Massachusetts Attorneys Representing Clients at
Show Cause Hearings and Probable Cause Hearings
In Massachusetts, if the police want to charge you with a misdemeanor that was allegedly committed outside their presence, unless it's a domestic violence charge, they cannot arrest you and instead must go the route of applying for a criminal complaint and having the matter heard at a Show Cause Hearing (also referred to as a Clerk's Hearing or Probable Cause Hearing).
Once filed, you will likely be notified (either through a summons or through a letter sent to you in the mail) to attend a hearing. Most people think they are just making an appearance to clear up a question or concern, but what they don't realize is that this is a clerk's opportunity to use their own discretion to determine whether or not probable cause exists. If he or she does determine that there is probable cause that a crime was committed, a complaint is issued, and you are then arraigned.
The Stakes are High At a Show Cause Hearing
If a complaint issues against you, the charge will appear on your criminal record and it will appear on any future background check. Alternatively, if a complaint does not issue against you, there is no public record and it is as if nothing ever happened at all.
The criminal defense attorneys at The Massachusetts Criminal Defense Group attend Show Cause Hearings, Probable Cause Hearings, and defend various charges such as:
Having an Attorney Is
The Way to Keep Your Record Clean
The benefit of hiring a lawyer to attend a Show Cause Hearing with you far outweighs the early expense of any legal fee. Even if your charges are not dropped, at a minimum, the knowledge your attorney already has about your matter will go toward the preparation of your case.
Only a Massachusetts Show Cause Hearing Attorney who truly understands how police officers and clerk magistrates work can really work effectively on your behalf. Given that our criminal defense attorneys have formerly worked as prosecutors, we know how to reach out to an officer or alleged victim and convince him or her to recommend that the charges against you be dismissed.
There may also be a legal basis to prevent a complaint from issuing. The danger of representing yourself without the benefit of an attorney is your ignorance of both the legal and practical aspects of a Clerk Magistrate Hearing. You may think that you are acting in a proper manner, while you are instead helping to convince a clerk magistrate that you should, in fact, be charged.
If you're facing charges for possession of drugs, assault and battery, certain theft crimes, juvenile crimes, or most misdemeanor crimes, our Boston, Worcester, and Springfield, Massachusetts criminal defense attorneys can help you prepare for a show cause hearing. We can take steps designed to convince the clerk magistrate to reduce or dismiss the charges against you.
How Our Attorneys Can Help
Our attorneys are in court everyday and successfully handle Show Cause Hearings, Probation Violation Hearings, Bail Hearings, RMV Hearings, and other administrative hearings on a non-stop basis. We are in the trenches every day, most often dealing with some of the same prosecutors and judges who will be making the decision related to how to deal with your matter.
Our attorneys have learned how the system works, but have also seen that defendants not represented by an attorney don't know the process and cannot effectively represent their interests when they are being charged.
For a low flat-fee, we will either counsel you as to how to proceed, or represent you and work toward eliminating or minimizing the charges against you.
Learn more about Massachusetts Criminal Defense, our Defense Strategies, how our fees are structured, or call us at (800) 461-6900.