An arrest sets a deadline in motion, and the choices made in the first hours after that arrest, from what is said to police to whether an attorney is contacted before arraignment, often shape a case long before it reaches a courtroom. Diskin Litigation PLLC defends individuals facing misdemeanor and felony charges throughout Nassau County and New York State, handling matters from the first police contact through arraignment, hearings, and trial.
People searching for a criminal defense attorney in Nassau County are frequently doing so under real time pressure, sometimes within hours of an arrest or before a scheduled arraignment. Neil Diskin works directly with clients rather than assigning cases to junior associates, and the firm is structured to prepare every criminal matter as though it may go to trial, which affects how evidence is reviewed and how early decisions are made, even in cases that ultimately resolve through a plea.
What Happens After an Arrest in New York?
New York criminal cases generally move through a defined sequence: arrest and booking, arraignment before a judge, pretrial hearings, and either a plea agreement or trial. At arraignment, which typically happens within 24 hours of arrest, the judge sets bail or release conditions and the defendant is formally notified of the charges. Decisions made at this early stage, including whether to request a bail hearing or challenge the conditions of release, can affect a person’s ability to keep working and remain in contact with their attorney throughout the case.
Following arraignment, the case enters a pretrial phase where the defense reviews the prosecution’s evidence, which may include police reports, body camera footage, witness statements, and any physical evidence collected at the scene. This is often where the strongest defense work happens, since motions to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence, challenges to the legality of a stop or search, and negotiations over reduced charges frequently determine the outcome well before a jury is ever selected. Many people assume a case is decided by what happened on the night of the arrest, but in practice, how the evidence was gathered and whether procedure was followed can matter just as much as the underlying facts.
Bail, Release Conditions, and Bail Reform in New York
New York’s bail reform laws changed how judges handle release decisions for many offenses, eliminating cash bail for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies while still permitting bail or remand for certain violent felony charges and repeat offenses. Understanding which category a charge falls into matters immediately after an arrest, since it determines whether a client is likely to be released on their own recognizance, subject to supervised release conditions, or held pending a bail hearing.
Even when bail is not legally required, judges retain discretion over supervised release conditions, which can include check-ins, travel restrictions, or orders of protection that affect a client’s job and living situation while the case proceeds. Arguing effectively at arraignment for the least restrictive conditions available under the law often requires knowing not just the statute, but how a particular judge in Nassau County District Court has ruled on similar requests, which is the kind of local knowledge that shapes outcomes in the earliest and most consequential hearing of the case.
Misdemeanor and Felony Charges We Defend
Diskin Litigation defends clients facing a range of charges in Nassau County and throughout New York, including driving while intoxicated, assault, theft and larceny, drug possession, and domestic violence related charges. The firm also handles white collar matters such as fraud and embezzlement allegations, which often involve extensive financial records and require a defense built around documents rather than eyewitness testimony.
Felony matters, including violent felony charges and repeat offense cases carrying mandatory minimum sentences, receive particular attention given what is at stake for the client’s freedom and future, and these cases are approached with a level of preparation that matches the severity of the potential sentence. The firm also represents clients in violation of probation and parole proceedings, where the standard of proof is lower than a criminal trial and a prior record can work heavily against the accused if the hearing is not handled carefully. Each case is evaluated on its own facts, since the right defense for a first-time DWI arrest looks nothing like the right defense for a felony charge with a prior record attached.
How Diskin Litigation Approaches Criminal Cases
Because the firm is organized around litigation rather than volume plea processing, every criminal matter is prepared with the assumption that it may proceed to a hearing or trial. That preparation includes an early and thorough review of how evidence was obtained, whether the stop, search, or interrogation that led to the charges complied with constitutional protections, and what defenses are realistically available given the facts.
Clients work directly with Neil Diskin throughout the case rather than being shuffled between intermediaries as the matter moves from arraignment to disposition. That continuity matters in criminal defense specifically, since strategy decisions, including whether to pursue a suppression hearing, negotiate a plea, or proceed to trial, often need to be made quickly and with full knowledge of everything that has happened in the case so far.
What to Expect When You Work With Us
An initial consultation focuses on understanding the charges, the circumstances of the arrest, and any deadlines already in motion, since criminal cases move on a schedule set by the court rather than the client’s convenience. From there, the firm requests and reviews the prosecution’s evidence, identifies any constitutional or procedural issues with how the case was built, and outlines realistic outcomes, including the risks and benefits of a plea versus proceeding toward trial.
As the case develops, clients are kept informed of each hearing, each piece of new evidence, and any plea offers extended by the prosecution, with a clear recommendation on how to respond. If a matter proceeds to trial, the same attorney who has handled the case since arraignment argues it in front of the jury, which avoids the disconnect that occurs when a public defender’s office or a larger firm reassigns a case shortly before trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule a Consultation
If you or someone you know has been arrested or charged with a crime in Nassau County, Neil Diskin can review the circumstances and discuss defense options. Call 516-652-3118 or send a message through the firm’s contact form to schedule a consultation.