What is pre-file representation in Arizona?
Pre-file representation means retaining an attorney before formal criminal charges are filed. When police or prosecutors are investigating you but have not yet filed charges, you are in one of the most important windows in the criminal process.
An attorney engaged during this phase can conduct an independent investigation, preserve evidence, challenge the direction of the investigation, interact with investigators on your behalf, and in some cases prevent charges from being filed at all.
What happens if I am contacted by police for questioning in Arizona?
If police contact you for questioning as a witness, person of interest, or suspect, you have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Exercise both.
Do not agree to a voluntary interview, provide a written statement, or answer questions without counsel present. Even truthful statements can be mischaracterized or used to establish elements of charges you did not anticipate.
What is a Title IX investigation and do I need an attorney?
A Title IX investigation is an institutional process conducted by a school or university in response to allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment, or discrimination.
These investigations use their own procedural rules, not the criminal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequences can include suspension, expulsion, and a permanent disciplinary record.
Should I accept a plea deal without getting a second opinion?
No. A guilty plea permanently waives your right to trial, appellate rights, and in many cases civil rights. Before accepting any plea, you should have an independent attorney review the evidence, prosecution theory, and terms being offered.
A second opinion from attorneys without the same prosecutor relationship provides a genuinely independent evaluation.
What is a post-conviction file review?
A post-conviction file review is a comprehensive analysis of the trial record, evidence, and legal proceedings in a concluded case.
The goal is to identify grounds for appeal, post-conviction relief, ineffective assistance of counsel claims, newly discovered evidence, constitutional violations, or changes in law that may affect the outcome.
What types of investigations does Long & Simmons Law handle?
Long & Simmons Law handles criminal, regulatory, institutional, and civil investigations including pre-file criminal investigations, police and DCS investigations, Title IX matters, high-conflict custody matters, employment and licensing proceedings, school disciplinary matters, and independent forensic reviews.
How does a DHS or DCS investigation differ from a criminal investigation?
A DCS investigation is a civil child protective proceeding, not a criminal case, but its consequences can be severe: removal of children, termination of parental rights, registry placement, and licensing consequences.
Anything said to a DCS investigator can also be used in a parallel criminal proceeding, so legal protection matters from the first contact.
