Violent Crimes

Violent Crime Lawyer in Westwood

Former Prosecutor. 20+ Years Defending Serious Violent Crime Charges in Norfolk County.

When you’re facing a violent crime charge, the Commonwealth moves fast. Police reports are filed, witnesses are interviewed, and the DA’s office begins building its case before most defendants have spoken to an attorney. At Eisenstadt Law, our violent crime defense lawyer Joseph Eisenstadt is a former Assistant Massachusetts Attorney General and former Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney who prosecuted serious violent crimes in the Major Felony and Gang units, including shootings and stabbings. He brings that firsthand knowledge of how the Commonwealth constructs its cases directly to your defense. Cases from Westwood are heard at Dedham District Court for arraignment and preliminary proceedings and at Norfolk Superior Court for serious felony charges, and we handle both.

Violent crimes in Massachusetts are prosecuted under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265 and carry consequences ranging from years in a house of correction to decades in state prison. What you say to police, whether you contest bail at arraignment, and how quickly you retain counsel all shape the trajectory of your case. With more than 20 years of experience and thousands of cases handled, we’re available 24/7 to step in the moment charges are filed.

Don’t wait to protect your rights. Call our violent crime defense lawyer in Westwood now at (617) 397-5755 for a free consultation, available any time, day or night.

Why Choose Eisenstadt Law for Violent Crime Defense?

Violent crime cases move quickly. Arraignment, bail arguments, and probable cause hearings unfold in the first days and weeks after an arrest. Massachusetts prosecutors treat these charges aggressively and typically pursue the highest classification the facts can support. Having a defense attorney who has sat on the other side of that table can make a meaningful difference. Joseph Eisenstadt knows which evidence the Commonwealth relies on, where that evidence is vulnerable, and how to challenge it before the case reaches a jury.

Former Prosecutor Background: Joseph Eisenstadt prosecuted serious violent crimes as a state prosecutor, giving our firm direct insight into how the DA’s office builds its cases and where those cases can be challenged.
Decades of Experience: More than 20 years of criminal defense experience and thousands of cases handled across District Court and Superior Court.
Recognized by the Legal Community: Joseph Eisenstadt was selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars in 2012 and holds a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating for criminal defense.
Customized Defense Strategies: Every violent crime case turns on its own facts. We tailor our approach to the specific charges, evidence, and circumstances you face.
Free Consultations: We offer free in-person and phone consultations so you can understand your options before making any decisions.
Available 24/7: We’re reachable around the clock because violent crime arrests don’t wait for business hours.
Client-First Approach: Former clients describe our firm as thoughtful, trustworthy, reliable, and genuinely attentive to their needs at every stage of the case.

Westwood Violent Crimes FAQs

What Should I Do If I’m Charged with a Violent Crime in Westwood?

Don’t speak to police or prosecutors without an attorney present. Anything you say can be used to strengthen the Commonwealth’s case against you. Call Eisenstadt Law immediately at (617) 397-5755. We’re available 24/7, including in the hours directly following an arrest. Early involvement lets us contest bail and dangerousness arguments at arraignment, advise you before any questioning, and begin building your defense from the very first stage of the case.

How Do You Build a Defense Against a Violent Crime Charge?

Defense strategy starts the moment we review the facts. We examine police reports for procedural errors, gather physical and digital evidence, interview witnesses, and identify any constitutional violations in how evidence was obtained. If law enforcement conducted an unlawful search or interrogated you without proper Miranda warnings, we file motions to suppress that evidence. Depending on the case, we may also pursue self-defense arguments, challenge witness identification, contest the Commonwealth’s proof of intent, or attack the credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses. Our goal is to build real pressure toward the best possible resolution, whether that’s a dismissal, a not-guilty verdict, or a favorable negotiated outcome.

What Types of Violent Crime Cases Does Eisenstadt Law Handle?

Our violent crime defense practice in Westwood covers a wide range of charges under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265, including:

Assault and battery
Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon
Domestic violence
Armed and unarmed robbery
Kidnapping
Murder and attempted murder
Manslaughter

Misdemeanor charges like simple assault and battery carry up to two and a half years in a house of correction. Felony charges such as armed robbery can result in a state prison sentence of up to life. Each charge category requires a distinct defense strategy rooted in the specific facts and statutory elements the Commonwealth must prove.

Speak with a Violent Crime Attorney in Westwood Today

A violent crime conviction carries consequences that follow you long after any sentence is served: lost employment, housing barriers, revocation of your firearms license, and, for non-citizens, serious immigration consequences. Violent offenses are generally not eligible for record sealing under Massachusetts law, which means the outcome at trial or during plea negotiations can have lasting effects. We understand what’s at stake, and we don’t treat these cases lightly.

Contact us at (617) 397-5755 to schedule your free consultation. We’re available 24/7 and ready to fight for your future and your freedom.

Violent Crime Charges Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265

Violent crimes in Massachusetts are prosecuted under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265, which covers offenses against the person. The statute spans a wide range of conduct and charge classifications, and the penalties reflect that range. Simple assault and battery under G.L. c. 265, s. 13A carries up to two and a half years in a house of correction. Assault with intent to murder under G.L. c. 265, s. 15 exposes a defendant to up to ten years in state prison. Armed robbery under G.L. c. 265, s. 17 carries a maximum of life in state prison.

Many violent crime charges are classified as felonies, meaning a conviction produces a permanent felony record and a state prison sentence rather than a county house of correction term. The collateral consequences extend well beyond incarceration: a conviction can cost you your job, disqualify you from housing applications, result in revocation of your firearms license, and carry severe immigration consequences for non-citizens. Critically, violent offenses are generally not eligible for record sealing under Massachusetts law, making the outcome of trial and plea negotiations potentially long-lasting. At arraignment, the Commonwealth may also request a dangerousness hearing under G.L. c. 276, s. 58A, asking the court to hold you without bail on the grounds that you pose a danger to the community. An experienced defense attorney who can contest that motion at the earliest stage can affect whether you remain in custody while the case proceeds.

How Violent Crime Cases Move Through the Courts for Westwood Defendants

For Westwood defendants, initial proceedings take place at Dedham District Court. Arraignment is the first court appearance: charges are formally read, bail is addressed, and a dangerousness hearing may be held if the Commonwealth requests it. Probable cause hearings and early pretrial conferences also occur at the District Court level for charges that haven’t yet been indicted.

In serious felony cases, the Commonwealth may seek a grand jury indictment rather than proceeding through a District Court probable cause hearing. A grand jury indictment moves the case directly to Norfolk Superior Court, where the most serious violent crime trials in the county are heard. Discovery materials are exchanged, pretrial motions are filed and argued, and cases that can’t be resolved through negotiation proceed to a jury trial at that level.

Pretrial motions matter enormously. A motion to suppress evidence obtained through an unlawful search or an unwarned interrogation can exclude critical prosecution evidence and, in some cases, significantly weaken the Commonwealth’s case before it ever reaches a jury. The vast majority of criminal cases are resolved before trial, and the strength of your pretrial posture directly shapes what the Commonwealth is willing to offer at the negotiating table. Building that leverage begins on day one.

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What Makes Our Firm Different?

We Don't Back Down From a Challenge

Local Attorneys
Our firm consists of local attorneys who have worked in the area for years. Each attorney is familiar with the courts and has a great reputation within the legal field.
Free Initial Consultation
At Eisenstadt Law, our firm offers a free initial consultation to learn more about your case and to ensure our team is the best fit for you.
Aggressive Defense
Our legal team does not back down from a challenge. We fight to ensure that the rights, futures and freedoms of our clients are protected.
Proven Track Record
Our attorneys have successfully helped thousands of clients reach a positive outcome in their cases. We have achieved this by using our experience and expertise to our advantage.
Accessible to Clients
We are available 24/7 to best suit the needs of our clients. We pride ourselves on providing each of our clients and their cases with the personal attention and commitment that they deserve.

Real Cases, Real Results.

Our top priority is to devise customized legal strategies that are tailored to the unique legal needs of our clients, no matter how simple or complicated their situations, might be.

Case Dismissed Forgery, Uttering, Credit Card Fraud, Identity Fraud, Larceny
Not Guilty Domestic Assault and Battery
Case Dismissed Identity Fraud, Criminal Harassment, Witness Intimidation
Motion to Suppress allowed. Evidence Suppressed Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Ammunition
Not Guilty Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol (OUI, DUI)

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The firm of Eisenstadt Law worked with us in a highly professional and attentive manner.

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