Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  If you would like to schedule a free Initial and confidential no-obligation consultation with our qualified Santa Barbara criminal defense attorney staff, or if you just have a question, please provide your information below. We will respond to you shortly to schedule a time for you to come into our office to discuss your case, assess your options, and assist you with your situation. If you are contacting us on behalf of a friend or a loved one and/or someone who is in custody, we will contact you to arrange accordingly. Also, you can schedule a free consultation by calling our office at (805) 962-3344.
• DUI/DWI
  We agressively advocate for our clients. Whether you are facing a charge for minor in possession / MIP, public intoxication / DIP, driving under the influence / DUI, or any other alcohol related offense, you need an experienced defense attorney. Let us help.
• Traffic Violations
  As a sole practitioner focusing exclusively on criminal defense in the greater Santa Barbara area, Ms. Haaland-Ford has gained vast knowledge and experience in the area of criminal defense and has developed a reputation as being an aggressive advocate for those accused of crimes. At the Law office of Tara Haaland-Ford, we have represented clients accused of all levels of criminal offenses, ranging from minor traffic violations to the most serious of crimes such as manslaughter and murder.
• Sex Crimes
  At the Law Office of Tara Haaland-Ford, our Santa Barbara criminal defense practice handles all levels of criminal defense matters in the greater Santa Barbara area. This includes criminal defense representation for traffic matters, DUI, theft, alcohol and drug related offenses, assault and battery, juvenile cases, domestic violence, sex offenses, homicide and various other criminal law related matters.
• Robbery
• Burglary
• Theft
• Misdemeanors
  To learn more about a specific crime/criminal offense, please click one of the links below. We represent people accused of all levels of criminal offenses, ranging from minor traffic violations to more serious misdemeanors and felonies to the most serious of felony crimes such as sex offenses, manslaughter, and murder. The first step for you is to schedule a FREE initial confidential consultation with a Santa Barbara defense lawyer or give us a call at 805.962.3344. During a free initial consultation, an experienced Santa Barbara criminal defense attorney will review the circumstances of your situation, assess your options, and provide you with straight-forward information regarding the overall criminal process and how that relates to your specific case.
• Assault
• Murder
• Probation Violation
• Homicide
  Mr. Balash has earned the top rating of A/V by Martindale Hubbell. As an experienced criminal defense trial attorney in Santa Barbara, Mr. Balash has been appointed by the local courts on numerous high profile criminal cases being prosecuted in the Santa Barbara Superior Court. These include some of the most notorious Santa Barbara area homicide and death penalty cases. He has appeared as a legal correspondent on 48-hours, Fox News and KEYT. In addition, he has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the London Times, the Santa Barbara Independent and the Santa Barbara News Press. Mr. Balash is an active member of the State Bar of California, the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the American Bar Association and the California Public Defender's Association. Mr. Balash is a sole practitioner and has been practicing criminal defense for nearly forty years. As an experienced Santa Barbara criminal defense lawyer, Mr. Balash's reported cases include: - Scull v. Superior Court (1988) 206 Cal.App.3d 784, 254 Cal.Rptr.24;
• Manslaughter