College park criminal lawyer

College Park Maryland is a city located on the border of Washington, DC, and home to the University of Maryland. It has a population of over 30,000 and is one of the largest cities in Prince George’s County. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Center has its Center for Weather and Climate Protection located there. In addition, the National Archives has a location in the city. Because it’s a college town, bordering the nation’s capital, it’s a place where arrests are not uncommon.

However, facing a criminal charge can change your whole life, especially if you don’t have a College Park criminal lawyer by your side to help.

The University of Maryland

The University of Maryland is a public research university and the state’s flagship of the University of Maryland system. This college is the largest university in both Maryland and within the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Its home to approximately 41,000 students from across the United States and other countries. Because of the large presence of college age students, alcohol related arrests and incidents occur frequently. It is not uncommon for college students to find themselves wrapped up in a criminal case based on using a fake ID, possessing drugs, or engaging in drunk and disorderly behavior.

Police in College Park

Several police agencies have jurisdiction in College Park. Since College Park is incorporated as an independent city with a major state university, different law enforcement agencies have the authority to make criminal arrests within the city, including the University of Maryland Police, the Prince George’s County Police, the Maryland State Police, as well as the City of College Park Contract Police.

The University of Maryland has its own Police Department with jurisdiction to make arrests on campus. The University of Maryland Police Department or UMPD has four locations across the sprawling campus:

Headquarters

Pocomoke Building
7569 Baltimore Avenue
College Park, MD 20742

Community Service Office

3409 Tulane Drive (Lower Level)
Adelphi, MD 20783

Building Security Services (BSS)

Security Operations Center (SOC)

Severn Building #810
5425 Greenbelt Road
Berwyn Heights, MD 20740

Police Training and Academy Building

Building #809
K9 Unit & Training Unit
7147 51st Ave
College Park, MD 20742

To contact UMPD, calling 911 from campus or dialing 301-405-3555 from any off-campus phone will reach the department.

In addition to the University Police, Prince George’s County Police Department has jurisdiction to make arrests in College Park, Maryland. The closest PG County police station to College Park is in Hyattsville located at:

Prince George’s County Police Department

District One Station
5000 Rhode Island Avenue
Hyattsville, MD 20781
Phone: (301) 699-2630
Email: [email protected]

In addition to College Park, District One services Berwyn Heights, University Park, Bladensburg, Riverdale Park, Cheverly, North Brentwood, Colmar Manor, New Carrolton, Cottage City, Mount Rainier, Edmonston, Hyattsville, and Greenbelt.

Lastly, the Maryland State Police have jurisdiction to make arrests in College Park and have a barracks located in the city.

Maryland State Police

Barrack Q
10100 Rhode Island Avenue
College Park, MD 20740
Phone: (301) 345-3101
Email: [email protected]

Criminal Charges in College Park

Being both a college town and a suburb of Washington, DC, College Park sees a lot of police activity. The city has a population of almost 40,000 and another 41,000 students, which makes it a relatively densely populated area. Some examples of the types of arrest police in College Park make include:

Getting arrested in College Park can lead to criminal charges in the Prince George’s County court system.

The Maryland criminal justice system can be intimidating, unforgiving, and complex without experienced legal representation. A College Park criminal lawyer can help you understand the criminal charges you are up against and how criminal court procedures go. Different criminal defense lawyers can have different strengths; however, it’s crucial to find the criminal defense attorney who is the right fit for your case.

As a parent, one of the worst calls you can get is a message that your son or daughter has been arrested for a crime. If this nightmare scenario occurs, it’s important to immediately contact a qualified College Park criminal defense lawyer who can help you navigate exactly what immediate steps you should take. Attorney Morgan E. Leigh has experience fighting for students and other citizens arrested in College Park.

Courthouses in College Park

Like all cities in Maryland, arrests based on violations of state laws will lead to charges in either District or Circuit Court. The Maryland trial level court system is divided by counties and then each county has a Circuit Court and a District Court. Prince George’s County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over College Park and is located at:

Prince George’s County Circuit Court

14735 Main St
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 952-3318

There are also two District Courts with jurisdiction in Prince George’s County:

Prince George’s County District Court (05-02)

14735 Main Street, Suite 173B
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 298-4000

Prince George’s County District Court (05-01)

4990 Rhode Island Avenue
Hyattsville, MD 20781
Phone: (301) 298-4200

Hiring a College Park Criminal Lawyer

Anytime someone is put in handcuffs, it is a serious matter. Going through the court system with a criminal charge is a frightening experience whether it’s a violent felony or a simple traffic matter. Criminal convictions can include fines and jail time from several days to several decades. And the consequences of a criminal conviction can impact someone’s life for years after the fines are paid and time is served.

Accordingly, to give yourself the best chance at minimizing the damage to your future, it’s important to consult a Prince George’s County criminal defense lawyer if arrested in PG County. Attorney Morgan E. Leigh has years of experience fighting for the rights of individuals arrested in Maryland. Contact her today for a thorough consultation.