Rhode Island Criminal Defense — Browse Our Practice Areas
Whether you're facing a DUI, felony charge, or federal investigation, Marin & Murphy handles it. Select your charge below to learn how we defend it.
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Every practice area below is handled directly by our Rhode Island criminal defense lawyer team.
Rhode Island DUI charges move quickly from arrest to arraignment. The decisions made in the first 48 hours — about breath tests, chemical refusals, and legal representation — shape everything that follows.
Rhode Island DUI Defense Lawyer
A first-offense DUI in Rhode Island carries mandatory license suspension, fines, and the possibility of jail. A second or third offense — or any DUI involving serious injury — becomes a felony with consequences that follow a client for life. Stefanie Murphy is the author of the Rhode Island MCLE's authoritative guide on trying DUI cases, and our firm has built its reputation on winning at trial where other firms settle.
Whether you refused the breath test, failed it, or were charged with a drug DUI, the facts of your stop and arrest matter enormously. Early legal intervention is the difference between conviction and dismissal.
View DUI Defense Hub →- DUI Defense Hub
- First Offense DUI
- Second Offense DUI
- Felony DUI
- Drug DUI
- DUI Penalties
- DUI Trials Breath, Blood & Chemical Tests
- Chemical Test Refusal Charges
- Chemical Test Refusal Appeals
- Failed Breath Tests
- Failed Blood Tests
- Field Sobriety Tests
- Conditional / Hardship License
- DUI Expungement
- DUI FAQs
- Underage DUI
- CDL DUI
- BUI / Boating Under the Influence
- Out-of-State DUI
Domestic violence charges in Rhode Island trigger mandatory arrest laws, immediate no-contact orders, and collateral consequences that extend far beyond the criminal case. The decisions made in the first 48 hours are the most important ones.
Rhode Island domestic violence charges span a wide range — from misdemeanor disorderly conduct to felony strangulation carrying up to ten years. A charge alone, before any conviction, can result in a no-contact order that removes you from your own home and restricts contact with your children. These cases move on an accelerated timeline and demand immediate, experienced counsel.
Our attorneys defend clients across the full spectrum of domestic charges in all Rhode Island courts — including contested restraining order hearings, no-contact order violations, and cases involving alleged prior history. We also handle stalking charges, which are frequently filed alongside domestic violence allegations.
View Domestic Violence Defense Hub →From simple possession to federal trafficking conspiracies, drug charges in Rhode Island carry consequences that extend far beyond the courtroom. Our attorneys defend clients at every level — state and federal — across the full spectrum of drug offenses.
Drug charges in Rhode Island range from misdemeanor possession to federal trafficking conspiracies carrying mandatory minimum sentences of ten years or more. The charge itself — possession, intent to deliver, trafficking, conspiracy — determines which court you face and what strategies are available. The circumstances of the stop, search, or arrest often determine whether those charges survive at all.
Our firm defends drug cases at every level, with particular experience in suppression motions, traffic stop challenges, and multi-defendant federal conspiracy cases where early cooperation decisions shape the outcome for everyone charged.
View Drug Charges Defense Hub →Rhode Island robbery charges carry mandatory prison time. We defend all levels — from second-degree to armed robbery, carjacking, and home invasion.
Robbery is one of Rhode Island's most aggressively prosecuted offenses. Whether you're facing first-degree charges, armed robbery, home invasion, or accusations involving a firearm or serious bodily injury, the consequences can include decades in state prison.
Our criminal defense attorneys have represented clients facing all levels of robbery charges across Providence County, Kent County, and throughout the state.
View Robbery Defense Page →Rhode Island's most serious charges demand the most experienced trial attorneys. Our firm has a proven record defending clients against murder and homicide allegations at every level.
A murder or homicide charge is the most serious accusation the state can bring. Our attorneys have defended clients in Rhode Island's most complex homicide cases — including jury trials resulting in full acquittals — and understand the investigative, forensic, and legal dimensions these cases demand.
From first-degree murder to criminally negligent homicide and post-conviction appeals, we provide strategic, aggressive defense at every stage of the process.
View Homicide Defense Page →- Murder / Homicide Defense
- First-Degree Murder
- Second-Degree Murder
- Manslaughter
- Felony Murder
- Vehicular Homicide / Driving to Endanger Resulting in Death
- Homicide with a Firearm
- Criminally Negligent Homicide
- Conspiracy / Accessory to Murder
- Post-Conviction Homicide Appeals
- Failure to Report a Death / Concealing a Body
Rhode Island and federal gun charges carry severe mandatory sentences. We defend the full range of firearms offenses — from unlicensed carry to federal weapons enhancements.
Gun and weapons charges in Rhode Island carry mandatory minimum sentences that can significantly limit a judge's discretion at sentencing. Whether you were stopped in a traffic stop, arrested on a felony charge with a firearm enhancement, or face federal prosecution, the stakes are high from the first court date.
Our attorneys challenge the legality of stops, searches, and seizures — and have successfully defended clients against both state and federal firearms charges throughout Rhode Island.
View Gun & Weapons Defense Page →- Guns / Weapons Defense Overview
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- Carrying a Pistol Without a License
- Firearm Enhancement During a Crime of Violence
- Possession of a Firearm During a Felony
- Possession of a Stolen Firearm
- Prohibited Weapons (Sawed-Off, Ghost Guns, Large-Capacity Magazines)
- Gun Charges After a Traffic Stop or Search
- Federal Gun Charges
- Gun Charges Involving Juveniles or Schools
Sex crime charges in Rhode Island carry lifelong consequences beyond prison — including sex offender registration that follows a conviction permanently. These cases demand experienced, aggressive defense from the moment of investigation.
Sex crime allegations in Rhode Island trigger an immediate investigative response from law enforcement — often before any charges are filed. Whether you are under investigation, have been arrested, or are facing charges ranging from sexual assault to child pornography or federal sex crimes, the time to retain experienced defense counsel is now.
The consequences of a conviction extend far beyond incarceration. Rhode Island's sex offender registration requirements can affect where you live, work, and who you may contact for the rest of your life. Our attorneys defend these cases at both the state and federal level.
View Sex Crimes Defense Hub →- Sex Crimes Defense Hub
- Sexual Assault
- Prostitution & Procurement Charges Child-Related Offenses
- Child Pornography Defense
- Child Abuse Charges
- Child Molestation Charges
- Enticement of a Child Title IX
- Title IX — Student Misconduct
- Title IX — Staff / Faculty Misconduct Federal Sex Crimes
- Federal Sex Crimes Defense
- Federal Child Pornography Charges
Federal charges in the District of Rhode Island move fast and carry consequences that dwarf their state counterparts. Our attorneys defend clients across the full range of federal criminal matters in D.R.I. — from grand jury subpoenas through sentencing and appeal.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Rhode Island prosecutes with federal resources, mandatory minimums, and sentencing guidelines that leave little room for error. Our firm has represented clients at every stage of federal criminal proceedings in D.R.I. — including pre-indictment target letter representation, grand jury defense, trial, and post-conviction appeals.
Federal white collar investigations in particular often begin months or years before charges are filed. If you have received a target letter or learned you are under federal investigation, retaining experienced federal counsel immediately is the single most consequential decision you can make.
View RI Federal Defense Hub →- Federal Charges Hub — Rhode Island
- Federal Drug Charges
- Federal Sex Crimes
- Federal Firearms Charges
- Federal Conspiracy Charges
- Federal Violent Crimes
- Federal Grand Jury & Pre-Indictment Defense
- Federal Post-Conviction Relief White Collar Offenses
- Federal White Collar Crimes
- COVID Relief / PPP Loan Fraud
- Medicare Fraud
- Healthcare Fraud (Non-Medicare)
- Securities Fraud
- Money Laundering / Bank Fraud
- Wire Fraud
- ERTC / Employee Retention Credit Fraud Pre-Indictment
- Federal Target Letter Representation
Federal charges filed in the District of Connecticut carry severe penalties and demand attorneys who understand how the U.S. Attorney's Office and federal sentencing guidelines operate. Our firm's federal criminal defense practice covers the full spectrum of D. Conn. matters.
A federal indictment in Connecticut triggers the full weight of the U.S. Attorney's Office, federal investigative agencies, and sentencing guidelines that have no state counterpart. Our Connecticut federal criminal defense practice addresses the full range of D. Conn. matters — complex fraud and white collar prosecutions, federal drug conspiracies, firearms charges, violent crimes, and RICO cases — from pre-indictment target letters through trial and appeal.
If you have received a federal target letter or been contacted by federal agents in Connecticut, early intervention shapes every stage that follows. Retaining experienced federal counsel before charges are filed is often the most consequential decision in the case.
View CT Federal Defense Hub →- Federal Charges Hub — Connecticut
- Federal Drug Charges
- Federal Drug Conspiracy
- Federal Firearms Charges
- Federal Violent Crimes
- Federal Conspiracy Charges
- Federal RICO Defense
- Federal Sex Crimes
- Federal Child Pornography Charges White Collar & Fraud
- Federal White Collar Crimes
- Federal Wire Fraud
- Federal Mail Fraud
- Federal Bank Fraud & PPP Fraud
- ERTC Fraud
- Federal Securities Fraud
- Federal Tax Fraud & Evasion
- Federal Healthcare Fraud
- Medicare Fraud
- Money Laundering
- Federal Embezzlement
- Public Corruption Pre-Indictment & Investigation
- Federal Target Letter Representation
- Federal Grand Jury & Pre-Indictment Defense
- Federal Criminal Investigation Defense
- Federal Search Warrant Defense
- Federal Detention Hearing
- Healthcare Provider Under Investigation
- Connecticut U.S. Attorney's Office Sentencing & Post-Conviction
- Federal Plea Agreements & Cooperation
- Federal Safety Valve Defense
- Federal Sentencing & Mitigation
- Federal Post-Conviction Relief
Federal prosecutions in the District of Massachusetts move quickly and carry mandatory minimums and sentencing exposure that state cases do not. Our firm defends clients across the full range of D. Mass. federal criminal matters — from target letters and grand jury subpoenas through trial, sentencing, and appeal.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts handles some of the most aggressively prosecuted federal cases in the country — large-scale healthcare fraud, complex financial crimes, organized drug conspiracies, and public corruption matters. Our firm has represented clients in D. Mass. federal proceedings, with attorneys admitted to the District of Massachusetts.
If you have received a federal target letter, learned of a grand jury subpoena, or had agents execute a search warrant in Massachusetts, the next decisions you make will shape the entire case. Experienced federal counsel should be retained immediately.
View MA Federal Defense Hub →- Federal Charges Hub — Massachusetts
- Federal Drug Charges
- Federal Drug Conspiracy
- Federal Firearms Charges
- Federal Violent Crimes
- Federal Conspiracy Charges
- Federal RICO & Organized Crime
- Federal Sex Crimes
- Federal Child Exploitation
- Federal Cybercrime
- Federal Immigration Crimes
- Public Corruption White Collar & Fraud
- Federal White Collar Crimes
- Federal Wire Fraud
- Federal Mail Fraud
- PPP Loan Fraud
- ERTC Fraud
- Federal Tax Fraud
- Federal Securities Fraud
- Federal Government Fraud
- Federal Healthcare Fraud
- Medicare Fraud
- Money Laundering
- Federal Embezzlement Pre-Indictment & Investigation
- Federal Target Letter Representation
- Federal Grand Jury Defense
- Federal Criminal Investigation Defense
- Federal Search Warrant Defense
- Federal Detention Hearing
- Healthcare Fraud Investigation
- Business Owner Under Federal Investigation
- Massachusetts U.S. Attorney's Office Sentencing & Post-Conviction
- Federal Plea Agreements
- Federal Safety Valve Defense
- Federal Sentencing & Mitigation
- Federal Post-Conviction Relief
From traffic violations to assault charges to post-conviction appeals — the full spectrum of criminal defense in Rhode Island.
Facing Criminal Charges?
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