Legal Question in Criminal Law in New York

i am 17 & was arrested for shoplifting. i have appearance court on tuesday. should i plea guilty & use my dad as my council. or should i plea not-guilty & get a public defender. it is my first offense. the total amount of the stolen goods is $110 & all was returned on-site. what do i do?


Asked on 1/07/11, 1:02 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Unless your father is a lawyer, he can't represent you. Even if the law allowed him to, he almost certainly wouldn't know what to do.

If your family can't afford a lawyer (they should find a way if at all possible since this is going to affect the course of your entire life), then you can get a public defender. You should *not* simply plead guilty before even discussing your options with competent counsel.

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Answered on 1/12/11, 1:20 pm
peter bark bark & karpf

Get a public defender

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Answered on 1/12/11, 5:29 pm


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