Best Criminal Attorney in Indianapolis & Indiana | Top Rated: Jeff Cardella

It is difficult to say who the best criminal attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana is.  However, if you are searching for top rated criminal lawyers or the best criminal defense attorneys in Indiana, please contact my office for a free consultation.  No matter who you choose to represent you in Court, I would encourage you to hire a top rated criminal defense attorney for a few reasons: 

• They have the knowledge and experience to navigate the criminal justice system. Criminal defense attorneys have a deep understanding of the law and how the criminal justice system works. They know how to gather evidence, investigate the facts of your case, and build a strong defense. They can also help you understand your legal rights and options, and make informed decisions about your case.
• They can negotiate with the prosecution. Top-rated criminal defense attorneys often have good relationships with the prosecution. This can give them an advantage when negotiating on your behalf.They may be able to get the charges reduced or dismissed, or negotiate a more favorable plea agreement.
• They can represent you in court. If your case goes to trial, a top-rated criminal defense attorney will be able to represent you in court. They will present your case to the judge and jury, and fight to protect your rights.
• They can help you avoid a criminal record. A criminal record can have a serious impact on your life. It can make it difficult to find a job, housing, and even loans. A top-rated criminal defense attorney will do everything they can to help you avoid a criminal record, or minimize the impact of a conviction.

• They can help you save money in the long run. A criminal conviction can have a significant financial impact, including fines, court costs, and lost wages. A top-rated criminal defense attorney can help you avoid these costs by negotiating a more favorable outcome or winning your case outright.
• They can provide peace of mind. Knowing that you have a skilled and experienced attorney on your side can give you peace of mind during a difficult time. Your attorney can handle all of the legal aspects of your case so that you can focus on your life and family.

If you are facing criminal charges, it is important to hire a top-rated criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you hire an attorney, the better they will be able to represent you and protect your rights.

If you need a criminal defense lawyer in Indianapolis or Indiana, call me at 317-695-7700 for a free consultation or email me at jeffcardella@cardellalawoffice.com  I have been a criminal defense attorney in Indiana for my entire legal career and have well over a decade of experience and taught criminal law at the IU School of Law.

As a criminal attorney, I have represented persons accused of a wide variety of crimes, ranging from murder to minor possession of alcohol.  I have experience in all stages of criminal litigation, including jury trials, bench trials, suppression hearings, post-conviction relief proceedings, appellate law and oral argument, expungement and sealing of records under the Indiana Second Chance law, civil forfeiture, constitutional challenges under 42 USC 1983, hardship licenses and specialized driving permits, probation violations, and plea negotiations.

Over the course of my career, I have handled thousands of cases and been lead counsel in hundreds of trials.

I have represented members of the legal community, including an Indianapolis criminal defense attorney and two Marion County Sheriff’s deputies. As members of the legal community, these individuals spend a great deal of time in Court and have first hand experience with many different criminal lawyers.  These individuals, who had familiarity with many different Indianapolis criminal attorneys, were aware of the high quality of legal representation that I provide and trusted me to serve as their criminal defense lawyer.

My office has been recognized as one of the ten best law firms in the State of Indiana by the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys and I have been recognized as one of the top ten criminal defense attorneys in the State of Indiana under the age of forty by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys. I have taught criminal law at the Indiana University School of Law and have served as a Judge pro tem in Indianapolis. I have represented a fellow criminal defense attorney, an Indianapolis Metro Police Officer, and two former Marion County Sheriff’s deputies after they were arrested and accused of illegal activity. I filed the Federal Class Action lawsuit of Washington v. Marion County Prosecutor, in which Indiana’s vehicle forfeiture statute was held to be unconstitutional, under the Due Process clause of the US Constitution. I also co-authored the amicus brief for the United States Supreme Court case of Timbs v. State of Indiana, in which the United States Supreme Court held that Indiana’s attempts at forfeiture were unconstitutional under the Excessive Fines clause of the US Constitution. I handled over a dozen successful lawsuits against the Indiana Department of Corrections, challenging solitary confinement procedures under the Due Process Clause of the US Constitution. I also filed several successful lawsuits against the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department for arrests that violated the First Amendment of the US Constitution.  You can find additional information about my career as an Indiana criminal defense attorney and cases that I have handled on my In the News page.

As a criminal defense attorney, I take a client centered approach to each case.  When you call my office, you will speak with me directly.  Absent an emergency, all client communication is replied to within 24 hours, including weekends.  Additionally, absent an emergency, I will be the attorney with you for every court appearance.  Some criminal defense law firms take an assembly line approach to handling criminal cases, where a client is passed around by receptionists, paralegals, and different attorneys at each court appearance.  As a criminal attorney, I believe that this assembly line approach allows important information to fall through the cracks and that this business tactic is not in the client’s best interest.  I treat each client the way I would want to be treated if I were in their shoes, interacting with and representing them directly. I realize that every one of my client’s is a unique person with specific goals, and not merely a file.

As a criminal defense attorney, I believe it is my job to help you get through a case as painlessly as possible – without passing judgment.  I am aware that as humans, even the best of us occasionally make mistakes.  I believe that anyone in our legal system who is accused of wrongdoing deserves to have a criminal defense attorney fighting for their best interests in court and protecting their Constitutional rights.

Call for a Free Indiana & Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorney Consultation 317-695-7700

If you have questions about a criminal matter in Indiana, and want to speak to an Indiana criminal defense lawyer, call me for a free consultation at 317-695-7700.  I have practiced criminal defense my entire career, have taught criminal law at the IU School of Law, and have personally handled thousands of cases. I provide reasonably priced (compared to other top criminal attorneys in the State of Indiana) criminal defense representation in the entire State of Indiana, including Indianapolis, Marion County, Hamilton County, Hendricks County, Boone County, Monroe County, Bloomington, Noblesville, Carmel, Fishers, Danville, and Plainfield.

I look forward to hearing from you.

For additional information, please click on any of the following links:

Misdemeanor Criminal Defense Attorney for Indianapolis & Indiana

There are 3 levels of misdemeanor cases in Indiana which are A misdemeanor, B misdemeanor, and C misdemeanor. A misdemeanor is the most serious while C misdemeanor is the least serious. A misdemeanor cases carry a minimum sentence of zero days and a maximum sentence of 365 days. B misdemeanor cases carry a minimum sentence of zero days and a maximum sentence of 180 days. C misdemeanor cases carry a minimum sentence of zero days and a maximum sentence of 60 days. Misdemeanor cases carry lesser penalties than felony cases, but the conviction itself can still make it more difficult to obtain employment, so it is important not to brush off a misdemeanor criminal charge.

Level 6 Felony Criminal Defense Attorney for Indianapolis & Indiana

A level 6 felony carries a potential penalty range of ½ a year to 2.5 years with 1 year being the presumptive sentence. While a level 6 felony is a low level felony, being a convicted felon can carry serious penalties beyond the sentence, including the loss of legal rights such as the right to possess a firearm. Being a convicted felon can also ake it more difficult to obtain employment. Some (but not all) level 6 felony cases are eligible for alternate misdemeanor sentencing, which is often called AMS for short. AMS allows what would otherwise be a low level felony to be converted to a misdemeanor. AMS is most often addressed at the time of sentencing. However, if AMS is not brought up at the time of sentencing, AMS can still be requested at a later point in time. AMS generally can be ordered (1) at the front – meaning that on the day of sentencing, the conviction will go on the defendant’s record as a misdemeanor, or (2) at the back – meaning that the conviction will begin as a felony but can change if the defendant successfully completes the sentence. It is important to remember that when AMS is ordered at the back, if there are violations of probation, it is likely that the conviction will stay a felony.

Major Felony Criminal Defense Attorney for Indianapolis & Indiana

Felony cases that are level 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are considered major felony cases. Murder cases are the most serious major felony charge. A level 5 felony carries a potential penalty range of 1 year to 6 years with 3 years being the presumptive sentence. A level 4 carries a potential penalty range of 2 years to 12 years with 6 years being the presumptive sentence. A level 3 felony carries a potential penalty range of 3 years to 16 years with 9 years being the presumptive sentence. A level 2 felony carries a potential penalty range of 10 years to 30 years with 17.5 years being the presumptive sentence. A level 1 felony carries a potential penalty range of 20  years to 40 years with 30 years being the presumptive sentence. A murder case carries a potential penalty range of 45 years to 65 years with 55 years being the presumptive sentence.

Federal Criminal Defense Attorney for Indianapolis & Indiana

Federal cases generally carry far harsher penalties as compared with State cases. It is not rare that a charge that would result in probation in State Court could result in over a decade of prison in Federal Court. If you are being charge with a Federal case it is important to take the case very seriously as many federal cases result in significant prison time. It is also important to be mindful that Federal cases are far more time consuming for the attorney and legal representation can be very expensive.

Miscellaneous Information

For questions about specific areas of Indiana criminal law, click here.   Additional information about my office is available on the home page and the in the news page.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does your office accept Payment Plans?

We accept flexible payment plans for many legal matters.  Our office allows for “Buy Now Pay Later” through Affirm.  If you use the “Buy Now Pay Later” option, it is important to remember that qualification for a loan goes through Affirm and our office has no ability to approve eligibility.  Using “Buy Now Pay Later” is similar to using a credit card in that the repayment plan would be between you and Affirm.  In order to learn more about the “Buy Now Pay Later” option, click this option on the payment page of my website:

• Does your office handle cases outside of Indianapolis?

I handle cases throughout all of Indiana, including the Federal District Courts and Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Where is your office located?

My office is located in downtown Indianapolis across the street from Needler’s market.  If you are driving to the office and need directions, please use the google map link below:

If you are in need of an Indiana expungement attorney, Indiana criminal defense attorney, or Indiana forfeiture attorney, or have questions about the Indiana Expungement Law please call me for a free consultation at 317-695-7700. I have personally defended thousands of cases, teach criminal law at the IU School of Law, am a top rated attorney, and have practiced criminal defense my entire career. Additional information about my office is available on the home page and the in the news page.

DISCLAIMER – The information contained on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice or as an offer to perform legal services on any subject matter. The content of this web site contains general information and may not reflect current legal developments or information. The information is not guaranteed to be correct, complete or current. We make no warranty, expressed or implied, about the accuracy or reliability of the information at this website or at any other website to which it is linked.  Recipients of content from this site should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in the site without seeking appropriate legal advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from an attorney licensed in the recipient’s state.  Nothing herein is intended to create an attorney-client relationship and shall not be construed as legal advice. This is not an offer to represent you, nor is it intended to create an attorney-client relationship.