Tempe Criminal Defense Attorney

As the home to the main campus of Arizona State University, Tempe has a year-round population of just over 180,000. However, given that ASU has a student body of more than 60,000, during certain times of the year, Tempe can feel a lot bigger. Not surprisingly, the Tempe Police Department takes any whiff of criminal activity very seriously. This can lead to a situation where you’ve been wrongfully accused of a crime. However, even if the allegations against you were not fabricated or untrue, you still need an experienced Tempe criminal defense attorney by your side to protect your rights.

At the Law Office of James E. Novak, we have a long history of providing exceptional representation to good people charged with serious crimes. We understand the impact that an arrest can have on your life and will do everything possible to minimize any potential impact that your arrest has on your future.

The Tempe Police Department tracks all arrest statistics, preparing a quarterly report that details the most common arrests. According to the most recent National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS), the following offenses are the most common:

Assault – Assault involves intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury to another person. Aggravated assault is an assault that is committed under certain circumstances, tending to make the crime more serious. For example, an assault resulting in serious bodily injury or an assault against a minor is considered an aggravated assault.

Theft / Larceny – Arizona law contains many different theft crimes, ranging from shoplifting to theft of services to embezzlement to fraud. Theft crimes range in seriousness, depending mostly on the value of the goods that were allegedly stolen.

Vandalism – Crimes involving the destruction of property make up a surprising number of arrests in Tempe. Offenses that fall into this category include Criminal Damage, Criminal Littering, and Arson.

Drug Crimes – While Arizona has legalized the recreational use of marijuana, that development didn’t measurably decrease the number of Tempe drug arrests. Law enforcement seems to have shifted the resources that were previously used on marijuana crimes to investigate other narcotics offenses, such as those involving heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, MDMA, psilocybin, GHB and other street drugs.

DUIs – Driving under the influence is one of the more common crimes in Tempe, which isn’t surprising given the number of young drivers in the city. However, law enforcement must follow very strict protocol when investigating a DUI offense, and even the slightest error may open the door for an experienced Tempe DUI defense attorney to get a case thrown out.

If you were recently arrested for a crime in Tempe, the police officer who arrested you is required to create a police report. This report outlines what law you allegedly violated and provides a summary of the evidence against you. To get a copy of a Tempe police report, you’ll need to contact the Tempe Police Department at 480‐350‐8598. You can also send in an online request or visit the Records Division in person at:

Tempe Police Department – Records Division
120 East 5th Street
Tempe, Arizona 85281

If you are facing criminal charges, it is imperative that you have a Tempe criminal defense attorney by your side who will take your case as seriously as you do. At the Law Office of James E. Novak, we have been representing clients charged with serious felony and misdemeanor crimes for more than two decades. We understand what it takes to defend against even the toughest cases, and we zealously pursue the best outcome in each of the cases we handle—no matter the amount of work required. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation today, give us a call at 480-413-1499. You can also connect with us through our secure online contact form.