Five jurisdictions · One statute at a time
Criminal Defense Lawyers in Virginia, Maryland, DC, New Jersey, and New York
A criminal charge is written in the language of one state's code. Conduct that Virginia charges under a section of Title 18.2 is graded, prosecuted, and sentenced differently across the Potomac in Maryland, in the District of Columbia, and up the corridor in New Jersey and New York. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. was founded in 1997 by Mr. Sris, a former prosecutor, and the firm's criminal defense work starts where the prosecution starts: with the statute, the elements the state must prove, and the record the arresting agency built. Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He and the firm's Of Counsel attorneys represent people charged with misdemeanors, felonies, driving offenses, and drug and property crimes in the courts of those five jurisdictions. Individual attorneys are admitted in specific jurisdictions; not all attorneys are licensed in all states. A person facing a first appearance in a Virginia General District Court, a preliminary hearing in the District Court of Maryland, or an arraignment before a New York criminal court is dealing with the same core problem in three different procedural systems, and the firm is built to work inside each of them. This site explains what criminal defense laws cover in each state, how the firm approaches a case, and where its locations are. To request a consultation, call (888) 437-7747.
01 — The code
What Criminal Defense Laws Cover in the Firm's Five Jurisdictions
Each of the five jurisdictions maintains its own criminal code, its own grading scheme for offenses, and its own two-tier trial court structure. In Virginia, most misdemeanors and preliminary felony hearings run through the General District Court, and felonies are tried in the Circuit Court. Driving while intoxicated under Va. Code § 18.2-266 is a Class 1 misdemeanor on a first offense. Reckless driving by speed under Va. Code § 46.2-862 is also a Class 1 misdemeanor, and it reaches drivers cited at 20 miles per hour or more over the posted limit, or at any speed above 85 miles per hour. Virginia's larceny statutes draw a line at the value of the property: petit larceny under Va. Code § 18.2-96 covers theft under $1,000 and is a Class 1 misdemeanor, while grand larceny under Va. Code § 18.2-95 covers theft of $1,000 or more and is a felony. Simple assault and battery under Va. Code § 18.2-57 is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and the manufacture, sale, or distribution of controlled substances under Va. Code § 18.2-248 is charged as a felony. Those distinctions decide which courtroom the case lands in, whether a jury is available, and what collateral consequences follow a conviction.
Maryland routes most misdemeanors through the District Court of Maryland and felonies through the Circuit Court for each county. The District of Columbia consolidates criminal matters in DC Superior Court. New Jersey divides its docket between municipal courts, which hear disorderly persons offenses and most motor vehicle matters, and the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, which hears indictable crimes by vicinage. New York spreads criminal jurisdiction across local criminal courts, County Court, and the Supreme Court's criminal terms, depending on the county and the charge level. The names differ, but the questions a defense lawyer asks are constant. Was the stop lawful? Was the search within the warrant or a recognized exception? Was the statement voluntary and properly warned? Does the evidence actually satisfy each element of the offense charged? Is there a lesser offense, a diversion track, or a dismissal path the statute or the local practice makes available? Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. reads each state's code and each court's practice for those answers before any strategy is set.
02 — Practice areas
Criminal Matters the Firm Handles
Mr. Sris and the firm's Of Counsel attorneys practice in the following areas across Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, subject to each attorney's individual bar admissions.
- DUI, DWI, and driving while intoxicated:breath and blood testing, refusal issues, license consequences, and first-offense and repeat-offense charges.
- Reckless driving and serious traffic offenses:speed-based reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, hit and run, and charges that carry criminal records rather than civil fines.
- Drug offenses:possession, possession with intent to distribute, manufacture, and distribution of controlled substances, including constructive-possession and search-related defenses.
- Assault, battery, and domestic violence:simple assault, assault on a family or household member, protective-order proceedings, and related firearm consequences.
- Theft, larceny, and property crimes:petit and grand larceny, shoplifting, embezzlement, burglary, and destruction of property.
- Fraud and white-collar offenses:credit card fraud, identity theft, forgery, and financial crimes where accounting records and electronic evidence drive the case.
- Sex offenses:charges that carry registration consequences and require careful handling of forensic, digital, and testimonial evidence.
- Weapons offenses:unlawful possession, carrying, and transport charges, including cross-border issues for people who travel between the five jurisdictions.
- Probation violations and post-conviction matters:violation hearings, motions to reconsider, and expungement or record-sealing petitions where the statute permits them.
03 — Approach
How Mr. Sris and the Firm's Of Counsel Attorneys Handle Criminal Cases
The firm's approach follows the order in which a prosecutor builds a case, because that is the order in which a case can be taken apart. The first step is the charging document and the police narrative. The second is the evidence behind that narrative: body-worn camera footage, dash camera video, breath or blood test records and their calibration logs, lab reports, phone extractions, and witness statements. The third is the procedure that produced the evidence, from the basis for the initial stop through the search, the arrest, and any interrogation. Constitutional and statutory defects at any of those stages can support a motion to suppress, and a suppressed piece of evidence often changes what the prosecution can prove. Mr. Sris practiced as a prosecutor before founding the firm in 1997, and that background shapes how the firm evaluates the strength of the government's position and where it is exposed.
Not every case is a trial case. Many criminal matters resolve through negotiation, diversion programs, deferred dispositions, or amendments to lesser charges, and the availability of those paths depends on the jurisdiction, the offense, and the person's record. The firm discusses each option with the client, including what a plea would mean for employment, licensing, immigration status, and firearm rights, before any decision is made. Where trial is the right course, the firm prepares for it in the court where the case will be heard, whether that is a bench trial in a Virginia General District Court or a jury trial in a New York county. Timelines, costs, and outcomes vary by case, and the firm does not predict results. What it does is explain the law that applies, the evidence that exists, and the realistic range of paths forward, then pursue the one the client chooses. To discuss a pending charge, reach Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
Mr. Sris
Owner and Founder · Former Prosecutor
Admitted in
Individual attorneys are admitted in specific jurisdictions; not all attorneys are licensed in all states.
04 — The attorney
About Mr. Sris
Mr. Sris is the Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. and a former prosecutor. He founded the firm in 1997 and has practiced continuously since then. He is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, and he is the firm's sole attorney admitted in New Jersey and New York. His background at George Mason University in accounting and information systems is applied to complex financial and technology-related cases, including fraud matters where the evidence lives in ledgers, servers, and devices. Mr. Sris testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of 2019 HB 635 (chief patron Del. David Bulova). The firm's Of Counsel attorneys contract directly with the firm and include a former state prosecutor and a former state trooper; each is admitted in specific jurisdictions and appears only in the courts where admitted. Attorney consultations are by appointment. The intake line at (888) 437-7747 is staffed 24 hours a day.
05 — The attorneys
Mr. Sris and the Firm's Of Counsel Attorneys
The firm's Of Counsel attorneys contract directly with Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. Each is admitted in specific jurisdictions and appears only in the courts where admitted; not all attorneys are licensed in all states.
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MR. SRIS Licensed in VA, MD, NJ, NY & DC Owner & CEO — Former Prosecutor Criminal Defense & Family Law -
BRYAN BLOCK Licensed in VA Former Virginia state trooper (Of Counsel) DUI, Criminal Law & Traffic Law
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KRISTEN M. FISHER Licensed in VA, MD Former Prosecutor (Of Counsel) Criminal Law, DUI Defense & Traffic Law
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MATTHEW GREENE Licensed in VA, DC Of Counsel Criminal Law & CPS Defense
06 — Locations
Firm Locations
Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. maintains the following locations. Every location is by appointment only. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.
- Fairfax, Virginia (principal location):4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule. Direct: (703) 636-5417.
- Richmond, Virginia:7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Room 395, Richmond, VA 23225. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule. Direct: (804) 201-9009.
- Ashburn, Virginia:20130 Lakeview Center Plaza, Room 403, Ashburn, VA 20147. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule. Direct: (571) 279-0110.
- Arlington, Virginia:1655 Fort Myer Dr, Suite 700, Room 719, Arlington, VA 22209. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule. Direct: (703) 589-9250.
- Woodstock, Virginia:505 N Main St, Suite 103, Woodstock, VA 22664. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.
- Rockville, Maryland:199 E. Montgomery Avenue, Suite 100, Room 211, Rockville, MD 20850. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.
- Tinton Falls, New Jersey:44 Apple St, 1st Floor, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.
- Buffalo, New York:50 Fountain Plaza, Suite 1400, Buffalo, NY 14202. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.
- Pereira, Colombia:Carrera 7 # 18-80 Oficina 606, Edificio Centro Financiero, Pereira, Colombia. +57-606-341-9197. This location handles Colombian matters only. Attorneys at this location are licensed in Colombia and hold no United States bar admission.
07 — Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer for a misdemeanor charge?
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A misdemeanor conviction is still a criminal conviction, and in each of the five jurisdictions it can carry jail exposure, fines, license consequences, and a record that appears in background checks. Some misdemeanors, such as driving while intoxicated or assault on a family member, also carry consequences that reach firearm rights, professional licensing, and immigration status. A lawyer can evaluate whether the charge is supported by the evidence, whether a diversion or deferred disposition is available, and whether the offense can be amended or dismissed. For guidance on your specific situation, reach Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?
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The distinction is set by each state's code and generally turns on the maximum punishment the legislature has attached to the offense. Felonies carry the possibility of a state prison sentence and, after conviction, the loss of certain civil rights. Misdemeanors are punished by shorter jail terms, fines, or both. The same conduct can fall on either side of the line depending on facts such as the value of property taken, the presence of a weapon, or a prior record. In Virginia, for example, the larceny statutes place the line at $1,000 in value. To discuss how a charge is graded, contact Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
What should I do after an arrest?
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Do not discuss the facts of the case with police, co-defendants, or on social media, and do not consent to searches or interviews without counsel present. Write down what you remember about the stop, the arrest, and any statements while it is fresh. Keep every document the court or the jail gives you, including the charging paperwork and the date of the next appearance. Then contact a lawyer as early as possible, because deadlines for preliminary hearings, discovery requests, and certain motions begin running at the first appearance. For a consultation, reach Mr. Sris and the firm's Of Counsel attorneys at (888) 437-7747.
Can a DUI or DWI charge be reduced?
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In some cases, yes. Whether a driving while intoxicated charge can be amended, reduced, or dismissed depends on the strength of the stop, the reliability of field sobriety and chemical testing, the handling of the breath or blood sample, and the prosecution's practice in the particular court. Outcomes vary by jurisdiction and by case, and no result can be promised. The firm reviews the testing records, the officer's basis for the stop, and any video before advising a client on whether to negotiate or to contest the charge. To discuss the details of your matter, contact Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
Which of the firm's attorneys is admitted in my state?
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Mr. Sris is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. The firm's Of Counsel attorneys hold their own admissions, and each appears only in the courts of the jurisdictions where he or she is admitted. When you contact the firm, intake staff will identify the attorney admitted in the state where your charge is pending. Attorneys at the Pereira, Colombia location are licensed in Colombia and hold no United States bar admission. For guidance on your specific situation, reach Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
How does a consultation with the firm work?
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Consultations are scheduled by appointment through the intake line at (888) 437-7747, which is staffed 24 hours a day. Bring the charging documents, any bond or release paperwork, the date and court of the next hearing, and any evidence you have, such as photographs or the names of witnesses. The attorney will review the charge, explain the applicable law in the jurisdiction where the case is pending, and outline realistic options. Fees vary by case and are discussed at the consultation. To schedule, contact Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
A criminal charge in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, or New York begins with a statute and ends with a record. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. works between those two points. To request a consultation, call (888) 437-7747.
Call (888) 437-7747