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Joel D. Hand

Joel D. Hand

28 years of criminal law experience. 100 jury trials. When results matter.
  • DUI & DWI, Criminal Law, Domestic Violence ...
  • Indiana
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Biography

Joel Hand is an experienced and widely respected litigator who knows that one of the keys to success is building strong relationships with his clients and providing a personal touch to legal representation. Joel forged his trial skills while working as a deputy prosecutor handling cases of the highest level of complexity including many homicides, drug crimes, robberies, burglaries and even a death penalty case. Joel was Indiana's 1st Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor where he was responsible for training prosecutors and police how to properly investigate and prosecute DUI/DWI/OWI and other traffic cases.
Now Joel uses his vast experience to help individual clients like you to seek the best possible results and attain your goals. Joel is a 1995 graduate of Indiana University McKinney School of Law and a 1992 graduate of DePauw University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Secondary Education. Joel is a private solo practitioner with offices in Indianapolis and Fishers, Indiana. Previously, Joel worked for more than a decade as a deputy prosecuting attorney in Marion, Hamilton and Carroll Counties during which time he tried in excess of 100 jury trials including a Capital Murder case. For his efforts, Joel has received numerous awards and recognition including the 2007 M.A.D.D. National Prosecutor of the Year Award and the 2006 Indiana Governor’s Council on Impaired and Dangerous Driving Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year Award.
Put Joel's wealth of knowledge and experience to work for you. Call today for a FREE initial consultation.

Education
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
J.D. (1995) | Law
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Certified Legal Intern - Hendricks County Prosecutor's Office (1993-1995)
Honors: Dean's List Client Counseling Competition - National Qualifier
Activities: Phi Alpha Delta - Hammill Chapter Co-Justice Client Counseling Competition - Co-Chair Republican Law Coalition - President Christian Legal Society Federalist Society
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law Logo
DePauw University
B.A. (1992) | Political Science & Secondary Education
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Honors: Delta Sigma Rho - Tau Kappa Alpha - National Tournament Superior Speaker Award (1991, 1992) Delta Sigma Rho - Tau Kappa Alpha - National Tournament Excellent Speaker Award (1990) Kappa Delta Pi - Outstanding Student Teacher (1992) Margaret Nobel Lee Speech Competition Winner (1989, 1990, 1992) Dean's List
Activities: DePauw University Debate Team Delta Sigma Rho - Tau Kappa Alpha - Honorary Fraternity Kappa Delta Pi - Honorary Fraternity Political Science Club - President Indiana Federation of College Republicans - State President Internship - Office of the Vice President of the United States Internship - United States Senator Richard G. Lugar Internship - Indiana Department of Education Internship - Indiana State Senate
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Professional Experience
Principal/Owner
The Law Offices of Joel D. Hand
- Current
Private solo practice of law concentrating in criminal defense, juvenile law, education law, family law, administrative law & legislative lobbying/government relations
Chief Deputy Prosecutor
Carroll County Prosecutor's Office
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Prosecuted all misdemeanor & felony cases in Superior Court Conducted 5 jury trials, including Class A Felony Child Molest Organized, supervised and drafted procedural protocols for Indiana's 1st watercraft sobriety checkpoint Completed Reid School of Interview & Interrogation
Conflict Public Defender
Rush County Public Defender's Office
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Served as contract public defender for all levels of felony & misdemeanor cases on which the Rush County Public Defender had a conflict of interest
Director of Legislative & Governmental Affairs
Indiana Department of Education
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Directed the legislative initiatives of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Drafted proposed legislation and amendments Worked with legislators and legislative staff Apprised Department staff of legislative changes & proposals Coordinated & provided Department testimony at legislative hearings
Deputy Prosecutor
Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office
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Supervisor of prosecutors in Superior Courts 4, 5 & 6 Conducted approximately 15 misdemeanor & felony jury trials Fatal Alcohol Crash Team Prosecutor Liaison to Hamilton County Traffic Safety Partnership Liaison to the Hamilton County Council on Alcohol & Other Drugs
Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor
Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council
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Served as Indiana's 1st Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Designed curriculum for and taught numerous continuing legal education courses focused on DUI/DWI and traffic law Served as faculty at the National District Attorneys Association National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina Advocated for and helped draft DUI/DWI legislation Provided research and guidance for prosecutors and law enforcement officers throughout Indiana National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Public Service Award National District Attorneys Association Traffic Safety Prosecutor of the Year Award Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Executive Directors Award
Deputy Prosecutor
Marion County Prosecutor's Office
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Prosecuted all levels of criminal offenses from traffic infractions to Capital Murder. Successfully prosecuted death penalty case of State of Indiana v. Benjamin Ritchie Created, obtained federal grant money for and supervised the Fatal Alcohol Crash Team Supervised 30+ deputy prosecutors in the misdemeanor and D Felony division Conducted more than 60 felony jury trials & hundreds of bench trials Liaison to Marion County Traffic Safety Partnership Completed crash reconstruction school Levels I & II Completed Standardized Field Sobriety Training
Legal Counsel to State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Indiana Department of Education
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Administrative Law Judge Counsel to the Special Education Board of Appeals Prosecuted teacher license suspension & revocation actions Provided legal guidance and legislative and regulatory interpretation to the State Superintendent and Department of Education staff as well as local school corporations & the public
Certified Legal Intern
Hendricks County Prosecutor's Office
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Complied with standing discovery orders in all criminal cases, second chair for five jury trials including murder, burglary, and DUI/DWI. First chair for numerous misdemeanor, juvenile and traffic infraction bench trials.
Speaking Engagements
Indiana's New Trial Rules, Criminal Justice Section CLE on New Trial Rules, Indianapolis
IndyBar
Review of Indiana's New Trial Rules and how they impact criminal cases.
A Former Prosecutor's Perspective on OVWI Cases, Annual DUI Seminar - 2023, Indianapolis
ICLEF
An overview of why prosecutors place such importance on impaired driving cases, the emphasis on training and what prosecutors know that you don't.
Expungements and Specialized Driving Privileges, ICLEF OVWI Seminar, Indianapolis
Indiana Continuing Legal Education Foundation
Indiana Education Legislative Update, Annual Members Meeting, Indianapolis
Indiana Coalition for Public Education
2020 K-12 Education Legislative Update, Indiana School Public Relations Association Annual Conference, Crowne Plaza Hotel
Indiana School Public Relations Association
2019 K-12 Education Legislative Update, 2019 INSPRA Annual Conference, Indiana Landmarks Society
Indiana School Public Relations Association
Provided attendees with an overview of K-12 education legislation being considered by the Indiana General Assembly in 2019.
2019 K-12 Education Legislative Update, Northwest Indiana Coalition for Public Education Forum, Merrillville High School
Northwest Indiana Coalition for Public Education
Provided attendees with a review of legislation being considered by the Indiana General Assembly impacting K-12 public education.
2019 K-12 Education Legislative Update, Indiana PTA Convention, Drury Plaza Hotel
Indiana PTA
Provided attendees with a summary of K-12 education legislation being considered by the Indiana General Assembly in 2019.
IC 9-30 & OVWI - Recent Cases and Statutory Changes, Hot Topics & Fast Cars, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Bar Association
Provided attendees with an update on recent appellate decisions and statutory changes related to drunk driving cases in Indiana.
Awards
Client Service Award
Martindale Hubbell
Responsiveness, communication, cost-effectiveness
Client Service Award
Martindale Hubbell
Responsiveness, communication, cost-effectiveness
Client Service Award
Martindale Hubbell
Responsiveness, communication, cost-effectiveness
Award of Appreciation
Delphi Police Department
Bell Ringer for Education Award
Indiana State Superintendent of Public Instruction
National Prosecutor of the Year
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Award of Appreciation
Westfield Police Department
Gold Star Award
Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council
Public Service Award
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Highest civilian award that can be given by the NHTSA Administrator
Chairman's Award
Indiana Criminal Justice Institute
Executive Director's Award
Indiana Criminal Justice Institute
Indiana Prosecutor of the Year
Indiana Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Prosecutor fo the Year
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Central Indiana Chapter
Award of Appreciation
City of Beech Grove
In appreciation for the successful prosecution of Benjamin Ritchie who was convicted of the murder of Beech Grove Police Officer William Toney.
Prosecutor fo the Year
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Central Indiana Chapter
Professional Associations
Indianapolis Bar Association
Criminal Justice Section Executive Committee
- Current
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Hamilton County Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Government Affairs Society of Indiana
Associate Member
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Miles Ahead
Advisory Board Member
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Activities: Helped design curriculum for the Miles Ahead Teen Safe Driving Program. Serves as a continuing advisor to Miles Ahead founders & C.E.O.
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Fishers Youth Assistance Program
Board President
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Activities: Serves at the inaugural president of a new not-for-profit entity to provide preventative services for at-risk youth.
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Indianapolis Bar Association
Small and Solo Firms Executive Committee
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Indiana State Bar Association
Law School for Legislators Planning Committee
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Parent Teacher Organization
Board Secretary
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Indiana
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U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
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U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
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Fees
  • Free Consultation
    Free telephone consultation of up to 15 minutes.
  • Credit Cards Accepted
    Visa MasterCard & Discovery accepted.
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Payment plans available.
Practice Areas
DUI & DWI
Criminal Law
Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
Education Law
Juvenile Law
Traffic Tickets
Suspended License
Gov & Administrative Law
Administrative Law, Election Law, Government Contracts, Government Finance, Legislative & Government Affairs
Additional Practice Areas
  • Government Relations
  • Government Affairs
  • Lobbying
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Legal Answers
Q. My kids are being told they can’t attend the school they been going to for the last 3 years just of where we live
A: Under Indiana law, a student has a right to attend the public school in the attendance area of the school where the child has legal settlement. Legal settlement is determined by the address where the child resides.

Based on the information you provided, because you and your children now live in Illinois, the children have no right to attend a school in Indiana. The only way that your children could attend school in Indiana is if the school agrees to accept the students and you pay for their transfer tuition. I would not expect the school in Lowell, Indiana to accept students who live in a different state. If you move back to the Lowell school district, your students would once again have legal settlement and be entitled to attend school there. ... Read More
Q. I got a ticket for a suspended license officer wrote previous owners info on ticket, can they charge me after the fact
A: Yes. The ticket itself is not the actual charge until it is reviewed and filed by the prosecutor's office. The prosecutor's office may catch the difference and file the charge correctly. Even if they don't, the prosecutor has the ability to dismiss and re-file the charge with the correct information once it comes to light.
Q. Is it permissible in court to request a DNA test of a hypodermic syringe for proof of innocence?
A: First, in criminal defense, it is always important to remember that the defendant does not have to prove anything. It is up to the State to prove that a defendant committed each element of a given criminal charge.

Second, the defense lawyer MAY file a motion to have evidence confiscated by the State tested by an independent laboratory. However, any such testing will be done at the defendant's expense.
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Websites & Blogs
Website
Joel Hand Law
Contact & Map
Law Office of Joel D. Hand
Indianapolis
1512 N. Delaware Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Telephone: (317) 550-0778
Cell: (317) 608-6621
Monday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM (Today)
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM - 4 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Notice: Appointments outside of normal business hours available upon request.