If you or someone you love has been arrested or is under investigation in Ann Arbor or anywhere in Washtenaw County, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer who understands Michigan law, local courts, and practical defense strategy. Grabel & Associates is a Michigan-based criminal defense firm that handles cases across the state, including in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, and throughout Washtenaw County. From your first appearance in court through trial or a negotiated resolution, our Ann Arbor criminal defense lawyers work to protect your rights, your record, and your future. We are ready to act immediately.
When it comes to Washtenaw County criminal defense, having a knowledgeable legal team can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. Our attorneys understand the local courts, prosecutors, and judges, allowing us to craft effective defense strategies tailored to the unique challenges of each case.
What Happens When You’re Charged with a Crime in Ann Arbor?Most Ann Arbor cases start with an investigation by the Ann Arbor Police Department, University of Michigan Police Department, the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, or the Michigan State Police. After an arrest or the issuance of a complaint and warrant, you will appear for arraignment in the appropriate district court.
Misdemeanors and the initial stages of felony cases are heard in the district courts, while felonies are bound over to the circuit court for trial and sentencing. Early decisions about bond, no-contact conditions, travel limits, and alcohol or drug testing can shape the whole case, which is why having an experienced Ann Arbor criminal defense attorney at or before the arraignment matters.
Ann Arbor Criminal Courts: Where Your Case Will Be HeardAnn Arbor criminal matters are typically heard in the 15th District Court for incidents within the city limits, in the 14-A District Court for many Washtenaw County cases outside Ann Arbor, and in the 14-B District Court for Ypsilanti Township cases. Felony trials take place in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court (also known as the Washtenaw County Trial Court).
As experienced Ann Arbor criminal defense lawyers, our team appears regularly in these courts and understands local procedures, prosecutorial policies, and diversion opportunities. Understanding the courtroom culture, the probation expectations, and how local judges approach bond and sentencing allows us to tailor our defense strategies to fit the venue and the facts of your case.
What Happens After an Arrest in Ann Arbor: Jail and Custody GuideIf you are taken into custody, you will likely be booked into the Washtenaw County Jail, which the Sheriff’s Office operates. There is also a facility for short-term holds during court hours. An experienced Ann Arbor criminal defense lawyer can guide you through this process, knowing when and how to arrange a bond review, secure a tether placement if needed, and coordinate release conditions to minimize disruption to your life. Our firm moves quickly to address bond, to facilitate evaluations or treatment if appropriate, and to prepare persuasive information for the court about employment, education, and family responsibilities.
Standard Criminal Charges in Ann Arbor and How Michigan Law AppliesMisdemeanor cases stay in district court for arraignment, pretrial, motion practice, and trial. Felonies begin in district court for arraignment and preliminary examination, where the prosecution must show probable cause that an offense was committed and probable cause that you committed it. The initial exam is a pivotal opportunity to cross-examine witnesses, narrow the charges against you, and challenge weak evidence. An experienced Ann Arbor criminal defense lawyer will use this stage strategically to protect your rights and build leverage for negotiation or trial.
If the case is bound over, it proceeds to the 22nd Circuit Court for arraignment on the information, further motion practice, plea negotiations, and trial. Throughout your case, we evaluate suppression issues, expert witness needs, and whether to pursue jury selection strategies tailored to local community attitudes.
What Happens With Bond, Release Conditions, and Probation in Ann Arbor?At arraignment, the court sets bond, focusing on flight risk and public safety. Judges often consider criminal history, community ties, and the facts of the case. Conditions can include no-contact orders, drug and alcohol testing, a tether, and travel restrictions. Violations can lead to bond revocation. An Ann Arbor criminal defense lawyer can help you navigate this process, ensuring bond conditions are fair and manageable while protecting your rights at every stage. If probation is imposed after a plea or conviction, conditions may include treatment, education, testing, community service, and payment of fines and costs. In Washtenaw County, compliance reviews are taken seriously, so we prepare clients to succeed with clear checklists, effective communication with probation, and prompt responses to any alleged violations.
Ann Arbor Criminal Defense Strategies to Win Cases or Reduce ChargesConstitutional challenges are front-line defenses. We litigate illegal stops, unlawful detentions, improper searches, and Miranda violations. We move to suppress statements obtained without proper warnings or after an invocation of the right to counsel. We scrutinize every link in the chain of custody and every lab method used in drug or alcohol testing.
In assault cases, an experienced Ann Arbor criminal defense lawyer will present self-defense or defense of others when supported by the facts, using witness timelines and medical records to challenge the credibility of opposing testimony. In theft and fraud cases, we analyze intent, ownership, and valuation. For OWI cases, we challenge field sobriety administration, instrument calibration, and blood draw integrity. We also use mitigation strategies, including counseling, treatment, or community service, to humanize clients and create resolution options that avoid incarceration and protect employability.
How Do Criminal Charges Affect Students and Professionals in Ann Arbor?Ann Arbor is a university city, which means many clients are students, researchers, medical residents, or young professionals. Even a misdemeanor can affect your immigration status, financial aid, professional license, or graduate program placement. An Ann Arbor criminal defense lawyer understands how these cases can have long-term academic and professional consequences. Our approach includes working with campus conduct processes when needed, protecting sensitive information, and coordinating with immigration counsel when non-citizen clients face charges that could trigger inadmissibility or removability. We aim for outcomes that keep records clear or sealable and avoid lifetime barriers.
Expungement and Clean Slate Relief for Ann Arbor Residents and StudentsMichigan’s “Clean Slate” expansion allows set-asides for many convictions under MCL 780.621-MCL 780.621l. Depending on the conviction type and waiting period, Ann Arbor residents and students may be eligible to set aside certain misdemeanors and felonies, and some marijuana-related offenses have streamlined processes. Automatic set-aside rules may apply for qualifying records, but petition-based relief remains essential. An experienced criminal defense lawyer in Ann Arbor can evaluate eligibility, prepare petitions, organize supporting evidence, and present persuasive hearings in Washtenaw County to maximize the chance of expungement or relief.
What Should You Do If Police Want to Interview You in Ann Arbor?If a detective calls asking for a statement, contact us before you call them back. We regularly intervene at the precharge stage to manage communications, to assert your rights, and to present exculpatory materials through counsel when appropriate. Precharge advocacy can influence charging decisions and, in some cases, avoid charges altogether. If a search warrant has been executed, an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Ann Arbor will review the affidavit, preserve surveillance footage, and begin the motion practice that can shape the entire case.
Alternative Sentencing and Diversion Options in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw CountyWashtenaw County and the Ann Arbor courts offer diversion and specialty programs for certain first-time or low-level offenders, including sobriety court in appropriate OWI cases and other treatment-focused options. Deferral statutes can keep a first offense off your record if completed. Deferred sentencing and delayed-sentence options can also lead to dismissals upon compliance. Our criminal defense lawyers in Ann Arbor have extensive experience structuring agreements that protect records while addressing court concerns. When a trial is required, we are prepared to select a jury, challenge the prosecution’s evidence, present expert testimony, and litigate the case aggressively.
What To Do Immediately After An Arrest In Ann Arbor?Do not discuss your case with anyone except your attorney, and do not post about it online. Write down everything you remember, including the names of witnesses, times, and locations. Save text messages, voicemails, and emails related to the incident, and secure any photos or videos. If you received a ticket or a notice to appear, the deadlines are real, and missing a court date can result in a warrant. Contact Grabel & Associates as soon as possible so we can appear at the arraignment, address the bond, and start protecting your rights.
How Our Ann Arbor Criminal Defense Lawyers Build a Strong Defense StrategyWe begin with a detailed intake and immediate records requests. We obtain police reports, body-cam and dash-cam footage, 911 recordings, and lab and medical records. We visit scenes, photograph sightlines and lighting, and identify surveillance sources. We consult with forensic toxicologists, accident reconstructionists, digital forensic experts, medical experts, and mental health professionals when the case and defenses call for specialized insight. We file targeted motions, prepare cross-examinations, and assemble a mitigation portfolio that shows who you are beyond the allegations. Our communication is constant and practical, focusing on clear action items and timelines.
Sentencing Advocacy and Mitigation Strategies in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw CountyIf a case proceeds to sentencing, we prepare a comprehensive memorandum that places your history, achievements, and community support before the court. Michigan law requires individualized sentencing and proportionality, and local judges consider risk reduction, rehabilitation, and community safety. Our criminal defense team in Ann Arbor presents treatment engagement, employment verification, academic progress, and verified volunteer efforts. They also propose realistic, enforceable probation terms, and we push for non-jail outcomes, including community service, programming, and a tether when appropriate.
Protecting Your Record, License, and Future in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw CountyA conviction can affect professional licensing, security clearances, military service, student status, and immigration. In OWI cases, we address consequences with the Secretary of State and license sanctions, seeking restricted driving privileges when available and preparing for implied-consent hearings. In assault and domestic cases, we work to minimize firearm and housing impacts. For students, we align court outcomes with campus conduct needs where possible. Our goal is not only to resolve the charge in court but also to protect your long-term opportunities. Contact our criminal defense lawyer in Ann Arbor to discuss your case and safeguard your future.
Why Choose Grabel & Associates for Your Ann Arbor CaseAt Grabel & Associates, we are a Michigan-based criminal defense firm that represents clients statewide, including every court in Washtenaw County. Our Ann Arbor criminal defense attorneys focus exclusively on criminal defense, and our team approach means your case benefits from collective experience with police practices, forensic issues, and local courtroom expectations. We are responsive, strategic, and relentless about results. Whether the best path is dismissal, diversion, a carefully negotiated plea, or trial, we are prepared to execute the plan that best protects you.
Call Our Criminal Defense Team in Ann Arbor Now For A Free, Confidential ConsultationIf you are facing charges or an investigation in Ann Arbor, contact Grabel & Associates today. Call us at 1-800-342-7896 or contact us online right now. We regularly appear in the 15th District Court, the 14-A District Court, the 14-B District Court, and the Washtenaw County Trial Court, and we work with clients held in the Washtenaw County Jail just as often. We take urgent calls, move fast on bond and early motions, and keep you informed every step of the way. One call can change the trajectory of your case, and our team is ready to help no matter where you are located in Michigan.