unanimous (Minn. Const. Art. I, § 4).
Post-Conviction Relief
A post-conviction petition under Minn. Stat. § 590.01, subject to a 2-year filing window from finality. Grounds include IAC, newly discovered evidence, an illegal sentence, and constitutional violations; successor petitions are restricted.
DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.
Exhibit F
Minnesota criminal defense questions, answered
Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Minnesota attorney will review it for free.
Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Minnesota
Same Minnesota rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.
