Criminal Defense Attorneys in Green Bay, WI

Arrested in Green Bay for OWI, a drug charge, or a fight that got out of hand? Brown County moves quickly, and a Wisconsin-licensed criminal defense attorney serving Green Bay will review your case for free.

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How we match your Green Bay criminal defense case

When you submit a Green Bay 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 Wisconsin law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Wisconsin 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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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 Green Bay

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Green Bay draws large crowds for Packers home games, downtown and Broadway district nightlife, and summer festivals, and enforcement by Green Bay police, the Brown County Sheriff's Office, and the State Patrol along I-41 produces steady OWI, disorderly conduct, drug, and theft charges. Wisconsin cases are filed in Brown County Circuit Court, with initial appearances there and some matters, such as certain drug or firearm cases, charged federally in the Eastern District of Wisconsin instead. Early representation shapes bail and plea options. DearLegal matches you with a Wisconsin-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Green Bay, with a free review.

State criminal charges arising in Green Bay are prosecuted in Brown County Circuit Court.
Game days, downtown and Broadway nightlife, and I-41 traffic enforcement drive many OWI and disorderly conduct arrests.
Some drug, firearm, and fraud cases are charged federally in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, where the procedure and exposure differ.

Wisconsin criminal defense rules at a glance

Green Bay cases run under Wisconsin law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Wisconsin page.

Read the full Wisconsin criminal defense guide →

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for first-degree intentional homicide, second-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide; 6 years for most other felonies (Wis. Stat. § 939.74)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 3 years
3 years for most misdemeanors (§ 939.74(1))
Sentencing Structure: Felony Classes
Felony Classes A-I and Misdemeanor Classes A-C under Wis. Stat. § 939.50; Truth-in-Sentencing under § 973.01 — bifurcated sentence (initial confinement + extended supervision), no parole for offenses post-1999; mandatory minimums for certain firearms (§ 939.617), drug, repeat OWI, and aggravated offenses
Expungement / Record Sealing: 6 years
Wis. Stat. § 973.015 — unique: must be ordered at sentencing for defendants under age 25 with maximum sentence 6 years or less and on offense not excluded by statute; juvenile expungement (§ 938.355(4m)); 2024 reforms expanded eligibility
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under Wis. Stat. § 969; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (Wis. Const. Art. I, § 8); 2023 constitutional amendment (Question 1) expanded judicial discretion for bail conditions including factors like protecting community
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Green Bay criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

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

Criminal defense attorneys in Wisconsin work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Wis. SCR 20:1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases (federal, white-collar, OWI defenses) use hourly billing. The Wisconsin State Public Defender system represents indigent defendants statewide.

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

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Exhibit F

Green Bay criminal defense questions, answered

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State charges from an arrest in Green Bay are handled in Brown County Circuit Court, starting with an initial appearance. Municipal ordinance violations may be heard in a municipal court instead, and federal charges go to the Eastern District of Wisconsin. An attorney will confirm which court your case is in and what the next date requires.

You typically face both a court case in Brown County Circuit Court and a separate driver's license action through the state, and each moves on its own schedule. There are short windows to request certain administrative hearings. Contact a Wisconsin attorney immediately so no request window is missed while the criminal case gets underway.

Even a misdemeanor conviction in Wisconsin can affect jobs, licensing, housing, and immigration status, and first-offense outcomes vary widely depending on how the case is handled early. Prosecutors and courts follow local practices in Brown County. A defense attorney can evaluate the evidence and any diversion or amendment options before you enter a plea.

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Wisconsin State Patrol, DCI (Division of Criminal Investigation), Milwaukee PD, Madison PD, and local sheriffs use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Wis. Const. Art. I, § 8 right against self-incrimination.

Yes. Wisconsin Class A misdemeanors carry up to 9 months and $10,000 fine; Class B up to 90 days and $1,000. Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA, § 971.39, 971.40) — completion = dismissal — and expungement under § 973.015 (must be requested at sentencing) make early counsel critical. DV (§ 968.075) and OWI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.