Barnstable County Court System

Cape Cod is a place where you don't want to go to court without a lawyer as a criminal defendant.  It doesn't matter which court your case is in - Barnstable District Court, Falmouth District Court, Orleans District Court, or even the courthouses in Edgartown or on Nantucket - it is important to find a lawyer who is familiar with your type of case, and has experience on how that case will be handled when prosecuted by the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office.  To learn more about each of the courthouses in Barnstable County, go here.

Like most counties, the vast majority of criminal cases brought in Massachusetts are brought in the District Court system, but the more serious crimes (and those matters brought before the Grand Jury) are handled in the Superior Court. 

It doesn't matter if it's a Hyannis OUI, Falmouth DUI, or any type of drug charge , narcotics crime, theft crime, breaking and entering, domestic violence charge or restraining order matter…when you've been arrested and you don't think that you've been treated fairly, you need a Massachusetts criminal defense attorney who can protect your rights, who can make sure both sides of the story are told, and who knows how to get results on the Cape. 

You've just found that lawyer. 

The attorneys from The Massachusetts Criminal Defense Group provide the most experienced and aggressive criminal defense on the Cape and are viewed by many as one of the premier law firms for criminal defense across the Commonwealth.

If You Need a Lawyer, You Can Reach Us Around the Clock,
Including Sundays and Holidays 

Armed with Blackberries, our lawyers can be reached at all hours, and our responsiveness has been said to be second to none.  Your arrest may have taken place in the middle of the night, during the wee hours of the morning, or on the weekend.  Law enforcement on the Cape operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every week of the year.  So do we. 

The Government Has a Lawyer…
Shouldn't You?

When you're in the trouble on the Cape, you're up against District Attorney Michael O'Keefe and his team who prosecute over 15,000 criminal cases every year.  Their team of 50 prosecutors and staff are on a crusade to seek justice.

Experience counts when it comes to defending against an aggressive prosecutor in the Barnstable Superior Court.  So whatever you do - whether you hire our attorneys or not - don't go to court alone if you have a case pending in the Barnstable County court system.

You may think that pleading out is going to save you money over the cost of hiring an attorney and fighting the charge.

Better think again.

Even if you choose to accept a plea bargain (an agreement to certain conditions in exchange for resolving your case prior to trial) if you have trouble grasping the full implications of the terms of the deal that you're making with the District Attorney's Office, and you agree to probationary terms that you do not comply with, you will be prosecuted for subsequent probation violations.

Probation is one of the most common punishments for misdemeanor criminal offenses in Barnstable County, and when you are sentenced to probation, you will be assigned a probation officer. You will be required to meet with the probation officer on certain dates (sometimes as often as every other day), and the conditions of your probation will typically include your agreeing not to leave Massachusetts for any length of time, abstaining from all alcohol and drugs, submitting to mandatory drug and alcohol testing, completing alcohol and drug education courses, taking an anger management or batter's program, allowing searches of your home, attending counseling, and not receiving further criminal charges of any type.

When you meet with Chief Probation Officer Elizabeth Kittredge in Barnstable, Robert Teixeira in Falmouth, Leonard Enos in Orleans, or another probation officer whom you have been assigned to, it is imperative that you make a favorable impression. If you don't, he or she can very easily make your probation sentence unusually uncomfortable.  If they discover that you have failed to meet any condition of your probation, you can be thrown in jail - either in state prison or the Barnstable County Correctional Facility at the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) in the Town of Bourne.

Get a Free Case Evaluation With One Of Our
Experienced Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorneys

If you're wondering what to do next, taking advantage of our no-obligation consultation is the best move.  Give us the specifics of your case, let an attorney see your police report, and we'll spell out your options for you.  Our criminal defense attorneys are in different Massachusetts courts every day, defending our clients' rights and freedom. 

Call (800) 461-6900 or contact us to schedule an appointment in Plymouth, Norwood, Woburn, Worcester, or Springfield.