Hampshire County Criminal Defense Lawyer

Hampshire County was legally constituted in 1662, but previously it was an unorganized territory and it compromised the entire western part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The area included the towns of Springfield, Northampton and Hadley. Originally the territory lines of Hampshire County included land that is now part of and modern day Hampden County, Franklin County, Berkshire County as well as Worcester County.

Hampshire County exists today as a historical geographic region and a judicial district, so there is no county government in Hampshire, like a number of other counties in Massachusetts. The county functions were assumed by Massachusetts state agencies in 1999, there are still a few regional officials with some specific duties left, such as the sheriff position. There are no elected county officials in Hampshire, other than the Hampshire Council of Governments, which has elected councilors from fifteen different towns and provides many regional duties. Hampshire County has partnered with Hampden County in joining the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, which partners the two communities and allows them work together on regional basis.

Between 1999 and 2008 there were a total of 24,667 crimes reported in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Out of the 24,667 crimes that occurred, 3,266 of them were violent. In Hampshire County, these crimes occur almost half happen less than a mile from home and on average someone is a victim of a crime in Hampshire County, Massachusetts every 3 hours. This 2008 average includes 13 murders, 399 rapes, and about sixteen thousand thefts (including 1,686 motor vehicle thefts). In the course of the most recent 10 years, crime data were available in Hampshire County, Massachusetts for all 10 years. Throughout that period, the reported crime in Hampshire County has risen by 46%. During that time period, violent crime also climbed by 45%. These numbers show that crime has only escalated in Hampshire County and continues doing so. If you find yourself charged with any crime in Hampshire County or any other part of Massachusetts, it is key to retain a knowledgeable and experienced Hampshire County criminal defense attorney, like Attorney Murphy.

The court systems in Hampshire County include the Hampshire Superior Court, which can be found on 15 Gothic St., Hampshire, Massachusetts. The Hampshire Superior Court serves Shire Towns and Northampton. The Eastern Hampshire Division, which houses the Eastern Hampshire District Court, is located at 205 State St., Eastern Hampshire, Massachusetts. The Eastern Hampshire District Court has jurisdiction over the municipalities over Amherst, Belchertown, Grandby, Hadley, Pelham, South Hadley, Ware and all of M.D.C. Quabbin Reservoir as well as the Watershed area.

Experienced Hampshire County Criminal Lawyer

The Law Office of Patrick J. Murphy has nearly twenty years of criminal defense experience providing expert legal representation for clients charged with crimes throughout Hampshire County. Boston criminal defense lawyer Patrick J. Murphy’s law office is conveniently located at One South Market Street, Fourth Floor in downtown Boston, about an hour drive from the heart of Hampshire County. If you would like a free, confidential consultation regarding your Hampshire County criminal case contact Attorney Murphy 24/7 directly at (617) 367-0450 or complete the contacts tab on the website today.