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Criminal Arrest

The police can make an arrest with cause to believe that you committed a felony, misdemeanor or violation or after a judge issues a warrant for your arrest. For felony accusations, the arresting officer must file a felony complaint in the criminal court. For a misdemeanor accusation, the officer must file a misdemeanor complaint in the criminal court. Whenever that complaint is filed, the criminal process begins. During this time, it is critical that you have an experienced criminal defense attorney in Nassau County on your side who can fight to ensure that your rights are protected.

After an arrest, it is possible in some types of cases for bail to be set at the station house according to a uniform schedule. In more serious cases, the person will not be allowed to bond out of custody until after he or she has seen a judge at arraignment (often called “First Appearance Court”).

In violation cases, the officer will often issue a desk appearance ticket (DAT) instead of making a formal arrest. The desk appearance ticket allows the person to avoid the necessity of appearing in front of the judge at first appearance. It essentially operates as a notice that the person must appear in court at a later date. If the person fails to appear, then a bench warrant for their arrest will be issued by the court.

If you are arrested in Long Island, including the areas in and around Mineola, Hempstead, Westbury, and Floral Park, contact an attorney at the Law Office of Stephanie Selloni located in Garden City, NY. We can help you fight to resolve your case for the best possible result. Call us today at (516) 972-1212 to schedule a consultation to discuss your charges.

Information on Arrests in Nassau County

What happens at arraignment or the first appearance in Nassau County?

In Nassau County, the arraignments in felony or misdemeanor cases take place at the following location:

Nassau County District Court
10th Judicial Circuit
99 Main St.
Hempstead, NY 11550
(516) 493-4200

The Nassau County District Court has authority to hear criminal matters involving trial jurisdiction over misdemeanors, violations and infractions. It also has preliminary jurisdiction over felonies and traffic tickets charging a crime.

When the person appears at arraignment in a misdemeanor or felony case, the judge will inform the person of the charges against them and set a bail bond amount. The judge will also ask whether the person can afford to hire a private criminal defense attorney or needs the court to appoint counsel. The bail amount depends on the seriousness of the charges, any prior criminal record of the defendant, the defendant’s ties to the community, and a host of other factors that can be considered by the court.

Community ties can be shown by having a job in Nassau County or the surrounding areas, attending school in the area, owning property or residing in the area, or having family in the area. Because of the number of cases heard, judges often use their own methods for making these determinations quickly using their own guidelines with very little background information about the individual that appears before them at the hearing.

Particularly for very serious charges, by hiring a criminal defense attorney to appear at first appearance, the attorney may be able to give the court enough background information about the charges or the person’s ties to the community to convince the court to set a lower bond. The more serious the charges, the greater benefit the defendant might have by hiring a criminal defense attorney prior to first appearance. Finding an attorney for first appearance is often difficult because the hearings often take place within a matter of hours after the arrest.

Eight Precincts in Nassau County

After an arrest in Nassau County, the person accused of the crime will be brought to one of eight precincts in Nassau County, including:

First Precinct
900 Merrick Road
Baldwin, NY 11510
516-573-6100
 
Second Precinct
7700 Jericho Turnpike
Woodbury, NY 11797
516-573-6200
 
Third Precinct
214 Hillside Avenue
Williston Park, NY 11596
516-573-6300
 
Fourth Precinct
1699 Broadway
Hewlett, NY 11557
516-573-6400
 
Fifth Precinct
1655 Dutch Broadway
Elmont, NY 11003
516-573-6500
 
Sixth Precinct
100 Community Drive
Manhasset, NY 11030
516-573-6600
 
Seventh Precinct
3636 Merrick Road
Seaford, NY 11783
516-573-6700
 
Eighth Precinct
286 Wantagh Avenue
Levittown, NY 11756
516-573-6800
 

Working with the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer in Nassau County

After you are arrested and charged with a crime in Long Island, having a dedicated Garden City defense attorney on your side is crucial. At Law Office of Stephanie Selloni we represent clients facing criminal charges in Hempstead, Floral Park, Glen Cove, and the surrounding areas of Nassau County. Call us at (516) 972-1212 to discuss the particular facts and circumstances of your case.