San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer
Criminal Defense Specialist in San Diego, California
The Law Office of James N. Dicks is one of the most successful and prestigious criminal defense firms in North San Diego County. Criminal defense attorney James Dicks is a Certified Criminal Defense Specialist and is a former police officer and narcotics investigator, widely recognized and highly respected within the legal community.
If you have been arrested in San Diego, we may be able to help. We offer a free consultation to discuss your case, taking an active step toward defending your rights and freedom. Dealing exclusively with criminal defense, we have extensive experience in both state and federal cases. It is our goal to provide a vigorous defense for our clients.
When faced with such a life altering situation such as this, it is absolutely vital that you take every step you can towards protecting your rights and fighting for the best possible outcome for your future. If convicted of a crime, the emotional, legal and financial strain can shadow you for the rest of your life. Whether it is imprisonment, fines or just having a criminal record, your future will forever be altered. That is why getting the help of a skilled San Diego criminal defense attorney, and getting it early, is so important.
By putting your strongest defense forward, you can take steps from the very beginning towards protecting your best interests. Immediately after facing criminal charges, it is imperative that you not only remember your rights, but exercise them. Such rights as the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney can be the final push that helps you in your path towards a successful outcome. If you choose to ignore these rights, you can sometimes accidently incriminate yourself by saying something that seems perfectly safe at the time. The right criminal defense attorney will be able to shield you from such missteps and work towards putting together the strongest protection against whatever evidence might be held against you. By questioning every detail, looking at every angle, being aggressive and firm in all aspects of handling the case, we will do everything we can towards getting your penalty minimized or even getting your case dismissed entirely if we can. With a complete and thorough knowledge of the law and a complete dedication to your cause, you can be confident that your future is in capable, trustworthy hands.
Aggressive Defense For All Criminal Matters:
Our firm has devoted itself entirely to the defense of individuals charged with crimes throughout San Diego and North County. We have handled thousands of criminal cases in all San Diego courts involving charges ranging from DUI and simple drug possession, all the way up to and including capital offenses such as murder and manslaughter. With such a vast, rich experience and thorough history of both sides of the law backing us up, you can trust that everything possible that can be done towards your desired results will be pursued to the fullest.
Below is a sampling of the criminal cases we defend. If you or a loved one has been charged, please call our office today for a FREE, no obligation, absolutely confidential consultation to discuss your criminal case.
Former Police Officer on Your Side
With experience as a former law enforcement officer, James Dicks has a multi-faceted point of view and valuable information about all sides of a criminal case. He understands what mistakes law enforcement may make, how this aspect of the criminal process works, and what strategies they may use to collect evidence or a confession. This is highly beneficial information that can help him in building a stronger and more effective defense strategy on his clients’ behalf. At times, a violation of constitutional rights by law enforcement (such as an unlawful or unreasonable search and seizure) may be grounds to have key evidence suppressed so it cannot be used against the defendant as direct evidence in court proceedings. This is just one example of how law enforcement experience can benefit a case.
Using his years of experience as a criminal defense attorney and drawing upon his specialized knowledge as a former police officer, you can count on him and his dedicated legal team to provide you with the personal attention and dedicated, aggressive representation you need in the face of your DUI, drug charges, theft allegations, sex crime accusations or any other criminal law matter.
Criminal Offenses in San Diego, Vista, and North County
Punishment for a criminal offense in California can vary greatly depending upon what type of crime it is, whether it is a first or subsequent offense, and more. Criminal offenses are typically classified according to the punishment they may bring. A petty offense, such as a traffic ticket or similar minor offense does not require a jail sentence. A misdemeanor involves a sentence of less than one year in county jail, and a felony carries a state prison sentence of a minimum of at least one year. This is not including any fines, probation, counseling, community service, or more, that may be included in your sentence.
Throughout every point of the criminal process, it will be of the utmost importance to have skilled legal counsel. Even if law enforcement has not yet filed formal charges against you, there is much that a lawyer can do to help your case. For example, an investigation early on in the process may reveal that some of the evidence law enforcement collected against you should not be admissible in court. This may change the prosecuting attorney's decision to file charges altogether, helping you avoid this entire situation. The same applies when you are a suspect in an investigation or when you are called into the police station for "questioning." Your attorney can work to protect your interests every single step of the way - helping you avoid self-incrimination or a similar situation.
Exclusively Criminal Defense in San Diego, CA
Attorney James Dicks has devoted his entire practice exclusively to criminal defense. While other lawyers make it a point to handle as many cases as possible, we have maintained that only the best defense can come when an attorney is entirely devoted to one specialty of law. Because criminal charges are the most damaging legal process that any individual can face in his or her lifetime, you need to hire a San Diego criminal attorney who knows the justice system and has the respect of prosecutors and judges from within San Diego and San Diego County to ensure that you receive the best criminal defense possible.
If you have been accused of any crime in San Diego, including DUI (driving under the influence), sex crimes, violent crimes, drug crimes, and more – our experienced attorneys can help. We are more than qualified to assist you with a dedicated and aggressive representation that has proven successful in both state and federal courts.
Cities We Serve:
The Law Offices of James Dicks has 2 offices to serve you and travels to all San Diego, Vista, and North County courts. Here is a brief list of the cities and counties we serve throughout San Diego.
Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, Carmel Valley, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Escondido, Camp Pendleton, Coronado, Chula Vista, National City, Rancho del Rey, La Mesa, Mission Beach, Serra Mesa, North Park, Miramar, Mira Mesa, Santee, Spring Valley, Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Fallbrook, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, Mission Viejo, Campa Pendleton Marine Base, Solana Beach, Imperial Beach, Bonita, Poway, Ramona, Barona, Bonsall, Murrieta, and throughout San Diego County.
San Diego & North County Courts We Serve:
Vista Court (North County), San Diego Court, Chula Vista Court (South Bay), San Diego Juvenile Court, El Cajon Court.
San Diego Office:
Champions of the West Tower
11622 El Camino Real, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92130
Take this opportunity to learn more about your criminal charges and what an experienced lawyer can do to help you. The U.S. Constitution grants you the right to legal counsel, and ignoring this can have disastrous consequences on your future as you face maximum penalties - imprisonment, fines and much more. Your reputation and personal and professional relationships may also suffer, as well as your ability to obtain employment or certain loans.
Have you been arrested in San Diego?
Contact defense lawyer James N. Dicks today.