Violent Crime Attorney Long Island

Focused Defense For Serious Violent Charges

If you or someone you love has been arrested or is under investigation for a violent crime on Long Island, you are facing one of the most frightening moments of your life. You may be worried about going to jail, losing your job, or how this will affect your family. You need clear guidance from a seasoned criminal defense team, not guesswork or generic information.

At Lerner & Lerner, P.C., we defend people accused of serious violent offenses in Nassau County and Suffolk County. Our attorneys bring more than 70 years of combined criminal law experience to every case, and we know how quickly things move after a violent crime arrest. We work to protect your rights from the first call and to give you an honest picture of your options.

Our firm is led by the father-daughter team of Richard Lerner and Kimberly Lerner, both former prosecutors who have handled violent cases from the other side of the courtroom. That perspective, combined with our deep roots in Long Island courts, shapes everything we do for our clients.

Contact our trusted violent crime lawyer in Long Island at (516) 586-0383 to schedule a confidential consultation.

Why Our Team For Violent Charges

Choosing the right violent crime defense lawyer in Long Island can strongly affect the course of your case. Violent allegations, such as assault, robbery, or homicide, are often driven by fast-moving investigations, emotional witnesses, and aggressive charging decisions. You need attorneys who understand how prosecutors think and how judges approach these cases in local courts.

Richard and Kimberly Lerner bring decades of experience as former prosecutors in New York and now focus their practice on defending the accused. We have seen how violent charges are built from the inside, including how police reports are written, how plea offers are evaluated, and what tends to persuade a prosecutor to reconsider a charge or recommend a different outcome. We draw on that experience when we analyze your file, challenge the evidence, and present your side of the story.

Our peers have recognized our work. Lerner & Lerner, P.C. holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell, which reflects a high level of peer-rated professional excellence in legal ability and ethics. Members of our team have also been included in Super Lawyers, an honor based on independent research and peer nominations. Kimberly Lerner has appeared as a legal correspondent on major networks such as MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News, where producers rely on her for insight into complex criminal issues. For you, these credentials mean that other lawyers and national media outlets trust our judgment in serious criminal matters, including violent crimes.

We combine this background with a direct, hands-on approach. When you call us, you speak with a defense team that knows Long Island courts and has devoted its career to protecting the rights of people charged with crimes. Our goal is to bring that experience to bear in building the strongest defense the facts allow.

What Happens After A Violent Crime Arrest

Understanding what comes next can ease some of the fear you feel right now. After a violent crime arrest in Nassau County or Suffolk County, the sequence of events moves quickly. Police typically bring the accused to a precinct or county facility for processing, and then the person is held until arraignment in the local criminal court. In Nassau County, arraignments are generally held in the First District Court in Hempstead. In Suffolk County, many arraignments are held in the First District Court in Central Islip.

At arraignment, the court formally advises you of the charges, and the judge considers whether to set bail, release you under supervision, or, in some serious cases, remand you without bail. A prosecutor from the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office or the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office generally makes arguments about bail based on the severity of the charge, your record, and other factors. The judge then decides the conditions of release. Having a lawyer who knows these courts and their practices can make a real difference in how your situation is presented.

In the days and weeks that follow, your case may move to a trial-level court and be scheduled for conferences, discovery exchanges, and motion practice. Early in this process, police and detectives may still be trying to talk to you, and you may feel pressure to “tell your side” or sign a statement. Anything you say can be used against you, and once a statement is given, it can be difficult to undo the damage.

Here are practical steps you can take right now to protect yourself:

• Do not discuss the facts of the case with police, detectives, or anyone from the District Attorney’s Office without a lawyer present.
• Avoid talking about the incident on social media, text, or recorded calls from jail, since these can be monitored and used as evidence.
• Do not contact the alleged victim or witnesses directly, especially if there is or may be an order of protection.
• Gather contact information for any witnesses who can speak to what happened, and any documents, messages, or videos that may be relevant.
• Contact our firm as soon as possible so we can appear at the arraignment, address bail, and start preserving favorable evidence.

When we step in, we review the complaint, the initial discovery, and any prior statements. We then advise you about what to expect at the next appearance and how we will advocate regarding bail, orders of protection, and early motions. Our role is to stand between you and the system and to make sure your rights are asserted at every stage.

Types Of Violent Crime Cases We Handle

Violent charges in New York cover a wide range of conduct, from serious bar fights to life-altering allegations of homicide. Understanding the type of charge you are facing helps you grasp what is at stake and what defenses may be available. Our attorneys handle violent felony and misdemeanor cases that arise on Long Island and in surrounding New York courts.

New York’s Penal Law classifies many offenses as violent felonies, which can carry substantial prison exposure and sometimes mandatory minimum sentences. Even a first arrest can lead to significant time in state prison, lengthy post-release supervision, and lasting consequences for employment, housing, immigration status, and professional licenses. We work to explain these potential outcomes clearly and to identify ways to lessen or avoid the harshest consequences when the facts support that effort.

We regularly defend clients charged with violent offenses such as:

• Assault in various degrees, including cases involving serious physical injury or alleged use of a weapon.
• Robbery and attempted robbery, where the state claims that force or the threat of force was used during a theft.
• Burglary involves allegations of entering a home or building with the intent to commit a crime, especially where people are present.
• Homicide and manslaughter charges, including cases arising from fights, domestic incidents, or alleged reckless conduct.
• Weapons offenses, such as possession of firearms, knives, or other alleged dangerous instruments, in circumstances defined by law.
• Domestic violence-related assaults and violations of orders of protection, which often involve complex family dynamics.

Every one of these categories carries its own legal elements and possible defenses. As former prosecutors, we are familiar with how the Nassau County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices often approach each type of case, including what they look for when deciding charges and potential plea offers. We use that knowledge when we evaluate the strength of the evidence, assess witness credibility, and consider whether self-defense, lack of intent, or mistaken identity may be viable issues to raise.

Our Approach To Violent Crime Defense

When you work with our firm, we do not simply wait for the next court date. We take an active, structured approach to violent crime defense in Long Island that begins with a thorough case review. We look at the incident reports, recordings, medical records, and any statements attributed to you or witnesses. We analyze how the investigation was conducted, whether searches or seizures respected constitutional limits, and whether identification procedures were fair.

Many violent cases turn on a small number of key questions: Who started the confrontation? Whether the force used was reasonable under the circumstances. Whether witnesses had a clear opportunity to see what happened. Whether the police report reflects the full story or only one version of events. We examine these questions closely and consider whether motions should be filed to suppress certain evidence or to challenge the legal sufficiency of the charges.

Our work also involves realistic assessment and negotiation. As a violent crime lawyer in Long Island, we know that some clients want their day in court, while others want to reduce their risk by pursuing a plea to a lesser offense. We discuss these options openly with you, and we explain how factors like prior record, alleged injuries, and the wishes of complaining witnesses may influence potential offers. Drawing on our former prosecutor experience, we present information and mitigation in ways that prosecutors are more likely to consider.

At the same time, we prepare every serious case as if it may go to trial. This includes identifying and interviewing potential defense witnesses, consulting with appropriate experts where needed, and developing a coherent theory of defense. Even when a case ultimately resolves through a plea, the strength of the defense work often affects the available outcome. While we cannot promise a particular result, our goal is always to pursue the most favorable lawful resolution the circumstances allow.