Our Attorneys Fight for Your Future

Top Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyers

Do Not Speak to the Authorities Until You Speak to Our Attorneys

Aggressive Criminal Defense

Our attorneys regularly handle cases too complex or serious for other criminal defense lawyers. Our combined 50 years of experience has allowed them to aggressively represent over 10,000 clients and counting.

If You’re Facing Criminal Charges

Anyone facing charges involving a criminal offense can expect to experience a heightened degree of emotional turmoil, for themselves, as well as their family members. Our team of highly qualified criminal law attorneys and expert legal support staff are committed to providing each of our client’s with the compassion and understanding they deserve, as well as an aggressive plan for representation at an affordable price. As former prosecutors, we have a balanced and in-depth understanding of the criminal justice system and how the prosecution prepares cases. In addition, we have long-standing experience dealing with local police departments, prosecutors and judges throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Types of Criminal Cases We Handle

The criminal defense lawyers at Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates represent defendants in a wide range of cases. We handle juvenile cases for minors as well as adult criminal charges. We will rigorously represent you whether you are charged with a low-level offense, a misdemeanor, or a serious felony. Many of the cases we handle involve DUI or DWI cases, drug possession, theft, and other minor offenses. However, we also represent defendants facing charges for serious crimes such as drug distribution, aggravated assault, rape, and murder.

No matter what kind of charges you are facing, call our criminal defense attorneys today to get started making sure that your rights are protected and that you mount the best possible defense. We offer free legal consultations in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Top Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyers

Trials in Federal and State Court

Federal and state law violations are more serious and therefore usually carry more severe penalties. Federal and state prosecutors are also more likely to take a case to trial if they think it necessary. The criminal defense team at Young, Marr & Mallis & Associates have over 30 years of experience representing clients at the trial level in both state and Federal Courts.

If you or a family member was charged with a state or Federal crime, you should speak with an attorney that is experienced handling cases at this level. For a free, no-oligation review of your case, call us today.

Bail and Pre-Trial Issues

If you were charged with a crime, there are many preliminary issues your lawyer can help you take care of. In Pennsylvania, preliminary hearings are common for most levels of crime, and New Jersey also has these hearings for more severe charges. We can also represent you during arraignment where you learn about the charges against you, during bail hearings where the judge decides whether you can be released, and during questioning and interrogation where the government will try to learn more information about the crime or get a confession out of you. If you or a loved one is in jail, getting a lawyer to help them fight for lower bail might be the difference between handling your case from behind bars or in the comfort of your own home.

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Diversionary Programs and Plea Agreements

Before your case goes to trial, our attorneys can also work to help you apply for alternative sentencing and diversionary programs. In Pennsylvania, the ARD program allows many first-time offenders to attend classes and treatment with the goal of keeping the charges off their criminal record. Similarly, New Jersey’s Pre-Trial Interventional Program is available for many people to have first-time crimes kept off their record. In both states, we may also be able to make other agreements with the prosecutors and police to get our clients community service or other alternative sentences. We might also be able to prepare other types of plea agreements to reduce charges and penalties.

Criminal Hearings and Trials

The criminal justice process is full of various hearings and proceedings. Many of these occur well before the trial itself. Although it might feel like a hassle to show up to court over and over again, each hearing is crucial to your case and must be taken seriously. The work we do at these hearings may influence the outcome of your case and sway things in your favor. Pretrial motions, bail hearings, and preliminary hearings are just a few of the critical proceedings you must be prepared for.

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  1. The Arrest and Interrogation

    Your entanglement with the criminal justice system begins with an arrest and interrogation by the police. Your arrest must be lawful and valid for it to stand up in court, which often requires an arrest warrant or reasons for an exception to the warrant rule. If no valid warrant exists and your case cannot fit within an exception to the warrant rule, we can challenge your arrest and any evidence seized as a result. Similarly, police interrogations must also follow strict protocols and procedures if any of the information obtained is to be used against you. Perhaps the biggest rule of police interrogations is that defendants must be informed of their Miranda rights before questioning. These rights include your rights to remain silent and to have an attorney with you while you are questioned, among others. Failure to read you your Miranda rights could be grounds to suppress any incriminating information you provided under questioning.


  2. Arraignments

    Your arraignment is one of the earliest hearings you will have after being arrested. The arraignment is where a judge formally and officially notifies you of the charges pending against you. You will also be given the opportunity to enter a plea. If you have not done so by this point, you must find an attorney to represent you and defend your rights. The discovery process begins shortly after arraignment, and you must be given access to the prosecutor’s evidence in the case.


  3. Preliminary Hearings

    Preliminary hearings are like the trial before the trial. While issues of guilt and innocence are not discussed at this hearing, you may still have an opportunity to strengthen your case. At this stage, prosecutors must convince a judge that enough evidence exists to warrant holding you over for trial. You will be allowed to challenge the prosecutor’s evidence in the hopes of getting charges dismissed. In Philadelphia, preliminary hearings are typically reserved for felony cases.


  4. Bail Hearings

    The difference between remaining behind bars while awaiting trial and awaiting trial from home is bail. Bail has traditionally been a certain sum of money the defendant must pay to the court to be released from jail until their trial. If the defendant skipped bail and failed to show up for court, they could be rearrested and their bail money forfeited. Today, bail reform laws allow defendants to be released on bail without paying money in some cases. However, the same rules apply if the defendant fails to appear for court. Our team can help you argue for the least restrictive bail possible. If monetary bail is required, we can help you argue for bail that you can afford.


  5. Suppression Hearings

    Suppression hearings are critical to the success of your case. When collecting evidence, the police must follow very rigid legal protocols that are in place to protect your rights. Violation of these protocols may lead to “tainted evidence,” or evidence that was seized illegally. Illegal evidence must not be permitted inside the courtroom, and we can argue to keep evidence out at a suppression hearing. We may suppress physical evidence from a crime scene, testimonial evidence, or incriminating information you provided during questioning.


  6. The Trial

    The trial is where all your hard work and preparation come together. Trials often last several days or even weeks in some cases. Prosecutors prepare their side of the case first, showing evidence and talking to witnesses under oath. Your defense team is allowed to object and cross-examine any witnesses or evidence to undermine the prosecutor. Once the prosecutor rests their case, we can present our own evidence and witnesses in your favor. However, the prosecutor will be permitted to object and cross-examine too. Trials are about more than just who has the most evidence. Our team can help you craft effective legal strategies to best protect your interests and defend your rights at trial.


  7. Sentencing Hearings

    If you are convicted or decide to plead guilty as part of a plea agreement, you must go through a sentencing hearing. Sentencing is not an automatic process. The judge must weigh any aggravating and mitigating factors to determine the most appropriate sentence. Often, sentencing options occur on a range or spectrum. Our job is to argue for a sentence as close to the lower end of the spectrum as possible. We can also argue for alternative sentencing options, like probation or special diversion programs if they are available.

Our Criminal Defense Team Includes Two Former Assistant District Attorneys

We have decades of experience dealing with local police departments, prosecutors, and judges throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

We’ve Handled Over 5,000 DUI Cases in Pennsylvania.

Over 98% of the first-time DUI clients that we represent receive no jail time or criminal record.

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Charges We Regularly Defend Against

Assault Charges
Assault charges often come from using force to cause someone harm, attempting to harm someone, threatening to cause harm, or negligently causing harm. Simple assault is somewhat less serious and often charged as a misdemeanor. Aggravated assault is far more serious and may be charged as a felony.


Burglary Charges

Burglary often involves two critical aspects, each of which our team can fight. First, you must break into a location where you do not have permission to be. This could include a home, office, store, or other private location. Second, you must intend to commit a crime once inside.


Domestic Violence

Domestic violence may be any act of violence committed against a cohabitant. Your cohabitant could be a romantic partner, family member, or someone you share children with. Domestic violence charges often come with enhanced penalties, and defendants are often subject to things like protective or restraining orders.


DUI + DWI Defense

DUIs (driving under the influence) and DWIs (driving while intoxicated) may be charged when a person is driving a car drunk or high on drugs. Charges can vary from misdemeanors to felonies, and penalties may include fines, community service, drug and alcohol treatment, license suspensions, and incarceration.


Federal Crimes

Federal crimes are charged and tried beyond the jurisdiction of the State of Pennsylvania. These crimes are often perceived as being more serious because the federal government oversees your case. Pennsylvania’s laws and procedural rules may not apply in these cases, as federal law will rule. You need the assistance of our federal crimes defense attorneys for such a case.


Forgery Charges

Forgery may cover a wide variety of offenses, from passing off fake checks to falsifying important legal documents. The nature of your charges will depend on the type of documents being forged and other circumstances surrounding the case, like whether any money or property was stolen. These charges should not be disregarded, and you should consult with a lawyer immediately.


Juvenile Offenses

Juvenile offenses are those committed by young people under the age of 18. The juvenile justice system is separate from the adult system and follows different rules and procedures. Juveniles may be “adjudicated delinquent” rather than found guilty, and their penalties tend to focus more on rehabilitation than punishment. Even so, a juvenile record can follow a delinquent offender for years.


Murder Charges

Murder is perhaps the most serious offense with which a person can be charged. Defendants face the possibility of decades or even life behind bars. Pennsylvania still allows the death penalty, and certain cases might be eligible for capital punishment. Our criminal defense attorneys can help you fight your case and negotiate for lesser charges.


Narcotics Charges

Drugs have been hotly debated for many years, and narcotic offenses are typically charged more severely. The nature of your narcotics charges may depend on the relevant drug Schedule. Narcotics are commonly classified under Schedule I and II and are considered very serious. Various narcotics charges could include possession, manufacturing, and distribution.


Probation Violation

Probation is an alternative sentence that allows convicted defendants to serve their sentence from home while complying with various court-imposed conditions and restrictions. A violation could send the defendant back to prison to finish out their sentence. However, we understand that some violations like failing to check in with your probation officer are honest mistakes or due to circumstances beyond your control.


Rape Charges

Rape is another extremely serious criminal charge that often receives intense public backlash. Defendants charged with rape are met with very little sympathy and may find it challenging to defend themselves. If convicted, a defendant faces significant prison time and may be required to register as a sex offender.


Robbery Charges

Robbery is a violent crime in which the defendant allegedly uses force to commit an act of theft. The severity of your charges can vary based on how you commit the robbery and the injuries suffered by the victim. Robbery cases involving weapons tend to be charged more harshly.


Sex Crimes

There are numerous sex crimes with which a defendant can be charged. Not all sex crimes involve violent acts of forced penetration. Unlawful sexual contact or even inappropriate touching could lead to criminal charges. Even minor sex crimes could lead to being required to register as a sex offender.


Theft Charges

Theft is a broadly construed criminal offense that can be accomplished in a number of different ways. Theft may be completed by use of force, deception, or other means. Refusing to return something entrusted to you can also be theft. Your charges and possible penalties may depend on the value of the property stolen and the means by which the theft was completed.


Traffic Violations

Traffic violations tend to be minor offenses that are often not legally considered crimes. Running stop signs or traffic lights, speeding, and careless driving are common moving violations in Pennsylvania. Although jail time is rarely imposed, you could face hefty fines and points against your driver’s license.


White Collar Crimes

White collar crimes are often crimes related to business affairs. Theft and fraud are common elements in many white collar criminal offenses. These crimes are usually non-violent but can still lead to significant jail time depending on the amount of money stolen and how the crime is carried out.

Our Criminal Defense Team Includes Two Former Assistant District Attorneys

Sometimes, good people make a decision or find themselves in a situation where they are facing criminal charges. Our attorneys fight tenaciously and aggressively for clients with the belief that everyone is entitled to complete and zealous criminal defense representation. Contact our law firm by calling (215) 701-6519 in Pennsylvania. Our legal consultations are always private, and your initial consultation is free.

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