If you have been arrested and received a Desk Appearance Ticket, you may be wondering what you next step should be. When you received your Desk Appearance Ticket, you may have incorrectly assumed it was something akin to a Staten Island Traffic Ticket. You were not taken into police custody, so perhaps it’s not “that bad.” A Staten Island Desk Appearance Ticket Lawyer can explain that this is far from the case. These tickets go by several different names: a DAT, or sometimes a pink summons ticket, or a white ticket. A DAT can lead to a conviction in the Staten Island Criminal Court, and you having a criminal record. Because of this, it is very important to consult with a Staten Island Criminal Lawyer from our office. We can lend you advice and offer you a free initial case evaluation when you call. We have offices in Staten Island, as well as Manhattan and Nassau County.
If a person has committed a first time offense, and their record is clear, they may receive a Desk Appearance Ticket. A DAT is most commonly seen with misdemeanor or violations. You should know that a misdemeanor is crime that carries a penalty one year or less of incarceration. Very rarely a DAT will be issued for a felony, either a Class E or a Class D. A felony is defined as a crime that is punishable by anything over 1 year in prison. Regardless of the underlying crime, the DAT enables the recipient to return home after their arrest as opposed to spending a day (or more) in a Staten Island holding cell awaiting Staten Island Arraignment. You will still be required to attend you Arraignment, as set forth on your ticket. When you attend the arraignment, you will be informed of your charge(s), and you will have a chance to enter you plea. All other details of your case will be dealt down the road as your case moves through the court system.
A New York Criminal Lawyer can explain the various circumstances where a DAT is commonly issued. Marijuana Possession (Drug Crime), and small theft cases (shoplifting) are situations that one could receive a DAT. Criminal Possession of a Weapon (possession of a switchblade, for instance) would be another. By the same token, there are crimes that would rarely ever be dealt with by a Desk Appearance Ticket. A drunk driving violation (DWI) or a situation involving Domestic Violence or Ponzi scheme involving a white collar crime would rarely if ever receive a DAT. This would be the case with most any type of Sex Crime as well. It is important that you Staten Island Desk Appearance Ticket Lawyer regardless of what type of charge has been made against you. Handling your DAT in the New York Criminal Court system requires legal guidance. You have been charged with a criminal matter that can impact your future, including the possibility of a criminal conviction. A Staten Island Criminal Lawyer from the office of Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC can help you through this stressful and confusing time. We will give you a free consultation, so call for an appointment today at one of our conveniently located offices from Staten Island to NYC and Long Island. Call for your appointment at 800.696.9529.