Criminal defence lawyer in Alcobendas: defence and 24-hour assistance to detainees

In brief. Société de Conseil Juridique et Expert provides criminal defence in Alcobendas from its Madrid office at Paseo de la Castellana 216. We assist detained persons twenty-four hours a day at police premises and at the duty service of the Tribunal de Instancia de Alcobendas, we conduct fast-track trials, abbreviated proceedings and ordinary proceedings, we act as private prosecutors and we appeal before the Provincial Court of Madrid, the High Court of Justice and the Supreme Court. We work in English, French and Spanish.

The judicial district of Alcobendas: where your case is handled

The judicial district of Alcobendas comprises the municipalities of Alcobendas, El Molar, Pedrezuela, San Agustín del Guadalix, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Talamanca de Jarama and Valdepiélagos. Since the reform of the judicial organisation carried out by Organic Law 1/2025, the former courts have been integrated into the Tribunal de Instancia de Alcobendas, located at Calle Joaquín Rodrigo 3 and Calle Blas de Otero 13, 28100 Alcobendas. The court has a Civil Section and an Investigation Section, a registry and distribution office, a common service for notifications, a Civil Registry and a Victim Support Office. The investigation of cases for facts occurring in the district falls to the Investigation Section of that court, and detainees are brought before its duty service. Less serious offences, punishable with up to five years’ imprisonment, are tried by the Criminal Section assigned to this judicial district. Serious offences, punishable with more than five years’ imprisonment, are tried before the Provincial Court of Madrid, and appeals against judgments of the district are also decided by the Provincial Court.

24-hour assistance to detainees in Alcobendas

An arrest in Alcobendas may be made by the National Police, the Guardia Civil or the Local Police, which takes the detainee to the corresponding premises. From that moment the rights of Article 520 of the Criminal Procedure Act apply: to be informed in writing of the facts attributed and of the reasons for the deprivation of liberty; to remain silent and not to testify against oneself; to appoint a lawyer of choice, who must attend within a maximum of three hours of receiving the assignment; to be examined by a doctor; to have the arrest communicated to a relative or person of choice; and to have an interpreter when the person does not understand Spanish. Custody may not last longer than strictly necessary to clarify the facts and, in any event, within a maximum of seventy-two hours the detainee must be released or brought before the duty service of the Tribunal de Instancia de Alcobendas.

Our intervention begins at the police station or the Guardia Civil post: we examine the police report to the extent the law allows, we advise on whether to make a statement or remain silent and we attend the police statement. If the prosecutor or the accusation requests pre-trial detention, the duty judge holds the hearing under Article 505 of the Criminal Procedure Act, at which we argue the absence of the requirements of Article 503, such as the risk of flight, concealment of evidence or reoffending, and propose less burdensome measures, such as periodic appearances or surrender of the passport.

Fast-track trial and plea agreement at the duty service

A large part of the cases in Alcobendas is handled as urgent fast-track proceedings under Articles 795 and following of the Criminal Procedure Act: facts punishable with up to five years’ imprisonment, flagrant or of simple investigation, which reach the duty service with a police report. At that same hearing a plea agreement may be reached under Article 801, with a one-third reduction of the penalty requested, when the resulting penalty does not exceed two years’ imprisonment. We examine in each case whether the plea agreement is the best way out, with suspension of the sentence or replacement by community service, or whether it is better to go to trial, because a hasty plea leaves a criminal record that later conditions the client’s life.

The most frequent cases in Alcobendas

Drink driving and road safety. Article 379 of the Criminal Code punishes driving with a level above 0.60 milligrams of alcohol per litre of exhaled air, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, with imprisonment of three to six months, a fine of six to twelve months or community service of thirty-one to ninety days, and in all cases with deprivation of the right to drive for one to four years. Refusal to submit to testing is punished under Article 383 with imprisonment of six months to one year and the same deprivation of the licence.

Assault, threats and coercion. Bodily harm under Article 147 and threats and coercion under Article 172 of the Criminal Code are the most frequent neighbourhood offences, often arising from disputes between neighbours, within families or in nightlife. The evidence in these cases is built in the first hours: medical report, witnesses, recordings and messages.

Squatting. The non-violent occupation of a property that is not a dwelling is punished under Article 245.2 of the Criminal Code with a fine of three to six months; where there is violence or intimidation, the penalty is imprisonment of one to two years. We represent owners and occupants and handle precautionary eviction.

Fraud and property offences. Fraud under Article 248 of the Criminal Code, in the wording of Organic Law 1/2026, is punished with imprisonment of six months to three years, with higher penalties in the aggravated cases of Article 250. We assist both victims, with the recovery of funds, and persons under investigation.

Minor offences. Petty theft, minor threats and coercion or insults are tried under the procedure of Articles 962 and following of the Criminal Procedure Act, often immediately at the duty service. Although the penalties are fines, they leave a record and it is advisable to attend with a lawyer.

Domestic violence. Proceedings for gender-based and domestic violence, with the protection order of Article 544 ter of the Criminal Procedure Act, are handled with particular speed. We defend the person under investigation and represent the victim, with attention to precautionary measures and their civil effects.

Economic and corporate crime in Alcobendas

Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes form one of the main business hubs of northern Madrid, with office parks and head offices of large companies, alongside a large residential population. We therefore handle in this district both general neighbourhood criminal defence and economic and corporate crime: corporate offences, unfair administration, tax fraud, money laundering and criminal liability of directors and companies. In these matters the firm’s Madrid office concentrates its main practice: asset stripping, money laundering, tax fraud, corporate offences, cybercrime and online fraud and corporate criminal liability, with criminal compliance programmes under Article 31 bis of the Criminal Code.

Private prosecution

If you or your company have been harmed by an offence in Alcobendas, you may act as a private prosecutor under Articles 109 and 110 of the Criminal Procedure Act, joining the proceedings before the indictment stage. Private prosecution allows you to propose investigative steps, appeal a dismissal, request precautionary measures and claim civil liability arising from the offence. We also act as prosecutors in economic offences, with the recovery of funds as the main objective.

Appeals: Provincial Court, High Court of Justice and Supreme Court

Judgments handed down in the judicial district of Alcobendas are appealed before the Provincial Court of Madrid under Article 790 of the Criminal Procedure Act. Judgments handed down at first instance by the Provincial Court are appealed before the Civil and Criminal Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Madrid, under Article 846 ter, and against appeal judgments an appeal in cassation lies before the Supreme Court. All these courts sit in Madrid, a short distance from our office.

How we work from the Paseo de la Castellana office

The firm’s Madrid office, at Paseo de la Castellana 216, 8th floor, serves Alcobendas and the whole judicial district with immediate travel to the police station and the duty service. The first consultation may be in person or by video conference. After assessing the case we provide a closed written quote broken down by stages. The defence is provided directly in English, French and Spanish. The head of the firm is a member of the Madrid Bar Association under number 142583.

Frequently asked questions

Where is a criminal case for facts occurring in Alcobendas handled?

At the Tribunal de Instancia de Alcobendas, located at Calle Joaquín Rodrigo 3 and Calle Blas de Otero 13, 28100 Alcobendas. Serious offences are tried before the Provincial Court of Madrid.

Do you attend arrests at night and on public holidays in Alcobendas?

Yes. Assistance to detainees is provided twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year, at the police station, the Guardia Civil post and the duty service of the court. Telephone 669 30 21 13.

Can I replace the duty lawyer with a lawyer of my choice?

Yes, at any stage of the proceedings. It is advisable to do so before the statement before the duty judge, which is the most decisive act of the initial stage.

What should I do if a relative has been arrested in Alcobendas?

Call the firm. The lawyer contacts the police station and the detainee confirms the appointment. The detainee should not make a statement before the lawyer arrives.

How much does the defence cost?

After the first consultation and the assessment of the case we provide a closed written quote, broken down by stages, with no standard rates or later charges.

Related guides

• Criminal defence lawyer in Madrid
• Lawyer for detainees 24 hours a day in Madrid
• Criminal lawyer by location
• Contact the firm

This article is informative in nature and does not constitute legal advice. For a specific case, consult a lawyer.