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If you’ve been charged with a crime in Lansing, the clock is already running. People arrested in Lansing often appear in court within 24 to 48 hours. By the time you walk into the 54A District Court for arraignment, the prosecutor already has police reports, witness statements, and charging recommendations prepared. The Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office moves fast, and the decisions you make in the first days of your case can follow you for years.
Ben Hall Law defends clients throughout Lansing and Ingham County against the full range of criminal charges from misdemeanor OWI in the 54A District Court to serious felonies before the 30th Circuit Court. We know how local prosecutors approach cases, and we know how to push back.
A criminal conviction in Lansing can mean jail time, heavy fines, a permanent record, and consequences that ripple through your employment, your housing, your family, and your future. You need a defense attorney who knows Michigan law, knows Lansing’s courts, and knows how to build a defense that actually works.
If you’ve been charged with a crime in Lansing, contact Ben Hall Law today.
Ben Hall Law defends clients against a wide range of criminal charges in Lansing and throughout Ingham County, including:
Every case is different. Contact Ben Hall Law to discuss the specific charges you’re facing.
Michigan’s OWI statute MCL 257.625 makes it a crime to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher, while visibly impaired, or while under the influence of a controlled substance. Lansing law enforcement conducts traffic stops throughout the city, including along Michigan Avenue, Cedar Street, and Saginaw Street. An OWI arrest can happen quickly and without warning.
Here’s what you’re looking at depending on the circumstances:
An OWI charge doesn’t automatically lead to a conviction. The prosecution has to prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt, and the evidence in these cases breathalyzer results, field sobriety tests, the legality of the stop itself is often more vulnerable than it looks.
Good OWI defense starts with a hard look at exactly how the evidence was gathered. At Ben Hall Law, we go through everything before deciding on a strategy.
Common defense approaches in Michigan OWI cases include:
A driver stopped late at night on Michigan Avenue, field sobriety tests given on an uneven surface in poor lighting that’s the kind of detail that can change a case. If the conditions made the test unreliable, a defense attorney who catches that may be able to get the evidence thrown out.
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Assault is placing someone in reasonable fear of immediate harmful contact. Assault and battery actual physical contact is charged under MCL 750.81. Aggravated assault, where the victim suffers injury, falls under MCL 750.81a. In Lansing, the police take assault calls seriously across all parts of the city, from Old Town to the South Side, and charges get filed regularly.
The penalties depend on how serious the offense is:
Most assault cases come down to competing accounts of what happened. Witness credibility, physical evidence, surveillance footage, 911 recordings all of it matters. Ben Hall Law digs into the full record to find where the prosecution’s case has gaps.
Defenses that come up regularly in Michigan assault cases:
Domestic violence in Michigan is prosecuted under MCL 750.81 and covers assault or battery against a spouse, former spouse, dating partner, co-parent, or household member. In Lansing, the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office doesn’t wait for the alleged victim to push the case forward they’ll proceed on their own evidence if they have it.
A first domestic violence conviction can result in:
A domestic violence charge in Lansing often triggers a personal protection order issued by the Ingham County Circuit Court’s Family Division. Violating a PPO even by accident is a separate criminal offense and can mean immediate arrest.
These cases are often built on limited physical evidence and one person’s account. Ben Hall Law looks at everything body camera footage, 911 recordings, medical records, and the prior relationship between the parties to find where the prosecution’s case doesn’t hold up.
Defense strategies in Michigan domestic violence cases:
A: Not automatically. In Ingham County, prosecutors will often proceed using officer observations, 911 recordings, or medical documentation even without the alleged victim’s cooperation.
A: Yes. Michigan family courts consider domestic violence history when making custody decisions under MCL 722.23. Getting a lawyer involved early matters.
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Not every criminal defense lawyer in Lansing has the same experience, the same familiarity with local courts, or the same commitment to their clients. The attorney you choose will affect how your case is investigated, how your defense is built, and how effectively your rights are protected at every stage.
At Ben Hall Law, we know how the 54A District Court and the 30th Circuit Court operate. We know how Ingham County prosecutors approach different types of charges. And we use that knowledge to protect our clients.
When you work with Ben Hall Law, you get:
Beyond the charges covered on this page, Ben Hall Law also handles drug offenses, sex crimes, probation violations, juvenile matters, and post-conviction relief throughout the Lansing area.
A murder charge is the most serious criminal matter a person can face. Michigan doesn’t have the death penalty, but a first-degree murder conviction under MCL 750.316 carries mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole. Second-degree murder under MCL 750.317 carries up to life with the possibility of parole.
In Lansing, homicide cases are investigated by the Lansing Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and prosecuted by experienced felony prosecutors. These cases involve extensive evidence gathering forensic analysis, digital records, surveillance footage, witness interviews and require a defense attorney with the resources and experience to match the prosecution’s effort.
Michigan homicide charges include:
Every homicide case turns on its own facts. The strength of the forensic evidence, the reliability of witness testimony, the presence of alternative suspects, the circumstances of the investigation itself all of it shapes the defense strategy. Ben Hall Law engages with the evidence from day one, challenges the prosecution’s theory, and makes sure your constitutional rights are protected throughout.
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Polygraph results are generally not admissible at trial in Michigan. But that doesn’t mean they’re irrelevant. Law enforcement uses polygraphs regularly during investigations, and what happens in and around the examination especially the statements you make before and after the test can absolutely be used against you.
Here’s what matters:
A Lansing resident under investigation for a financial crime gets a call from detectives asking them to come in for a polygraph. They figure they have nothing to hide, so they go without a lawyer. During the pre-test interview, they say something that contradicts an earlier statement. The polygraph result never comes up at trial but that statement does. Talking to a defense attorney first is the only way to avoid that outcome.
Embezzlement is the fraudulent taking of property that was entrusted to you. In Michigan, it’s prosecuted under MCL 750.174 and becomes a felony when the value exceeds $1,000. Lansing’s status as the state capital home to government agencies, nonprofits, and financial institutions means embezzlement investigations here often involve public funds, employer accounts, or organizational finances.
Penalties are tied to the value of what was taken:
Beyond prison time, an embezzlement conviction can damage professional licenses, employment prospects, and reputation in ways that outlast the sentence itself.
Embezzlement prosecutions are built on financial records, transaction histories, and often circumstantial evidence about intent. A solid defense involves digging into the documentary record, challenging the prosecution’s interpretation of the financial data, and establishing that the transactions at issue were authorized. Ben Hall Law works with financial professionals where necessary to counter the prosecution’s evidence and protect our clients.
Vehicular homicide covers several serious felony charges in Michigan OWI causing death (MCL 257.625(4)), reckless driving causing death (MCL 257.626), and moving violation causing death (MCL 257.601d). These charges arise when someone dies as a result of how a vehicle was operated, and the penalties are severe.
What you’re facing if convicted:
These cases are built by accident reconstruction specialists, toxicologists, and forensic experts, and they’re prosecuted hard.
Vehicular homicide defense requires moving fast. Accident scene evidence, vehicle data recorder information, witness statements, and chemical test results need to be preserved and examined before they’re lost or degraded. Ben Hall Law gets involved immediately, challenges the prosecution’s reconstruction of events, and builds a defense grounded in the actual facts of the case.
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Here’s how the process works in Lansing and why what you do at each stage matters:
54A District Court: Located in downtown Lansing, the 54A District Court handles misdemeanor trials, arraignments, and preliminary examinations in felony matters. Most OWI first offenses, assault misdemeanors, and domestic violence first offenses begin here.
30th Circuit Court: The 30th Circuit Court serves Ingham County and handles all felony trials, as well as civil and family law matters. Murder, felony OWI, vehicular homicide, and embezzlement cases are tried here.
Ben Hall Law appears regularly in both courts on behalf of clients throughout Lansing and Ingham County.
A: Stop talking. Don’t try to explain yourself to the officers. Exercise your right to remain silent and ask for an attorney before answering any questions. Then contact Ben Hall Law as soon as you’re able.
A: Yes. Charges can be dismissed at the preliminary examination if the prosecution can’t establish probable cause, or through pre-trial negotiations that result in a reduced charge or outright dismissal. An experienced defense attorney can identify where those opportunities exist in your case.
A: It depends. Misdemeanor cases can resolve in a matter of weeks. Serious felonies murder, vehicular homicide can take a year or more from arrest to resolution.
A: Yes. A conviction in Michigan creates a permanent criminal record. Some offenses may be eligible for expungement under Michigan’s Clean Slate Act, depending on the offense and your history. Ben Hall Law can walk you through your options.
A: You’re required to provide your license, registration, and proof of insurance. Beyond that, you have the right to remain silent. Field sobriety tests are voluntary you can decline politely. Refusing a chemical test after arrest triggers Michigan’s implied consent law, which carries an automatic one-year license suspension for a first refusal. If you’re not sure what to do, say nothing further and contact an attorney as soon as possible.
If you’re facing criminal charges in Lansing, don’t wait. Whether you’re dealing with an OWI, assault, domestic violence, murder, embezzlement, vehicular homicide, or any other serious charge, Ben Hall Law is ready to go to work for you. We know the 54A District Court. We know the 30th Circuit Court. We know the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office. And we know what it takes to build a defense that gives you a real chance. Visit Ben Hall Law’s website today to schedule a confidential consultation and get a lawyer in your corner before it’s too late.
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