Helping Clients With Clerk's Hearings in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, anyone can apply for a criminal complaint, not just a police officer. Whether it is for a dispute with a neighbor or an application for complaint made by a police officer, Attorney Mark W. Bennett can help you understand the process, inform you of your rights and defend you in clerk's hearings.
Attorney Bennett has more than 20 years of experience defending clients from criminal charges in the Greater Boston area. He understands what is at stake, even when you are facing a simple misdemeanor charge, and he will work to protect your rights and your reputation.
Call Quincy clerk's hearing lawyer Mark W. Bennett at 617-379-1805 to learn more about clerk's hearings.
How Does a Clerk's Hearing Work?
Besides law enforcement, any person can bring a misdemeanor complaint in Massachusetts. However, in these cases, you are entitled to a clerk's hearing to determine if there is probable cause to bring charges against you.
This pre-charge hearing is conducted before a clerk who is acting as a magistrate. The clerk will decide if there is enough probable cause to charge you with the crime. If the clerk finds probable cause, a complaint will issue and the criminal charges will proceed as they would in a normal criminal case.
Keep Your Record Clean
Even though this is a pre-charge hearing, it is important to take these hearings seriously. At a clerk's hearing, you are entitled to be represented by an attorney but the court is not required to appoint an attorney for you. But this might be the one opportunity to avoid being formally charged with a crime. It is an opportunity for your attorney to meet with the prosecutor and in many instances make an argument that formal criminal charges are not appropriate.
The clerk's hearing is an opportunity for you to keep your criminal record clear. Even if you are later found not guilty or your case is dismissed, once you are charged with a crime, that information is available to law enforcement and a number of employers to review. By effectively fighting your charges in the clerk's hearing, you can keep your record clean.
Retain a Norfolk County Misdemeanor Charge Defense Lawyer
Attorney Mark W. Bennett has the knowledge and experience to defend you against criminal charges in a clerk's hearing, magistrate hearing and in criminal court. He will stand by your side and protect your rights from beginning to end.
Call our law firm at 877-891-5130 or contact us by e-mail. Overnight messages are promptly returned. We serve residents of Quincy, Brockton, Metro West, Boston and the surrounding communities.
