As a defense attorney and former prosecutor in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Richard J. Kaufman has been trying felony and other criminal cases since 1977. He served as President of the Suffolk County Criminal Bar Association for the year 2003-2004 and is a member of the Suffolk Defenders, an association comprised solely of criminal defense attorneys. He has tried a full range of criminal matters ranging from Murder, Rape, Robbery, Felony Drug cases through Driving While Intoxicated matters, simple shoplifting, sex abuse misdemeanors, weapons charges and traffic matters. He has handled criminal cases in state court, federal court and administrative tribunals throughout the state and the country.

If you have any questions regarding any criminal matter, please contact us at (631) 331-0950 for immediate assistance or via email at info@KaufmanAtLaw.com to receive a response within 24 hours.

If you have been arrested for any type of criminal charge or are under investigation by the authorities, you can rely on us for immediate and experienced advice regardless of the day of the week or time of day and for us to be at your side when you appear in court, even on short notice. Because of the breadth and depth of our trial experience, we are able to focus on developing a sound and efficient strategy early in the proceedings so that our clients can have as much control over the process as circumstances will allow. Most importantly, where possible we attempt to devise a strategy that is proactive rather than simply reacting to whatever the prosecution presents in the courtroom or in negotiations. Our office provides quality legal services for defendants and plaintiffs and our results reflect a high success rate in defending cases, both at trial and in plea bargains.

Most law abiding citizens consider a criminal matter something that “can only happen to someone else” and that if a person has been charged with a crime by a police officer or a district attorney, that “the person charged must be guilty”, otherwise, why would they have been charged? Unfortunately, this is not always true. The realization often comes too late that in fact many times people are falsely charged with crimes they did not commit or are simply overcharged so that getting a conviction on the proper charge (usually a lesser one) is made easier for the the prosecutor.

Our office is dedicated to the fundamental idea that each matter is unique. We believe that a vigorous criminal defense is the best means to assure that justice will be done and that the matter will be properly resolved – whether it means a dismissal, a plea to a lesser charge, or simply obtaining the most favorable sentence under the circumstances. We never operate under the assumption that the police or the prosecutor’s case is the only side to the story.

• Do not answer questions regarding the crime or your presence at the scene – while you may think you are answering an innocent question, often the information elicited could provide a link to the crime the police did not have before
• Ask to call your attorney and insist on your right to have one even if one cannot be provided at that time. Once you advise the prosecuting authority that you wish to have an attorney, they cannot question you and if they do, your statements cannot be used against you. It is important to understand that a statement need not be written to be used – an oral statement or comment can be just as damaging to your case and maybe even more so since it is often inaccurately repeated or taken out of context. The issue can be avoided entirely by simply saying nothing, which you have the absolute right to do.
• Be cooperative with the police or prosecutors regarding personal information needed for processing of the arrest. However, be polite but firm regarding your refusal to answer anything further.
• Call your attorney at the first opportunity no matter how much you think you may not need one. Remember, we tend to believe that the police and prosecutors are our friends. While it may be true at other times, it is simply not true when they are trying to find evidence to charge you with a crime.
• Where possible, start to accumulate the information your attorney will need to assist you in defending your matter. This can include witnesses, photographs, phone records, etc. Do not share any of this information with the authorities until you have reviewed it with counsel.

If you have any questions regarding any criminal matter, please contact us at (631) 331-0950 for immediate assistance or via email at info@KaufmanAtLaw.com to receive a response within 24 hours.