Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Nebraska criminal defense attorneys who navigate the state’s Class I-V felony grading scheme, habitual criminal enhancements, set-aside dispositions, and Nebraska’s limited record relief framework.

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Matched with a Nebraska attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Nebraska criminal defense case review

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How we match your Nebraska criminal defense case

When you submit a Nebraska 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 Nebraska law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Nebraska 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.

Get started How DearLegal works

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 Nebraska

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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska, 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.

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for Class I, IA, IB felonies; 7 years for Class IC-IIA; 3 years for Class III-IV felonies (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-110)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 18 months
18 months for most misdemeanors (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-110(3))
Sentencing Structure: Class I-V
Class I-V grading under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-105; post-release supervision for Class III-IV felonies (added 2015 LB 605); habitual criminal enhancement (§ 29-2221); mandatory minimums for some firearm and sex offenses
Expungement / Record Sealing: Limited
Limited — set-aside of conviction under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2264 (record remains but conviction is set aside); pardons via Pardons Board; arrest records sealing for non-convictions under § 29-3523
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-901 et seq.; constitutional right to bail with exceptions for capital offenses (Neb. Const. Art. I, § 9)
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Nebraska grades felonies as Class I (death — capital), Class IA (life imprisonment), Class IB (20 years to life), Class IC (5-50), Class ID (3-50), Class II (1-50), Class IIA (0-20), Class III (0-4 plus 9-24 mo post-release), Class IIIA (0-3 plus 9-18 mo PRS), Class IV (0-2 plus 12 mo PRS) under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-105. Nebraska retains the death penalty (briefly abolished by legislature in 2015, then restored by referendum in 2016). The Habitual Criminal enhancement under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2221 dramatically increases minimums — defendant with two prior felonies (each with 1+ year served) faces mandatory 10-60 years. Nebraska has medical cannabis legalized in 2024 (Initiative 437) but recreational remains illegal — possession under 1 oz first offense is an infraction; over 1 oz is a misdemeanor or felony depending on quantity. Nebraska’s set-aside statute under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2264 allows the court to set aside a conviction upon completion of sentence, but the record remains. Expungement is limited — pardons (through the Pardons Board) are the primary path to record relief for most convictions. Nebraska County Attorneys plea-bargain extensively.

Exhibit B

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Nebraska

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Criminal Defense cases we take in Nebraska

Which one is closest to yours?

DUI

Nebraska DUI under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,196 (.08 BAC). First offense (Class W misdemeanor): 7-60 days jail (suspendable), $500 fine, 6-month license revocation. Second within 15 years: Class W with 10-50 days minimum. Third (Class IIIA felony): 60 days-3 years.

Sound like yours? A Nebraska attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

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Exhibit D

How much do Nebraska criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

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

Criminal defense attorneys in Nebraska work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Neb. R. Prof. Conduct § 3-501.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy and county public defenders represent indigent defendants.

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

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Nebraska criminal defense compensation can include

A Nebraska criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Charge Dismissal

Outright dismissal through motion to suppress, motion to dismiss for insufficient probable cause, speedy trial under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-1207 (6-month rule), or County Attorney motion to dismiss.

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

Nebraska criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Nebraska attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Nebraska State Patrol, Omaha PD, Lincoln PD, and sheriffs use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Neb. Const. Art. I, § 12 right against self-incrimination.

Yes. Nebraska Class I misdemeanors carry up to 1 year jail and $1,000 fines under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-106. Diversion through County Attorney offices in many counties (notably Douglas and Lancaster) can result in dismissal. DV and DUI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.

State cases go through Nebraska District Court (felonies) or County Court (misdemeanors). Federal cases go to U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska (Omaha, Lincoln, North Platte) under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Federal cases commonly involve I-80 drug trafficking, § 922(g) firearm cases, and federal fraud.

Nebraska plea agreements are negotiated between the County Attorney (felonies) or City Attorney (misdemeanors) and defense. Pleas can include charge reductions, diversion, drug court entry, problem-solving court entry, and stipulated sentence recommendations.

Nebraska expungement is limited. Set-aside under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2264 doesn’t erase the conviction but adds a notation that it has been set aside. Sealing of arrest records for non-convictions under § 29-3523. Pardons through the Nebraska Pardons Board are the primary path to full record relief for convictions — Nebraska is one of the more restrictive states.

Nebraska handles juveniles under 18 in juvenile court under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-247. Juvenile records are confidential and sealable under § 43-2,108 et seq. Transfer to adult court for juveniles 14+ for serious felonies under § 43-274. Most 17- and 18-year-olds in misdemeanor cases now stay in juvenile court (recent reforms).

Nebraska DUI under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,196 uses .08 BAC (.04 commercial, .02 under-21). Implied consent under § 60-6,197 — refusal is a separate offense. Mandatory IID for certain offenses under § 60-6,211.05. Third DUI is a Class IIIA felony.

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Nebraska

Same Nebraska rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.

Other case types in Nebraska

All Nebraska practice areas →

Animal Incident attorneysNebraska has a strict-liability dog-bite law — the owner pays for unprovoked bites without proof of prior viciousness.

Business Dispute attorneysNebraska enforces reasonable non-competes — and the Nebraska Supreme Court’s reasonableness test frames the modern analysis.

Car Accident attorneysNebraska is a fault state where you can’t recover if you’re half or more at fault — and minimum auto liability of $25K/$50K leaves many crashes underinsured.

Consumer Protection attorneysNebraska’s consumer protection law allows actual damages, triple damages for willful violations, and attorney fees.

Defective Product attorneysNebraska holds manufacturers strictly liable for defective products — and a 10-year outer time limit cuts off older claims.

Employment attorneysNebraska’s fair employment law covers Title VII categories — the state Equal Opportunity Commission handles charges with a 300-day window.

Family Law attorneysNebraska is an equitable-distribution state — and the no-fault ground of “irretrievable breakdown” governs most modern divorces.

Immigration attorneysNebraska has immigration court in Omaha — and growing immigrant populations across Omaha and Lincoln drive case volume.

Lemon Law attorneysNebraska’s Lemon Law covers new vehicles within 1 year/12,000 miles — and the manufacturer pays attorney fees if you prevail.

Medical Malpractice attorneysNebraska caps med-mal damages at $2.25M total (currently) — with a state Excess Liability Fund covering amounts above $500K.

Personal Injury attorneysA 4-year filing deadline is generous — but Nebraska still bars recovery if you’re half or more at fault.

Slip and Fall attorneysNebraska premises liability turns on notice and reasonableness — and the natural-accumulation rule limits weather-related claims.

Social Security Disability attorneysNebraska SSA hearing offices in Omaha process moderate volumes — Eighth Circuit precedent shapes review.

Workers’ Compensation attorneysNebraska workers’ comp runs through a dedicated Workers’ Compensation Court — one of only a few states with its own court for workers’ comp cases.

Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys

How we match your Nebraska criminal defense case

Case type

Size and complexity

Jurisdiction and licensing

Capacity and fit

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Nebraska

Arrest or charge.

Tell us what happened.

First appearance and bail.

Discovery and motions.

Negotiation or trial.

Outcome and record.

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Nebraska

Criminal Defense cases we take in Nebraska

DUI

Drug possession and distribution

Assault

Domestic violence

Theft

White-collar crimes

Gun and firearm charges

Sex offenses

Homicide

Juvenile offenses

Probation and parole violations

Federal crimes in Nebraska

How much do Nebraska criminal defense attorneys cost?

What your Nebraska criminal defense compensation can include

Charge Dismissal

Charge Reduction

Pretrial Diversion / Problem-Solving Courts

Plea Agreement

Trial Acquittal

Post-Conviction Relief

Nebraska criminal defense questions, answered

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Nebraska

Other case types in Nebraska

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