Why Are Lawyers Sending Me Junk Mail After I’ve Been Arrested?

Hypothetical situation: You are cited for some offense such as underage drinking, unlawful possession of cannabis/paraphernalia, or retail theft by a local city prosecutor such as the City of Naperville. It could be an ordinance violation, misdemeanor, or felony.  Before the court date on your ticket for the Dupage County Courthouse located in Wheaton, your home address is suddenly flooded with junk mail from attorneys. The advertisements often display fearful language such as “jail” or “lose your driver’s license”. Worse yet, perhaps the mail landed in the mailbox of someone you would prefer to keep in the dark about your secret, such as your parents. Sound familiar?

You’ve just been the victim of “arrest mail spam”. Some of the spam is gentle. Some of the spam is designed to provoke fear. However, the goal for all of the spam is to turn you into another case for them.

 

How did they get my information?

Lawyers regularly pay third party services to obtain information from local police bookings, such as your name and registered address. They also search the public records of the Circuit Clerk’s office to see the most recent filings. Frequently, this information is published in the newspapers as part of a “Police Blotter”. It may look something like this:

 

 

Monday, April 10

Driving under the influence 

Addison Westmont, 27, of the 4000 block of Saratoga Avenue in Downers Grove, was arrested at 1:24 a.m. in the 1700 block of Naper Blvd. in Naperville, police said. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor, and speeding. Her bail was $3,000.

 

From there, Ms. Westmont will receive arrest mail spam from lawyers advertising services for DUI. The advertisements may talk about saving her driver’s license or stopping her from going to jail. It may end up being seen by people such as her roommates, friends, or parents.

 

Is there anything I can do to stop them?

Unfortunately, much like the rest of junk mail, there is no easy way to stop the other attorneys from sending you the advertisements. The arrest mail spam will generally taper off in a few weeks. The reason every lawyer is sending you an advertisement is because attorneys have decided that arrest mail spam works. The only way to stop arrest mail spam is to make lawyers realize that they are spending too much money on junk mail and not getting enough clients from it.

This is a world where people prefer to avoid broadcasting the fact that they have been arrested. Attorneys should have their client’s best interest in mind. Therefore, attorneys who mail criminal law advertisements may jeopardize the privacy of any potential client, and also risk showing that they are more interested in getting a new client than treating their client’s concerns as #1.

Please feel free to contact us if you require legal assistance. We won’t contact you first.


12 thoughts on “Why Are Lawyers Sending Me Junk Mail After I’ve Been Arrested?

  1. Camille Shulman

    Attorney Wang: I am receiving a flood of mail for a person I do not know, at my address. The addressee was apparently arrested. How did attorneys get my address? Could the person who has been arrested be using my address?

    Reply
    1. Ken Wang Post author

      The person may have previously lived at your address, or they may have erroneously taken down their address also. The reasons are often very similar to receiving any other wrong piece of mail at your address. Is it possible this person lived there before you?

      Reply
  2. Sal

    I got arrested for public intox but didn’t not get charged or cited .. just to sober up and let go .. 2 days later I get attourney mail for consultations .. should I be worried ?

    Reply
    1. Ken Wang Post author

      Depends on your jurisdiction. If you’re getting attorney mail though, there’s some sort of record somewhere that you’ve been picked up. You may have gotten a ticket or a notice to appear on its way to your mailbox.

      Reply
  3. Jay

    I received a small junk mail flyer from an attorney’s office, but I don’t remember doing anything wrong. Is it normal to receive junk mail from criminal defense attorneys? It makes me paranoid.

    Reply
    1. Ken Wang Post author

      Hi Jay,
      If you only get one small junk mail flyer, it is probably just your standard advertisement that all businesses occasionally send out. If you get a lot of junk mail flyers from attorneys addressed to you, there is probably some docket your name and address are popping up on. Hope this helps. Wish you the best.

      Reply
      1. Jay

        Thank you, Mr. Wang. Should I worry if I receive more of this kind of junk mail? To put things in context, I am mentally ill and become easily paranoid, but it helps me when I talk with people.

        Reply
      2. Jay

        Thank you, Mr. Wang. Should I worry if I receive more of this kind of junk mail? To put things in context, I am mentally ill and become easily paranoid. The letter said “To Jay or current resident.”

        Reply
        1. Ken Wang Post author

          It may just be a regular advertisement if it is also addressed to the current resident. Attorneys, like all professions, send advertisements. This article is in reference to the flood of advertisements a Defendant sometimes receives when they have been arrested. It is not in reference to the occasional advertisement. Even I get ads for other attorneys.

          Reply
          1. Jay

            I know you’re not a therapist, but thank you for helping me with my paranoia. With that being said, don’t send me any mail!

  4. Natalie Gomez

    If someone gets arrested for domestic violence will the Junk arrest email go to the address on the drivers license of the person arrested or to the one provide when he or she was arrested? If different?

    Reply

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