Blog: Criminal Defense

Domestic Violence-Related Charges in Brooklyn: Why the Case May Continue Even if the Other Person Wants It Dropped

Apr 30, 2026

After an arrest and an initial court appearance, one of the next questions many people ask is whether the case can still move forward when the other person wants it dropped. Few criminal accusations create more confusion, fear, and emotional pressure than domestic violence-related charges. In many Brooklyn cases, one of the first things a person hears after an arrest is that the other person wants to drop the case, does not want to go...

Brooklyn Criminal Court Arraignment: What to Expect

Apr 16, 2026

An arrest can make everything feel uncertain at once. You may be worried about whether you or your loved one will be released, what will happen at arraignment, how this could affect work and family life, and what the next few hours may bring. If you or your loved one is facing arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court, feeling overwhelmed is understandable. Arraignment is usually the first court appearance after an arrest, and it can shape...

When Criminal Charges Follow a Police Stop in Brooklyn: How Unlawful Police Conduct Can Affect Your Case

Mar 17, 2026

A police stop can change your life in minutes. One moment, you are walking home, driving to work, or standing outside your building. Moments later, you are being questioned, searched, or handcuffed. If you or your loved one is now facing criminal charges after an NYPD stop in Brooklyn, you are probably asking the same question many people ask after an encounter like this: Was that stop even legal? At Roger Victor Archibald, PLLC, we...

Why Charges Can Come Weeks After a Police Encounter in Brooklyn

Jan 30, 2026

If the police questioned you in Brooklyn and then let you go, it is natural to assume that means you are in the clear. For many people, that moment feels like the end of the story. But sometimes it is not. Days or even weeks later, a summons arrives, investigators call asking to “follow up,” or a case appears to be moving forward after the fact. When that happens, people often ask the same question:...

Know Your Rights During a Brooklyn Street Encounter with Police

Jan 16, 2026

Encounters with the police can happen anywhere in Brooklyn, on a sidewalk, near a subway entrance, outside a store, or while driving home from work. For many people, these interactions are brief and uneventful. For others, they are confusing, stressful, or raise serious questions about what the police are legally allowed to do, and what rights the individual has in that moment. We believe that knowing your rights is not about being confrontational. It is...

Weapon-Free Zones in Brooklyn: Why Possessing a Gun Near a School, Park, or Transit Hub Can Raise the Stakes

Oct 22, 2025

Brooklyn is a vibrant, diverse community where families, students, and visitors share space every day. From playgrounds in Prospect Park to subway platforms during the morning rush, thousands of people cross paths across this borough daily. But when firearms enter those public spaces, especially designated weapon-free zones, the legal stakes rise fast. At Roger Victor Archibald, PLLC, our firm has seen how a single moment of misunderstanding or a misplaced firearm can turn into a...