Getting arrested is overwhelming. One moment, you’re going about your life—and the next, you’re in handcuffs, facing charges that could seriously impact your future. For many people, this is their first experience with the legal system. And chances are, you’ve never even heard of discovery in criminal cases in Massachusetts.

Getting charged with a felony in Massachusetts is overwhelming enough. But when it comes time for sentencing, many defendants and their loved ones feel completely in the dark.

If someone you love has just been incarcerated in Massachusetts, your emotions might be all over the place. You might feel grief, anger, shame, guilt, confusion—or all of those at once. But at the core of it, you’re here because you care, and you want to be informed.

When someone you love is arrested, your entire world can flip upside down in an instant. Suddenly, you’re not just worried about bail or court dates—you’re scrambling to manage their bills, kids, business, or medical needs.

When you’re facing criminal charges in Massachusetts, one of your first questions is probably: “Do I get a public defender, or should I hire a private attorney?”

Getting arrested isn’t the only way you can find yourself hit with criminal charges. Receiving a summons for a probable cause hearing in Massachusetts can also result in you being formally charged with a misdemeanor.

Few things in life are more terrifying than being charged with a felony. If you’re facing felony charges in Massachusetts, you likely have a lot of questions—and powerful emotions—to sort through.

It’s true that misdemeanor charges are considered less severe than felonies. At the same time, that doesn’t mean being arrested for a misdemeanor is an easy experience. The penalties and consequences can still impact every aspect of your life, both day-to-day and long-term.

That’s why the best thing you can do next is to hire a focused, intelligent Massachusetts criminal defense attorney. At Fogarty Law, our attorney Courtney K. Fogarty has spent more than 10 years winning favorable outcomes for clients facing misdemeanor charges.

When you’re facing criminal charges, the potential penalties can cast a long shadow over your life. In addition to serving a sentence, this blemish on your criminal record can impact you for years to come.

So, it’s no surprise that you might be considering a plea deal. This option often looks a lot more appealing than letting your case go to trial.

In your daily life, you probably don’t often wonder about the Massachusetts legal system. But that’s likely to change once you’re charged with any kind of crime.

It’s common to feel pressured to learn as much as you can about court proceedings and what to expect. But once you start researching, you might become overwhelmed by all the legal jargon and complex processes.