Message to Parents

Since you are reviewing materials on a criminal defense lawyer’s website, I know that you have had better days. Your child or loved one has gotten into some sort of trouble, be it with the school, the criminal justice system, or both, and you are scared and worried about what is going to happen in the immediate future as well as long-term.

As a parent myself, I have experienced the need to do everything within reason to protect your child and the feeling of powerlessness when you cannot directly do so. In this situation, you wish that you could make it all go away, but you often cannot accomplish that feat. The best decision that you can make is to talk to an experienced criminal defense attorney and follow the attorney’s advice. How do you gauge which attorneys are better than others? I recommend that you review my commonsense list of qualities that are possessed by good defense attorneys, like client testimonials, peer reviews, and professional awards.

Call me, attorney Jason Dunkle of JD Law, at (814) 954-7622 to discuss your child’s case in a free initial consultation.

How Bad Is It? What Is Going to Happen?

I believe that those are the two primary questions that parents have. You want to know what is going to happen to your child and what you can do to help. The unknown causes a lot of stress and anxiety to both you and your child. A lawyer should be able to give you an idea of what can be done with your child’s case to obtain the best resolution, and an experienced lawyer should be able to discuss prior cases and their resolutions to support the attorney’s opinion.

What Do We Need to Do? Talk to an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney With Results You Can Trust

The first thing that you should do is talk to a criminal defense attorney who has handled the type of case in the particular county before. Regrettably, I have heard horror stories of some attorneys promising clients or their parents incredible resolutions in order to land the client, but the promises are hollow.

For example, a State College lawyer told the parents of two Penn State students that felony marijuana delivery charges could be resolved via participation in the ARD program. I have never had a client approved for ARD for a felony drug case in Centre County. Either the attorney lied to the parents about the plausibility of ARD or he was ignorant due to his inexperience. Either way, the clients paid the price. Had experienced attorneys been hired at the beginning of the case, the outcome could have been much better for the clients.

While the laws in Pennsylvania are the same across the state, every area has different people interpreting and applying those laws. Charges in urban areas like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are handled differently than those same charges in conservative Central Pennsylvania. In State College, charges can be handled differently depending upon the judge, police department, and individual police officer. You want to get advice from an attorney who has previously represented clients in that particular jurisdiction with the same type of charges.

Call Me, an Experienced Defense Lawyer in State College

I am a criminal defense attorney in State College who has been representing Penn State, Lock Haven, and Juniata students since 2004.

I have represented many people charged with DUI, possession of a fake ID, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, underage drinking, and many other charges often associated with college students. I have a track record of winning cases, and a history of taking care of my clients, as evidenced by the testimonials and reviews written by former clients and their parents.

While being a lawyer is my job, I also feel that having someone’s immediate and long-term future in my control is a responsibility, and it is a responsibility that I take very seriously.

Contact me at (814) 954-7622 or via email for a free case review. My office is located in downtown State College, so it is within a few minutes’ walk from the University Park Campus of Penn State.