Newark, DE Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you have been accused of a crime and you are not sure which steps to take next, hiring a Newark criminal defense lawyer should be at the top of your list. These highly trained and experienced individuals work very closely with their clients, ensuring their rights are maintained while they deal with the judicial system. 

Every American – including those residing in Delaware – as a set of Constitutionally-protected rights, even when they have been accused of heinous crimes. The team at Pagano Law consists of criminal defense attorneys in Newark who will work for the best possible outcomes, from the time you contact us until the time the case is ultimately resolved. Our goal is to ensure the courts treat you fairly and that we do everything we can to minimize the impact of the accusation and the associated court proceedings. 

What Newark Criminal Defense Lawyers Do

Newark criminal defense lawyers serve as your advocate from beginning to end. From the time you are first charged until you have been acquitted or sentenced, we stand beside our clients, leveraging our experience and education to provide the best possible results. 

Pre-Trial Representation

Quite a bit happens immediately after you are accused of a crime and arrested. This phase of the process, known as the pre-trial phase, is vital to criminal defense attorneys. As soon as you contact us, we begin our investigative process, which typically consists of:

• Reviewing police reports and search warrants, where applicable
• Scrutinizing physical evidence, including laboratory findings
• Examining witness statements to determine credibility and factuality 
• Determining whether enough evidence exists for the state to formally charge and prosecute you

The best Newark criminal defense attorneys review every single document and piece of evidence in the case multiple times, looking for some sort of technicality, procedural error, rights violation, or lack of hard evidence in an effort to have the charges against you reduced or dropped. Identifying potential defense witnesses, scrutinizing the prosecution’s witnesses, and even looking into potential rights violations like unlawful search and seizures or unlawful traffic stops, can all help us better defend you. 

Arraignment Representation

The hearing during which the charges against you are heard and you enter your initial plea is called your arraignment. Your attorneys may file motions asking you to be released on your own recognizance (without bail) while you await further court proceedings, and barring that, they may ask that you be granted a reasonable bail amount. 

If your defense attorneys believe the case against you is especially weak, they may choose to file a motion to dismiss it altogether. This can and does happen for a number of reasons, including the court’s lack of jurisdiction in the case, a statute of limitations having passed, a procedural or technical error, lack of evidence, or even double jeopardy laws, which state you cannot be prosecuted for the same offense you were once acquitted of. 

Negotiating Plea Deals

Plea deals are very common in the American legal system, with some 90% of all criminal cases being resolved in this way as of 2025. A plea deal, or plea bargain, is a negotiation between the prosecution and defense that aims to resolve the case before it goes to trial. Typically, the prosecution will ask the accused to plead guilty to lesser crime in exchange for lighter sentence or less impactful criminal record. 

Although it is ultimately up to you to determine whether to accept or refuse a plea offer presented to you, your Newark criminal defense lawyers will advise you on your best course of action. In many cases, the state has sufficient evidence to prove the accused has committed a felony, but due to a lack of criminal history and a good reputation in the community, they may offer a deal to plead guilty to a much lesser misdemeanor charge. Your attorneys would likely advise you to take the deal to avoid the potential complications that can stem from having a felony on your record. 

Part of accepting a plea deal means waiving your right to a jury trial, which can often be expensive and fraught with worry. Even if your attorneys suggest taking a plea bargain, you are not required to do so. It is always your call. Your attorneys’ role is to offer advice and ensure that you fully understand the repercussions of your acceptance or denial of any plea deal. 

Your attorneys are also responsible for ensuring that the details of your plea bargain are entered and carried out correctly by the prosecution in the event you do choose to accept. 

Courtroom Representation

For the 10% of criminal cases that cannot be resolved via a plea bargain, you may find yourself faced with a jury trial. This is a set of proceedings in which both the prosecution and your defense team will argue their sides of your case in front of a jury of 12 peers who will ultimately decide your guilt or innocence. It is your Newark criminal defense attorneys’ role to represent and defend you throughout the entirety of this trial, whether it lasts one day or multiple days. 

Your attorneys may use several strategies to sway the jury’s opinion of the facts. Should the prosecution decide to call witnesses to the stand to testify against you, your attorneys can cross-examine them, perhaps even casting a shadow over their credibility to the jury. The prosecution has the right to cross-examine any witnesses your defense team calls, as well. 

If any reasonable doubt exists in the minds of the jury, the law instructs them to find you innocent. The primary role of the attorney involves presenting the evidence and facts to the jury in a way that instills this reasonable doubt, from the opening statement to the closing statement and everything in between. Ultimately, Newark criminal defense lawyers do everything they can to convince the jury of their duty to return a verdict of “not guilty,” whether it’s due to a lack of evidence against you, mishandled evidence, a violation of your Constitutional rights, or something else entirely. 

Sentencing Hearing Representation

In the event that a jury does find you guilty, or if you choose to plead guilty, your defense attorneys’ role does not end there. They also represent you during the sentencing hearing in an attempt to convince a judge or jury to impose the least impactful punishment possible. They may collect letters of support from your family, friends, and community, cite your lack of a previous criminal record, make it clear that you have familial responsibilities, or point out your much lesser role in the crime that was ultimately committed. 

Why You Need to Hire a Newark Criminal Defense Attorney Early 

It is not in your best interest to wait to hire a Newark criminal defense lawyer, regardless of the severity of the crime you are being accused of committing. 

Less Overall Financial Strain

Hiring an attorney can be an expense, but in the long run, it can actually save you money. Things like lost wages, restitution, and legal fees can add up quickly, especially if you are found guilty or receive a harsh sentence due to a lack of adequate representation. Hiring a lawyer early on in the process can help you avoid these things, ultimately improving your long-term outlook. 

Reduced Stress and Burden

Capable criminal defense lawyers in Newark have attended years of law school and have years of experience representing people in similar situations. They have everything they need to negotiate the complex legal system, taking the burden from your shoulders and carrying it themselves. Instead of worrying about legal jargon, you can breathe easy knowing you have exceptional representation. 

Lesser Sentences

Hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer more often than not ensures you receive a lighter overall sentence. No matter the evidence against you or the verdict, your legal team has the skills and expertise to help negotiate lesser sentences or negotiate probation instead of incarceration. 

Support and Representation

Finally, Newark criminal defense attorneys are with you every step of the way, sitting beside you during police interviews and standing next to you when the verdict against you is being read to the court. Knowing which questions to answer – and how to answer them – and having someone who knows the law on your side can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. 

If you have been accused of a crime in Delaware, hiring a capable criminal defense attorney in Newark can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. At Pagano Law, we make it our mission to protect your good name and reputation while ensuring you are treated fairly by the judicial system. Contact us today to learn more. 

Get in Touch with Pagano Law in Newark, DE Today!