New Hampshire Assault on an Officer Lawyer

All assault charges are serious, and the penalties imposed upon conviction can be severe. Under New Hampshire law, no specific charge for an assault on a police officer exists.

However, the charge papers that are filed against you will likely indicate that the accuser in your case was a police officer. This may result in the imposition of increased criminal penalties by a sentencing judge upon conviction.

If you have been charged with assaulting a police officer, you need experienced legal representation by a skilled defense attorney on your side every step of the way. An experienced New Hampshire assault on an officer lawyer will be able to review the facts and circumstances of your case and may be able to represent you in court.

Resisting Arrest

One of the most common ways of incurring an assault on an officer charge in New Hampshire is by resisting arrest. In the most serious cases, resisting arrest might involve a physical attack by the criminal defendant on a police officer.

However, in less serious cases, a criminal defendant could potentially be charged with resisting arrest for lightly knocking into an officer or pulling away from the officer at the time of the arrest. Kicking a police dog is a crime in New Hampshire that could potentially result in felony charges.

Seriousness of Charge

Assaulting a police officer is generally deemed much more serious than a simple run-of-the-mill assault charge. When a criminal defendant is charged with assaulting a police officer, some judges are inclined to be harsher with their sentencing.

In many cases, judges have a minimum sentence that they will impose upon all criminal defendants in New Hampshire assault on an officer cases.

Factors to Keep in Mind

When an arrestee becomes involved in an altercation with a police officer or other law enforcement personnel, the outcome is not usually good for the arrestee. Arrestees should keep the following in mind in order to prevent a bad situation from getting worse:

• Do not physically resist arrest ­­– Resisting arrest could involve attempting to push away from a police officer or law enforcement officer, attempting to break free, or physically attacking or attempting to attack the arresting officer. Criminal arrests significantly deprive individuals of their freedom. However, ‘fighting back’ only serves to quickly escalate the situation and increase the potential penalties later on
• Do not speak with anyone about the case – As with any assault charge, it is important that an arrestee not speak with anyone about the case, including police officers, detectives, or criminal investigators, without having an experienced criminal defense attorney present. Anything that an arrestee says about the case outside the presence of an attorney could potentially be used against the arrestee later on down the line.

How a New Hampshire Assault on an Officer Attorney Can Help

New Hampshire does not treat assault charges lightly – especially when they involve an officer of the law. If you are convicted of assault in a case where the accuser is a police officer, the penalties can be significant.

An attorney may be able to help you obtain a dismissal of your case, a charge reduction, or a reduced penalty upon conviction, depending upon the facts and circumstances of your case.

You should feel free to contact a New Hampshire assault on an officer lawyer at any time, via telephone or email, for a free initial consultation.