Madrid Criminal Lawyer for Detainee Assistance
Technical defense from the first minute at Madrid police stations and courts. Every notice reaches the team directly so we can respond with the greatest diligence possible.
Every notice reaches the team instantly; we contact you with the greatest diligence possible.
Article 520 LECrim grants every detainee non-waivable rights: to remain silent, not to incriminate oneself, a lawyer from the very first police diligence, information about the facts and reasons for the arrest, a free interpreter, a medical examination, and notice of the arrest to a relative or, for foreign nationals, their consulate. Detention may last a maximum of seventy-two hours, after which the person must be released or brought before the court; only terrorism cases allow the extension under Art. 520 bis. If it is unduly prolonged or those guarantees are breached, habeas corpus under LO 6/1984 applies. Our defence appears from the first hour to control that legality.
How we assist you
A clear four-step protocol: from notice to procedural strategy, without wasted time and without promises we cannot keep.
Immediate contact
Call the office or email us for urgent assistance. Every contact reaches the team directly and we respond with the greatest diligence possible.
First orientation
We assess the detainee or investigated party's procedural situation, explain rights and critical deadlines, and set immediate steps.
In-person attendance
We appear at the police station or on-duty Court to attend the statement, control the legality of the police report and prepare the defense.
Procedural strategy
Seamless continuity: precautionary measures, anticipated evidence, appeals and, where appropriate, dismissal or strategic plea.
Police stations and courts we cover
Office at Velázquez 27, within operational distance of the capital's main police and judicial centers.
Plaza de Castilla
On-duty Court and the 54 Investigative Courts of central Madrid.
Centro Police Station (Leganitos)
Detentions in Sol, Malasaña, Chueca and the central nightlife district.
Moratalaz Police Complex
Headquarters of the Judicial Police and specialized units (UDEV, UDYCO).
Carabanchel & southern districts
Detentions in Carabanchel, Latina, Usera and Villaverde; brought before the court at Plaza de Castilla.
Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport
Airport police station: drugs in transit, document forgery, wanted-person orders and EAW.
Gender Violence Courts (Julián Camarillo)
Precautionary-measure hearings on very short notice.
National Court
Assistance before the Central Investigative Courts in macro-cases.
If you are detained in Madrid: do's and don'ts
The first hours shape the rest of the procedure. This list summarizes the essentials while your legal assistance arrives.
What to do
- Identify yourself and request to see a lawyer of your choice before making any statement.
- Note the exact time of detention and the names of the acting officers.
- Calmly read the rights notification record before signing.
- Call the office as soon as possible or email us; your contact goes directly to the team.
What to avoid
- Do not sign any document you have not read or fully understood.
- Do not testify about the facts without prior legal assistance.
- Do not discuss your case with other detainees: cells and transfers are monitored.
- Do not provide passwords, PINs or device access without advice.
The Detainee's Rights (Art. 520 LECrim)
Every person detained in Spain holds a catalogue of inalienable rights set out in Art. 520 of the Criminal Procedure Act. These include the right to remain silent and not to testify against oneself, the right to legal assistance in all proceedings —which in many cases cannot be waived—, the right to be informed of the alleged facts and the reasons for the detention, the right to a free interpreter, the right to a medical examination and the right to notify the detention to a relative and, for foreigners, to their consular office. The lawyer's presence ensures these rights are respected from the first police step and that no questioning takes place without due safeguards.
Pre-trial detention has a maximum limit of 72 hours, after which the detainee must be released or brought before a judge (Art. 520 LECrim); only in terrorism offences is the extension of Art. 520 bis available. When the detention is unlawful, unduly prolonged or the safeguards are not respected, the habeas corpus procedure applies (Organic Law 6/1984), allowing the detainee to be brought immediately before a judge. Controlling the legality of the detention, the police report and the chain of custody from the first hour is the basis of an effective defence: what happens at the police station shapes the entire subsequent procedure.
The lawyer's role in the first statement is decisive: they advise on whether to testify or to invoke the right not to, ensure the questions are clear and not misleading, and request the exculpatory steps that cannot be delayed. A hasty statement without advice is frequently the origin of an avoidable conviction; this is why the right to legal assistance should always be exercised, even when one believes they have nothing to hide. Early intervention also makes it possible to seek alternatives to detention from the outset and to prepare the defence strategy with full knowledge of the incriminating material.
Need a lawyer now?
Call the office and we will assist you with the greatest diligence possible. Detainee assistance cannot wait: the sooner we step in, the better we protect your rights.
Every request generates an instant notice to the team.
Other contact channels
If the urgency does not allow for scheduling, contact us directly. Each channel reaches the office instantly.
Related assistance
Useful pages if the arrest involves a foreign national or requires consular coordination.
Frequently asked questions
How do I request urgent assistance?
What information do you need to activate?
What happens if no private lawyer is located?
Can you attend any Madrid police station?
Can I make a statement to the police without a lawyer?
Do you assist detainees at the Carabanchel police station and southern Madrid?
Do you provide detainee assistance at Madrid-Barajas Airport?
Honest, technical criminal defense
Criminal law only. We will explain the real situation without jargon, the possible scenarios and the optimal strategy. No empty promises.