Criminal Defense Lawyers

Manhattan Desk Appearance Ticket (DAT) Lawyers

Certain crimes in New York do not necessarily rise to the level of there being a necessity to book a person and put them in jail. Instead, for certain offenses an officer may decide that it is more prudent to issue an individual a desk appearance ticket (DAT) that instructs them to appear before the criminal court at a later date.

The purpose of a DAT ticket is to keep the jails from overcrowding. Those who may have committed a criminal offense but are deemed to not be much of a threat to society as a whole may receive a DAT ticket in lieu of a criminal booking.

What A DAT Appearance Looks Like

A person who attends a DAT hearing will be arraigned by a criminal court judge on whatever charge it was for which they were given the original ticket. Those in this circumstance are likely people who have committed crimes such as driving on a suspended license or some other such minor offense that does not necessarily rise to the level of something that needs to be pursued farther than that.

Still A Serious Matter

Even though receiving a ticket rather than being booked may make the charge seem a lot less serious, this is not the mindset that you want to go into this with. You might end up not taking your DAT ticket as seriously as you honestly should. These are still tickets that do require you to appear before a court. If you decide that you are going to take them lightly, you are doing so at your own risk.

If you were to fail to appear on your scheduled court date, the judge will likely issue a bench warrant for your arrest. At that point you would end up getting arrested if you were to be stopped by a law enforcement officer for any reason. You would then have to answer for the original charge as well as for a failure to appear charge and perhaps more. It would only make the situation that much worse for you is the moral of the story.

Getting Court Papers Ready

Christine Twomey

2024-03-21

Just had my Divorce case settled 2 months ago after having a horrible experience with another firm. I couldn’t be happier with Claire Banks and Elizabeth Garvey with their outstanding professionalism in doing so with Spodek Law Group. Any time I needed questions answered they were always prompt in doing so with all my uncertainties after 30 yrs of marriage.I feel from the bottom of my heart you will NOT be disappointed with either one. Thanks a million.

Brendan huisman

2024-03-18

Alex Zhik contacted me almost immediately when I reached out to Spodek for a consultation and was able to effectively communicate the path forward/consequences of my legal issue. I immediately agreed to hire Alex for his services and did not regret my choice. He was able to cover my case in court (with 1 day notice) and not only was he able to push my case down, he carefully negotiated a dismissal of the charge altogether. I highly recommend Spodek, and more specifically, Alex Zhik for all of your legal issues. Thanks guys!

Guerline Menard

2024-03-18

Thanks again Spodek law firm, particularly Esq Claire Banks who stood right there with us up to the finish line. Attached photos taken right outside of the court building and the smile on our faces represented victory, a breath of fresh air and satisfaction. We are very happy that this is over and we can move on with our lives. Thanks Spodek law 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙌🏼❤️

Keisha Parris

2024-03-15

Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.

Taïko Beauty

2024-03-15

I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence. Thank you team!

Anthony Williams

2024-03-12

Hey, how you guys doing? Good afternoon my name is Anthony Williams I just want to give a great shout out to the team of. Spodek law group. It is such a honor to use them and to use their assistance through this whole case from start to finish. They did everything that they said they was gonna do and if it ever comes down to it, if I ever have to use them again, hands-down they will be the first law office at the top of my list, thank you guys so much. It was a pleasure having you guys by my side so if you guys ever need them, do not hesitate to pick up the phone and give them a call.

Loveth Okpedo

2024-03-12

Very professional, very transparent, over all a great experience

Bee L

2024-02-28

Amazing experience with Spodek! Very professional lawyers who take your case seriously. They treated me with respect, were always available, and answered any and all questions. They were able to help me very successfully and removed a huge stress. Highly recommend.

divesh patel

2024-02-24

I can't recommend Alex Zhik and Spodek Law Firm highly enough for their exceptional legal representation and personal mentorship. From the moment I engaged their services in October 2022, Alex took the time to understand my case thoroughly and provided guidance every step of the way. Alex's dedication to my case went above and beyond my expectations. His expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome were evident throughout the entire process. He took the time to mentor me, ensuring I understood the legal complexities involved to make informed decisions. Alex is the kind of guy you would want to have a beer with and has made a meaningful impact on me. I also want to acknowledge Todd Spodek, the leader of the firm, who played a crucial role in my case. His leadership and support bolstered the efforts of Alex, and his involvement highlighted the firm's commitment to excellence. Thanks to Alex Zhik and Todd Spodek, I achieved the outcome I desired, and I am incredibly grateful for their professionalism, expertise, and genuine care. If you're in need of legal representation, look no further than this outstanding team.

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Google rating score: 4.9 of 5, based on 736 reviews

Upon appearing in court the charged individual will learn if their court papers are ready yet or not. In the event that they are not this does not mean that you are home free. it probably just means that someone along the assembly line of the court system failed to get your paperwork in order before your scheduled hearing. It may mean that your next court appearance is delayed until that paperwork can be organized and produced.

You still have the potential to face a criminal record even if the paperwork is not prepared when you first go out to the court to deal with whatever it is that law enforcement has thrown at you.

Dropping The Charges

There are cases in which the prosecutor decides to drop the charges. They may look at the DAT ticket and decide that your case is honestly not worth their time and trouble. Don’t count on this happening, but it is a possibility. They might just see that you are not very much of a threat to the way of life in the community. If that is their determination, then you may be free to move about with your business without any farther action.

Getting An Attorney

Even for a DAT ticket you are going to want to have an attorney working for you. The reality is that many people do not think that this type of ticket could lead to criminal charges down the line. That is not the case though. It is entirely possible that someone who starts out with a DAT ticket may end up with a criminal record when it is all said and done.

It is critically important that those who are going through the legal system right now understand their rights and why it is so important to protect them. You can defend yourself in court if you feel you have been wronged. Get competent legal council to help with this.