Tacoma Criminal Defense Lawyers

Washington has a mandatory arrest law for domestic violence assault allegations.

RCW 10.31.100 Arrest without warrant. One of you is going to jail that night. Tacoma, Port Orchard, Kent and Washington domestic violence courts in general have a presumption of ordering no contact between the accused and the alleged victim while the case in pending. In fact, imposing this no contact is a “duty” of the court.

RCW 10.99.040 Duties of court—No-contact order. This includes minor children. This can happen even if many months have passed between the alleged incident and the first court hearing. Splitting up families is not always the right answer. We’ve been helping families navigate the challenges of domestic violence allegations since we started practicing in the mid ‘90s. Make sure you have a compassionate counselor and experienced litigator when it comes to preserving your family. Our Tacoma criminal defense attorneys are ready to assist you.

In Washington, you may be charged with driving under the influence (DUI) if you operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs such as marijuana. If someone is injured as a result of your drunk driving the allegation is the felony of vehicular assault. Heaven forbid that the alleged drunk driving resulted in a death, the charge is then vehicular homicide.

Even if you only have a DUI, Washington has some of the strictest laws and the most severe penalties in the nation. Common penalties can include jail time, license suspension, fines, community service, five years of probation and chemical dependency treatment even for a first-time offender, see Court - DUI Sentencing Grid.

The decision to fight a state or federal charge with the assistance of a Tacoma DUI attorney can be a vital decision, as there are many defenses that may be available to reduce a charge or dismiss a case. For example, the results of a breath or blood alcohol tests can often be challenged, and the evidence surrounding your arrest can be excluded from the court if they were obtained illegally.

Our Tacoma DUI defense lawyers serve clients in the cities of Tacoma, Port Orchard, Lakewood, Puyallup, Federal Way, Kent, Olympia, and the counties of Pierce County, King County, Kitsap County and Thurston County in Washington state.

The Uniform Controlled Substance Violation Act (VUCSA) provides the laws of Washington with respect to drugs and other controlled substances. These laws include many criminal offenses, ranging from misdemeanor possession of marijuana or drug paraphernalia to felony manufacture of marijuana or possession of cocaine. Penalties can range widely from a brief jail sentence and a fine to many years or even life imprisonment, depending on the offense and criminal record of the defendant. Almost always, the government will try to keep whatever items they seized at the time of your arrest or that they believe relates to the crime—be that your money, your vehicle or even your house. Both state drug and federal drug charges can be challenged with a variety of defenses, including lack of knowledge or intent, police misconduct, and illegal search and seizure. If we can prove that your forfeited cash was from a valid source, or that you were the innocent owner we can recover your possessions.

Firearms laws in Washington limit and restrict the right to carry, possess or use such weapons. Some weapons are illegal to own, such as short-barreled shotguns and machine guns, or illegal for certain people to possess, like convicted felonies, resulted in unlawful possession charges. Others are illegal to use or possess in certain areas or under specific circumstances resulting in brandishing, unlawful display or discharge, or even assault charges. Even misdemeanor crimes, like virtually any charge with the Domestic Violence designation or protection orders, make it illegal for you to possess a firearm. Depending on the criminal record of the accused, sanctions can be severe, including prison time and heavy fines.

Washington provides severe penalties for crimes of violence, which include murder and manslaughter, robbery and burglary, and assaults involving shootings. In many instances, even if an individual committed the alleged act, there may be valid defenses to the crime charged. Self-defense, for example, may be argued if the defendant reasonably believed that he or she needed to use violence to prevent imminent and serious harm. Because of the inherent complexity of these cases, a Tacoma criminal defense lawyer is crucial in protecting your rights and guiding you through the legal proceedings.

Our team can also assist clients in many other legal matters, particularly those involving vacating or removing criminal records, expungement of criminal records, juvenile matters and restoration of civil rights. At Smith & White, PLLC we are prepared to assist our clients throughout the process, including post-conviction relief.

The Tacoma criminal defense attorneys at Smith & White, PLLC have sued the City of Tacoma, The City of Lakewood, and King County amongst others to protect the rights of our clients. We also associate with Tacoma personal injury attorneys when that best serves our clients. No matter your legal issue, call us and we can get direct you towards the legal help you need.

Our phones are answered 24/7. We provide free legal advise so that you can consider your path forward. Financing is available. So contact one of our attorneys today by calling (253) 203-1645 or emailing info@smithandwhite.com.