Criminal Defense Attorneys in White Plains, NY
As the county seat, White Plains is where many Westchester County criminal cases are heard, and early strategy matters. A New York-licensed criminal defense attorney serving White Plains will review your case for free.
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How we match your White Plains criminal defense case
When you submit a White Plains 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 New York law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in New York 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.
Criminal Defense cases in White Plains
More about legal help in White Plains →White Plains is the seat of Westchester County government and law enforcement, with the county courthouse, the District Attorney's office, and a federal courthouse all downtown. Charges here often start with a traffic stop on the parkways or I-287, a DWI arrest after a night out on Mamaroneck Avenue, a retail theft allegation, or a dispute outside a bar or the Westchester County Center. Misdemeanors and violations begin in White Plains City Court, while felonies move to Westchester County Court, and some matters are charged federally instead. DearLegal matches you with a New York-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in White Plains, with a free review.
- Misdemeanor and violation cases from White Plains are handled in White Plains City Court; felony cases proceed to Westchester County Court.
- Arrests on the Bronx River, Hutchinson River, and Sprain Brook parkways or on I-287 may involve State Police or county police rather than city officers.
- White Plains also houses a federal courthouse, so certain drug, fraud, or firearms cases are prosecuted federally rather than in state court.
New York criminal defense rules at a glance
White Plains cases run under New York law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the New York page.
Read the full New York criminal defense guide →- Felony Statute of Limitations
No limit
No limit for Class A felonies (murder); no limit for first-degree sex offenses against minors; 5 years for most other felonies (CPL § 30.10)
- Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations
2 years
2 years for most misdemeanors (CPL § 30.10(2)(c))
- Sentencing Structure
Class A-E
Class A-E felony grading under Penal Law § 70.00; Persistent Felony Offender (§ 70.10) and Mandatory Persistent (§ 70.08); determinate sentencing for many felonies; Drug Law Reform 2009 reduced mandatory minimums
- Expungement / Record Sealing
10 years
CPL § 160.59 (sealing up to two convictions after 10 years); CPL § 160.50/160.55 (sealing for non-convictions and certain other dispositions); MRTA automatic marijuana expungement
- Bail / Pretrial Release
Bail Reform
New York Bail Reform (CPL § 510.10, eff. 2020) eliminated cash bail for most non-violent offenses; bail can be set only for qualifying offenses; supervised release widely used
- Typical attorney fee
Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee
Exhibit D
How much do White Plains criminal defense attorneys cost?
Typical fee schedule
New York · 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 New York are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.
Criminal defense attorneys in New York work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under N.Y. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases (federal white-collar, homicide, multi-count) use hourly billing with substantial retainers. The Legal Aid Society, Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service, and county public defender offices represent indigent defendants — New York City has some of the most respected public defender offices in the country.
A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.
Exhibit F
White Plains criminal defense questions, answered
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Criminal Defense attorneys by city in New York
Same New York rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.
