Do I Have to Use My AR for a Stamford Risk of Injury Arrest?

Risk of Injury to a Minor is a crime under Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) § 53-21.
This Class C or B felony can lead to a lengthy jail sentence if you are convicted.
The Pretrial Accelerated Rehabilitation Program is one of many ways to help defend against charges.

If you have been arrested for Risk of Injury to a Minor, a top Stamford defense attorney can help.

What is Risk of Injury to a Minor?

Risk of Injury to a Minor under CGS § 53-21 is a fairly common crime in Stamford, Connecticut. The statute describes three situations that can lead to an arrest. The most common situation is when someone puts a child in a situation where their safety, health, or general wellbeing is likely to be impaired. This vague language gives the police rather broad discretion to arrest people. Stamford defense attorneys often see this charge in connection with domestic violence arrests. To learn more about domestic violence arrests, click here.

In the above situation, Risk of Injury is charged as a Class C felony. The maximum penalties for conviction include up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to $15,000. Further, conviction will come with a permanent felony record that can make everyday life more difficult. Working quickly to minimize penalties and harm to your life is important, and a Stamford defense attorney can help.

What is the Pretrial Accelerated Rehabilitation Program?

One route a defense attorney may take to resolve your Risk of Injury to a Minor arrest is an application for the Pretrial Accelerated Rehabilitation Program. This program allows you to forego a trial and avoid conviction. If your Risk of Injury arrest does not involve coming into contact with the intimate parts of a child under the age of 16, you may be eligible for this program. Because Risk of Injury is a Class C felony, the court must find that good cause exists to grant the program. A skilled Stamford defense lawyer who has worked with Risk of Injury arrests before can help you gather the information you need to show good cause.

What are the Benefits and Drawbacks of Using AR?

A Stamford defense attorney will sit with you to make sure you fit the remaining eligibility criteria and help you to understand the benefits and drawbacks of this program. The biggest benefit is that at the end of the program, your arrest is expunged from your record, and you can swear under oath that it did not happen. The biggest drawback is that you can only use it once, so if you have used AR in the past or are young, it may not be a good idea to “burn” it.

Do I Have to Use AR to Defend against Risk of Injury?

No. It is ultimately your choice to use or not use Accelerated Rehabilitation. In some cases, there are other ways to fight an arrest. If you were arrested on scene, there could be fourth amendment search and seizure issues or even fifth amendment self-incrimination issues. Not all arrests are valid, and a dedicated Stamford Risk of Injury to a Minor Lawyer can evaluate your specific case to see what routes are available to you for resolving your case.

Contact a Stamford Risk of Injury to a Minor Lawyer