> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.paxton.ai/help/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.paxton.ai/help/resources-by-practice-area/criminal-law.md).

# Criminal Law

Pretrial motions, discovery review, sentencing memoranda, and case strategy. Paxton accelerates the document-heavy parts so you can spend more time on courtroom strategy and client counseling.

**Where Paxton helps most in criminal defense** Spotting Fourth/Fifth/Sixth Amendment issues in police reports and discovery. Drafting motions to suppress, dismiss, or modify. Building sentencing memoranda from PSRs and mitigation packets. Running statutory and case-law research at speed.

## Recommended workflow

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Open a Matter

Open a Matter with client name, charges, jurisdiction, prior history (general), and procedural posture (arraigned, indicted, plea offer pending, trial date).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Upload discovery

Upload discovery as it arrives: police reports, charging documents, body-cam transcripts, lab reports, prior statements, search warrant affidavits.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Run an issue-spotting prompt early

In the Assistant, run an issue-spotting prompt on the police report and warrant affidavit early — suppression issues often define the entire case.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Draft pretrial motions

Draft pretrial motions in the same conversation, with Sources on so the controlling authority is cited.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Evaluate plea negotiations

For plea negotiations, compare offers to guideline ranges and prior similar dispositions.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Build sentencing materials

For sentencing, build a memorandum from the PSR + mitigation materials.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Sample prompts

### Issue-spot the police report

Read the attached police report and incident materials. Identify every potential constitutional issue: Fourth Amendment (search/seizure, warrant scope, exigency, consent, plain view, Terry stop justification), Fifth Amendment (Miranda timing, voluntariness, custody analysis, invocation), Sixth Amendment (counsel issues, identification procedures), and statutory issues (\[state] equivalents). For each, quote the relevant passages and state the legal theory.

### Motion to Suppress

Draft a Motion to Suppress evidence obtained from the \[search / stop / interrogation] described in the attached police report, in \[Jurisdiction]. The argument is \[identify theory — no reasonable suspicion, no probable cause, illegal traffic stop, Miranda violation, etc.]. Include: Factual Background (citing the report), Argument with point headings, Conclusion. Cite \[state] and U.S. Supreme Court authority. Include a request for a Franks / Mapp / Jackson v. Denno hearing as appropriate. Bluebook 21st.

### Motion to Dismiss

Draft a Motion to Dismiss the \[charge] count under \[statute / rule]. The argument is \[theory — facially insufficient indictment, statute of limitations, double jeopardy, prosecutorial misconduct, selective prosecution, charging defect, etc.]. Apply \[Jurisdiction] standards. Identify the controlling case from the state's highest court.

### Police report inconsistency check

Compare the attached police report against the body-cam transcript and any witness statements. List every factual statement in the report that is contradicted, unsupported, or embellished relative to the other materials. Quote the report passage and the contradicting source. Note potential *Brady* implications if officer credibility is at issue.

### Plea offer evaluation

The attached plea offer is for \[charge → reduced charge], with \[sentence terms]. Evaluate it against: (a) guideline / matrix range for the original and reduced charge in \[Jurisdiction], (b) typical dispositions for similarly situated defendants in this jurisdiction, (c) collateral consequences (immigration, sex-offender registration, professional licensing, firearms, employment), (d) trial risk based on the strength of the prosecution's evidence as reflected in the discovery so far. Output as a structured memo with a recommendation and discussion points for client counseling.

### Sentencing memorandum

Draft a sentencing memorandum for \[Client], who is to be sentenced for \[offense] in \[Jurisdiction] on \[date]. Use the attached PSR, mitigation letters, and treatment records. Sections: (1) Introduction, (2) Personal history (drawn from the mitigation packet), (3) Offense context, (4) Acceptance of responsibility and rehabilitation efforts, (5) Statutory sentencing factors (\[18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) / state equivalent]) — apply each to the facts, (6) Recommended sentence with supporting analogous cases. Tone: respectful, persuasive, fact-driven.

## Example workflow: arraignment to motion practice

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Initial appearance

Initial appearance → Matter opened with charges and posture.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Discovery received

Discovery received → uploaded as it arrives.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Run the issue-spot prompt

Run the issue-spot prompt on the police report and warrant affidavit.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Discuss issues with client

Discuss issues with client, decide which to litigate.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Draft motions

Draft suppression / dismissal motions using the prompts above.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Run citator

Run citator on every cited case before filing.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Anticipate responses

Use the Assistant to anticipate prosecution responses and prepare reply.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

**Use Paxton to prepare cross-examination outlines** Upload the officer's prior reports and any prior testimony. Ask: "Identify every factual statement on which Officer \[X] has been inconsistent across these documents." The resulting list seeds an effective impeachment cross.

**Speed matters — accuracy matters more** Criminal cases have asymmetric stakes. Run the [AI Citator](broken://pages/3530b7b6214ad0ce95183da1e8961691ee316862) on every authority before filing, and read every cited opinion. Don't rely on Paxton for the sentence-impacting math; verify guidelines and matrices independently.


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