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2026
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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Syracuse criminal defense lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.
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Need help contacting a Criminal Defense Attorney in Syracuse? Call our Concierge team at 848-Book-Pro (848-266-5776 from 6 am - 4 pm PT | Mon - Fri). They are standing by to help you get the service you need.
Spano Criminal Defense Lawyer is a Syracuse-based law firm run by sole practitioner Michael Spano that defends clients from criminal charges, including felony and misdemeanors. Spano is well-versed in the latest updates to internet crimes, including scams and Sex Crimes, giving clients accused of such crimes an edge in court. He also covers crimes involving drugs, drunk driving, weapon possession, assault, murder, and theft. Founder Michael Spano's opinions are widely valued by members of the legal community, as he's been selected to lead several continuing legal education seminars throughout the greater Syracuse area.
Located in Syracuse, the Law Offices of Robert Carter, P.L.L.C., serves clients throughout the local metro. The firm represents individuals accused of criminal charges and uses an aggressive approach during defense proceedings. Through a consultation session, it discusses with clients matters involving areas like evidence and trial. It also practices real estate law, and provides counsel to a range of people, from lenders to sellers. Robert Carter, the firm's namesake, has over two decades of legal experience. He is admitted to practice in Florida.
The legal team of Passalacqua & Associates has been representing numerous clients in criminal law cases throughout Syracuse for three decades. Its attorneys have secured trial experience that has honed their perspective involving legal processes, helping them provide defendants with counsel backed by firsthand knowledge of local laws. They work with clients in various aspects of criminal defense, including negotiations for sentence reduction and probation. The firm's managing attorney, Nicholas Passalacqua, is a former associate of Getnick, Livingston, Atkinson & Priore, LLP.
George F. Hildebrandt, Attorney at Law, is a criminal defense lawyer who has been operating in the Syracuse area for more than 35 years. The attorney offers his advice and representation to clients who have been arrested and indicted for drug possession and trafficking, driving under the influence of alcohol, and college crimes. He also represents his clients during bail hearings. Hildebrandt has been labeled as an AV-Preeminent attorney by Martindale-Hubbell.
Tom Anelli & Associates PC offers comprehensive criminal defense services to clients in Syracuse and nearby areas. With over 15 years of trial experience, owner Tom Anelli helps clients who have been charged with DWIs navigate the criminal justice system to secure dismissals and acquittals. Its legal team defends its clients to help them avoid driver's license revocation, jail time, and fines. Mr. Anelli is a member of the National College for DUI Defense.
The Zimmer Law Office, PLLC, serves locals of the Syracuse metro and the surrounding communities. The firm provides legal assistance to clients facing criminal charges involving both felonies and misdemeanors. It handles cases such as white-collar crimes and DUI/DWAI offenses in local, state, and federal courts. Principal Kimberly Zimmer is a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel Committee for the Northern District of New York. She has been in the legal service for more than 30 years.
Michael J. Vavonese Law Office provides legal advice and representation to clients in Syracuse and neighboring areas. For the past 35 years, Vavonese has been providing criminal defense representation for individuals charged with murder, drug offenses, violent crimes, robbery, sex offenses, and other types of crimes. He also handles cases related to personal injury and real estate law. Vavonese has been featured in different national news outlets, including the New York Times, USA Today, and The Nancy Grace Show.
Nicholas J. DeMartino, Attorney at Law, provides legal counsel to individuals in Syracuse facing criminal charges. Some of the cases it handles involve vehicular homicide, manslaughter, robbery, conspiracy, and embezzlement. It also advocates for the rights of people arrested for traffic offenses, drug and narcotics crimes, and weapons charges. Nicholas J. DeMartino is a criminal defense attorney who has more than 35 years of courtroom and trial experience. He started his legal career as a deputy county attorney.
Johnston Ganetis PLLC is a boutique law firm headquartered in Syracuse. Its team of attorneys offers insight and counsel to clients confronting various legal challenges, including criminal offenses. The lawyers in the firm also routinely assist individuals dealing with drug and controlled substance offenses, traffic citations, white collar crimes, and family law matters. One of the firm’s founders, Anthony J. Johnston, began his legal career as a public servant, handling a wide range of cases, from simple traffic infractions and felonies to domestic abuse and tax fraud.
Syracuse Law Office caters to the needs of criminal defendants in the metro. It handles a variety of criminal defense matters that range from white-collar crimes, drug possession, and robbery to homicide and traffic infractions. Its team assists defendants in handling the legal process, from case evaluation and court preparation to settlement. Syracuse Law Office has been serving the community for over 20 years and has represented clients in federal, state, town, and village courts.
Hennessy and Monforte Law Office provides criminal law defense to clients in Syracuse. The firm provides legal advice to individuals facing charges and makes sure their rights are protected by researching the facts of their cases and defending them in trials. Additionally, it handles real estate, landlord representation, and wills and probate. Legal services for small businesses are available. Lauren Monforte, one of the firm's partners, graduated from law school cum laude. She also teaches at the Syracuse University College of Law as an adjunct professor.
Robert S. Baska, MD, Esq. is a Syracuse-based law firm that offers its services to local clients. Baska and his team provide criminal defense for those who have been charged with felonies and misdemeanors, including DWI offenses and traffic violations. They identify the long-term legal needs of their clients through consultative evaluations that also prioritize their financial situation. Baska served as a clerk for the Gwinnett County Solicitor's Office and the Georgia Court of Appeals, as well as for DUI defense attorney William "Bubba" Head.
The Law Office of Daniel J. Petrone offers legal assistance to clients across Syracuse and the neighboring areas. It helps protect the rights of individuals facing criminal charges. It also serves clients arrested for driving while intoxicated or who received a ticket for traffic violations. In addition to criminal defense and vehicle-related violations, the law firm resolves real estate and family law issues. Founding attorney Daniel J. Petrone has represented private and public clients throughout his career.
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The non-emergency number for the Syracuse Police Department is (315) 442-5200.
A report request can be made online or by mail to the Records Unit located at the Sheriff’s Headquarters at 407 South State Street. If you are mailing in a report request, you must enclose the DR or case number, the appropriate fee, a copy of your current photo ID (e.g., driver's license or non-driver's ID), and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Every case is different depending on the people involved, and a lawyer in Syracuse can help you estimate how long your particular case might take. With some exceptions, a criminal proceeding typically lasts between six and nine months. The judge sets the schedule, and getting a case through court can take a while.
Section 221.05 of the New York State Penal Law designates possessing a small amount of marijuana in Syracuse as a violation rather than a drug crime. However, it is still punishable by a $100 fine and up to 15 days of jail time if you have a history of offenses. If found guilty, you might also lose your eligibility for federal financial aid for higher education. You might also be prohibited from obtaining professional licenses or joining particular organizations.
Being convicted of a violent crime in Syracuse can result in a lifetime prison sentence with no possibility of parole. Examples of violent crimes are murder, homicide, manslaughter, forcible rape, and assault, with some considered class A felonies under New York criminal law. Defendants found guilty of assault in the first degree can also be sentenced to 25 years in prison.
A record-sealing law was passed in New York state in 2017. This enables various convictions in Syracuse, including felonies and misdemeanors, to be sealed from public records after a waiting period of 10 years from your sentencing or release from prison, whichever is later. However, this law does not apply to charges of violent felonies and sex crimes.
The state created diversion programs to decrease the number of inmates in jails and give some non-violent offenders a way to avoid detention. The qualifications vary, but a defendant in Syracuse is usually only charged with a misdemeanor, must not have a significant criminal history, and must enter a guilty plea to their current charge.

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