If you have been arrested, the officers will do one of the following two things. They will either issue a misdemeanor citation or physically take you to jail. Regardless of which happens, your next phone call should be to a criminal defense firm like The McDaniel Law Firm.
A misdemeanor citation is issued in lieu of a physical arrest and can only be issued for misdemeanors at the discretion of the arresting officer. If you receive one, there will be a date and time on the citation for you to present yourself for booking and processing as well as a date and time for your first court date. Don’t miss your booking and processing or you could face additional charges.
If you’ve been physically arrested, you will be transported to jail, such as 201 Poplar (for men) or Jail East (for women). The municipalities like Bartlett, Collierville and Germantown have their own jails as well. Wherever you are taken, the next step will be for a judge to review your case and assess a bond. Bonds can range from zero (released on your own recognizance) to hundreds of thousands of dollars. You will typically have a court date on the next available day for arraignment.
A bond is a monetary amount, assigned by the court to each case, which a person must place with the court to be released from custody. The bond is meant to ensure that the defendant returns to court. Once you have been assigned a bond, you or your family should reach out to a bonding company to assist you with financing the bond if you cannot pay the bond amount cash. Bonds are returned to you if paid in cash once the case is disposed of.
If you are unable to make your bond, a skilled attorney can help by setting the case for a bond hearing to argue for your bond to be lowered. If the bond is $100,000 or higher, a special hearing is required to determine the source of the funds used to post the amount. An attorney is required to handle that hearing. The bonding company and your attorney will work together to show the required documentation to prove the source is legitimate.
We will listen to your situation, explain your options, and help you understand the next steps without pressure.
We’ll ask questions about your situation, explain the charges you’re facing, and outline potential strategies. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of your options.
Our pricing is tailored to the complexity of your case and the level of service required — and it reflects the high-quality, results-driven representation we consistently deliver for our clients. We encourage you to contact us to discuss the specifics of your situation.
We're directly across from 201 Poplar — the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center. We're easy to find and conveniently situated near the courthouse.
We are fully equipped to conduct thorough, detailed consultations by phone, which many clients find more convenient. Either way, you'll receive the same level of personalized attention and legal guidance.
Clients are provided access to one reserved space in our private parking lot for attorney meetings and scheduled court appearances. Please be sure to use our designated lot, as parking outside of it will result in standard downtown Memphis parking fees for which we are unable to be responsible.
We do not take pro bono cases as a general practice. In very limited circumstances, we may consider pro bono representation, though financial need alone is not a qualifying factor. We encourage anyone seeking legal assistance to contact our office to discuss their options.
Initial consultations are currently offered at no charge. We believe every person deserves the opportunity to speak with an attorney before making a commitment, and we're happy to discuss your case at no cost to you.
Our practice covers Memphis, Shelby County, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, Millington, Tipton County, Fayette County, Somerville, and surrounding areas. If you're unsure whether we serve your location, don't hesitate to reach out.
Our practice covers Memphis, Shelby County, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, Millington, Tipton County, Fayette County, Somerville, and surrounding areas. If you're unsure whether we serve your location, don't hesitate to reach out.
Arraignment is a court setting where the judge will inform you of the charges against you. If you are in custody, the judge will inform you of your bond and ask if you are going to be able to post it. The judge will then ask if you are able to hire an attorney. It is generally advisable to have an attorney hired as soon as possible to begin helping you with your case. We here at The McDaniel Law Firm are available at any time if someone you know has been arrested and is headed for arraignment.
There are hundreds of potential criminal charges in the Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA), and you should reach out to an attorney to help you go over the specifics. Generally, there are two types of charges: misdemeanors and felonies. Misdemeanors have three classes C, B and A. A Class A Misdemeanor carries up to 11 months and 29 days in jail. Felonies have six classes E, D, C, B, A and M. The lowest maximum sentence for a felony is 1 year in prison all the way to life without parole. If you have questions about what you are charged with and what your potential punishment could be, reach out to us at The McDaniel Law Firm and we will be happy to discuss that with you.
A skilled lawyer can help you through your case from arraignment to disposition. That attorney can negotiate the best possible offer of settlement as well as discuss all your options throughout the complicated legal process. The McDaniel Law Firm has over 40 years of experience helping the people of west Tennessee through challenging circumstances, and we look forward to discussing how we can help you.
