What to Do When Arrested in Tacoma

How can you protect your legal rights in Washington State?

At The Woods Law Office, PLLC in Tacoma, we get calls almost every day from people who have been charged with a crime and don’t know what to do. It is natural to be frightened and confused. Law enforcement knows this and will often try to use your fear against you in the hopes that you will say something you shouldn’t. As the expression goes, “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”

For more than a decade, defense attorney Doug Woods has advocated for people who find themselves in difficult legal situations. Whether you need a DUI attorney, have been cited for domestic violence or are facing a white collar crime charge, we want you to know that you are not alone and can count on us to give you effective representation and responsive service.

Five top things you should do if you have been charged with a crime
Consult with a competent criminal defense lawyer and speak only to your lawyer about what happened. Do not discuss the case with anyone else, including family, and especially police and investigators.
Keep documents related to your charge in a safe place to have available for your attorney.

Make a detailed record of what happened, including the dates and times of events, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses, and what was said. Maintain the confidentiality of this information and provide it only to your lawyer.
Strictly comply with any pretrial conditions of release imposed on you by the judge.

Arrange for financial resources to address bail and attorney’s fees.
If you have been charged with a crime, the counsel of an experienced criminal lawyer can make a tremendous difference in your outcome. Doug Woods is a former prosecutor with a track record of success in defending clients against criminal charges.

Schedule a free consultation with Tacoma criminal lawyer Douglas Woods

Regardless of the type of criminal charge you face, talk to us before you talk to the police or the prosecutor. To schedule a free consultation, please call The Woods Law Office, contact us online. Weekend or evening appointments can be arranged. We also offer flexible, affordable payment plans.

Tacoma Vehicular Homicide Attorneys With Extensive Knowledge Of The Criminal Justice System

When you need a vehicular assault lawyer in Pierce County, put your trust in us

Although every fatal traffic accident is a tragedy, vehicular homicide is also a crime. Unlike a car crash caused by poor weather, blown-out tires or road conditions, a vehicular homicide is caused by reckless behavior and, most commonly, drunk driving.

At The Woods Law Office, PLLC in Pierce County, Washington, we cannot help you turn back the clock and make a better choice, but we can build a solid, strategic and effective defense on your behalf. As Tacoma vehicular homicide attorneys, we have helped clients from Seattle and Puyallup to Auburn and Everett who needed an advocate with the experience and calm demeanor of former prosecutor and criminal lawyer Doug Woods.

It is called homicide for a reason

In the eyes of the law, the only difference between vehicular homicide and any other homicide is the weapon; instead of by a gun or a knife, the death was caused by a car, van, truck or motorcycle. Vehicular homicide is a Class A Felony, with penalties that can include a life sentence in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. As your defense attorneys, we treat your case with the same intensity we would devote to any other serious crime. Your liberty is on the line, so we apply all our skill, knowledge and understanding of how the prosecution is likely to proceed to creating a successful defense.

If you were driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, additional penalties may apply depending on the circumstances, including your BAC (blood alcohol content) and any previous DUI charges or convictions. These penalties include an additional two years of incarceration for each prior DUI charge, an Interlock device and revocation of your driver’s license. If drugs or alcohol were a factor in your vehicular homicide or vehicular assault, contact Tacoma DUI attorney and vehicular assault lawyer Doug Woods immediately.

If you are facing vehicular homicide charges, talk to Tacoma vehicular assault attorney Doug Woods before you talk to the police!

If a person dies within three years of an incident you caused, you can be charged with vehicular homicide. To learn more about your legal options, please contact us online to schedule a free consultation with vehicular homicide lawyer Doug Woods. Evening and weekend appointments can be arranged. We also offer flexible, affordable payment plans.

Tacoma Breaking and Entering Attorneys Prepared to Fight on Your Behalf

Burglary lawyers in Pierce County, WA take criminal defense seriously
Residential burglary rates in Tacoma have increased by 15 percent in the first nine months of 2012. At The Woods Law Office, PLLC, we know that crime statistics like these prompt the police to react by increasing their rate of arrest. Neighborhood Watch groups have become an additional set of eyes and ears for law enforcement, adding to the likelihood that those who break and enter homes or businesses will be apprehended.

In Washington, breaking and entering is always considered to be burglary, whether property was stolen or not. Residential burglary is treated differently — and more severely — than breaking into a store, an unattached garage or a shed, for instance. Both, however, are considered to be felonies and require solid representation by burglary lawyers in Tacoma.

If you or your child has been charged with a breaking and entering burglary, an experienced criminal lawyer at The Woods Law Office, PLLC can offer you the representation you will need. Founding attorney Doug Woods is a burglary attorney and a former prosecutor who understands how the district attorney thinks and how to help keep you out of jail.

A breaking and entering conviction comes with legal penalties and personal consequences
What most people think of as breaking and entering is usually a Burglary 2, or Burglary in the Second Degree, crime. This means that the residence was broken into and that the person who entered the house remained there unlawfully, usually with the intent to commit a crime.

Burglary 1, or Burglary in the First degree, means that the person who broke into and entered a house with the intent to commit a crime was armed.

In addition to the prison terms and fines that go along with a charge of Burglary 2 or the more serious Burglary 1, there are other consequences. These include the inability to get a professional license, job loss, difficulties obtaining future employment, mandatory community service and, in the case of non-citizen residents, the possibility of deportation.

You need to know what to do when charged with a crime — and that includes getting the help of experienced criminal defense attorneys. As your legal advocates, our Tacoma breaking and entering lawyers negotiate the best possible outcome for you and fight for your rights.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and evaluation of your case with Tacoma burglary attorney Doug Woods

Before you talk to the police or the prosecutor, talk to us. To schedule a free consultation, please contact us online. Weekend or evening appointments can be arranged. We also offer flexible, affordable payment plans.