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If you are facing criminal charges in the State of New Jersey you need an experienced lawyer on your side. More than seven million new cases are filed with the New Jersey court system each year and a skilled lawyer will understand how to use case law, the New Jersey criminal code and the court system to your advantage. Your lawyer will help you prepare a strong defense, guide you through the many legal proceedings and confidently fight your charges. No matter if you are guilty or innocent, you need to find an skilled attorney that will help you get through your legal troubles with the best possible outcome. Don’t wait another minute; contact a New Jersey criminal lawyer right now.
Helping You Use the Law to Your Advantage
Being arrested or charged with a crime doesn’t mean that you will be convicted. A New Jersey lawyer understands the laws of the state and will use them to your advantage. For example your lawyer may be able to suppress evidence if it wasn’t gathered using proper legal procedures or secure bail so you can get out of jail and keep going to work. A skilled attorney will provide you with the best defense possible so that you can get a fair trial. Contact an attorney today if you are facing charges like:
- Robbery
- DUI
- Buying Stolen Property
- Assault
- Drug Violations
- Disorderly Conduct
- Domestic Violence
- Burglary
- Theft
- And Others.
Let us help you find an attorney right now. Contact us today.
You Need a New Jersey Criminal Attorney to Fight Your Charges
When you are charged with a crime by the New Jersey State Police you have two options: accept the charges and possibly spend time in jail or fight your case. An attorney can help you prepare a strong defense, fight your charges and in some cases even get the charges dropped. Mitigating factors, or things that influence your specific case, may help your lawyer to reduce the severity of your charges, get the case dismissed or negotiate a lower punishment if you are convicted. The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner they can get to work for you. When facing criminal charges in the Garden State time is of the essence; contact an attorney as soon as you can. We can help you find an attorney in any city across the state including: Elizabeth, Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Edison and many others.
The Best Possible Outcome for Your Charges
Two people convicted of the exact same crime in New Jersey could end up with very different sentences. For example the punishment for a DUI could be a couple of days in jail or a couple of months along with fees, loss of license and possible community service. Your attorney will negotiate with the courts to secure the best possible outcome for your charges. You’re in good hands when you have a skilled New Jersey lawyer; they are fighting on your behalf. Optimally your charges will be dropped, but if that isn’t possible your attorney will strive to reduce or eliminate your jail time and fees. Your attorney may even be able to reduce the severity of your charges. A skilled New Jersey lawyer with experience fighting your specific charges can be your greatest asset when heading to court.
You don’t have to face your criminal charges alone. A New Jersey attorney will use the law to your advantage as they fight your charges and secure the best possible outcome for your case. If you don’t have an attorney, you are taking chances with your life. Let us help you find the criminal representation you need; contact a criminal lawyer today.
Charged with a Crime in New Jersey? Our team at Criminal Lawyer can help you find the right Criminal Lawyer in NJ for your specific charges.
The New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, which sets forth descriptions of all criminal behavior and actions at the state level, is lengthy and often complicated. The statutes cover diverse crimes, ranging from assault to bigamy, to narcotics trafficking, and everything in between. The sheer amount of information and number of crimes described in the Code make it difficult for a defendant charged with a specific crime to research and understand the charges made against him or her.
Because of the sheer complexity of these laws, you are not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the criminal justice process, but a qualified criminal defense lawyer in New Jersey can help.
In New Jersey, three broad categories of crimes replace the typical division of felony and misdemeanor found in other states. Instead, New Jersey classifies each crime as:
Regardless of the category of the charges brought against you, it can be extremely beneficial to engage an experienced defense lawyer.
The most serious crimes – indictable crimes – are further classified based on distinct degrees of severity which also designate the minimum and maximum punishments for each crime. Indictable crimes are charged in the first, second, third, or fourth degree, with offenses in the first degree being the most serious.
Facing criminal charges in New Jersey?
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Five Common Crimes Charged in New Jersey
Several aspects of criminal law in New Jersey distinguish its structure from those of other states. The differences start with the way New Jersey categorizes each crime and extend to specific definitions of criminal activity and even the arrangement of specific statutes in the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice. Therefore, if this information about five of the crimes commonly charged in New Jersey seems confusing, please seek the advice of a criminal defense lawyer.
Burglary
New Jersey has a comprehensive statute that makes it a criminal act to illegally enter or remain on the property of another person with the intent to commit any other criminal offense. Bringing a charge of burglary requires both of these elements. First, the actor must have been trespassing or otherwise illegally present on the property; and second, he or she must have intended to commit a crime there.
In New Jersey, the actor can be convicted of burglary even if he or she did not succeed in committing the intended separate offense. For example, if the person were in the home of another person for the purpose of committing theft, they might fail to take any property, but still, be guilty of burglary.
Burglary in New Jersey can be charged in either the third or second degree. Burglary in the third degree is the lesser offense, and it encompasses most of the burglary cases in the state. The punishment for conviction of burglary in the third degree is three to five years in state prison and a maximum fine of $15,000.
Burglary in the second degree is the more serious criminal offense, and it is only applicable in certain circumstances. These circumstances, as explicitly provided in the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice include:
A second-degree burglary conviction results in a more substantial sentence. If convicted, an individual faces between five and 10 years in state prison and a harsh $150,000 in potential fines.
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Murder
Under New Jersey law, murder is defined as either the purposeful or knowing killing of another human being or the inflicting of serious bodily injury that results in death. All deliberate murders in New Jersey are charged in the first degree, and only unintentional homicides – such as those resulting from reckless or negligent behavior – are considered lesser offenses. However, when imposing punishments upon conviction, the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice does differentiate among degrees of severity in specific murder cases by specifying the minimum and maximum sentences.
Violent crime in New Jersey is not tolerated and, in many instances, the state imposes punishments that are more severe than those of surrounding states. As the most serious offense in New Jersey law, murder is punishable by a particularly harsh sentence. If convicted of first-degree murder, the individual must serve a minimum of 30 years in state prison and, depending upon specific circumstances of the case, could potentially serve a life sentence with parole.
New Jersey law considers certain murders more heinous than others and, in such cases, the mandatory punishment is life in prison without parole. These circumstances include murder:
Additionally, New Jersey law specifically provides that felony murder is to be considered a crime in the first degree. Felony murder is defined as a murder that occurs – even if unintentionally – during the commission of, or flight from, a separate serious offense. In New Jersey, certain specific crimes often give rise to felony murder. These crimes are robbery, sexual assault, arson, burglary, kidnapping, carjacking, criminal escape, and terrorism.
Felony murder is also punishable by a minimum of 30 years in state prison.
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Larceny/Theft
Conviction on a charge of larceny in New Jersey requires the presence of two specific elements. First, the actor illegally takes or exercises control over the property of another person. Second, the actor intended to deprive the rightful owner of the property. Both elements are essential to charge a person with this crime in New Jersey, and both must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt for a conviction. This is a simple definition of larceny; however, the statutes related to this crime are comprehensive.
Most New Jersey larceny charges are based on the value of the stolen property, and there is a direct correlation between the seriousness of the offense and property value. The least serious theft offense is referred to as a disorderly persons offense. It is a relatively minor crime in New Jersey but, if convicted, a defendant could receive a six-month jail sentence. Larceny is classified as a disorderly persons offense when the property value is less than $200.
Theft or larceny in the fourth degree is charged for illegal taking or controlling of the property of another with a fair market value at or greater than $200, but less than $500. Upon conviction, the potential sentence is up to 18 months in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
Several specific circumstances qualify as larceny in the third degree, which is an offense punishable by a prison sentence between three and five years and a maximum fine of $15,000. Theft as a third-degree offense includes:
Similarly, larceny in the second degree is a more serious offense, and it is charged only in certain specific circumstances, including:
Theft as a second-degree offense is punishable by a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years in prison, along with a significant fine. The fine is not to exceed $150,000 or double the victim’s losses, whichever is greater.
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DUI
The laws that prohibit driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol in New Jersey are both strict and severe. As in most states, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle or boat with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. However, unlike many other states, a first-time DUI offender in New Jersey faces a potential jail sentence.
Under New Jersey law, any driver with a 0.08% or higher BAC as measured via a valid Breathalyzer test can be sentenced to a maximum of 30 days in jail, in addition to other criminal and administrative penalties.
Repeat offenders are subject to increasingly substantial jail sentences, fines, and other penalties. Anyone convicted of a second DUI within 10 years faces a minimum of 48 hours and a maximum of 90 days in jail. A third-time offender within 10 years must serve 180 days in jail. Again, these jail times are imposed in conjunction with other administrative penalties and substantial fines.
Far too often, a defendant feels that a New Jersey DUI lawyer is unnecessary. This is particularly true of first-time offenders who will elect to represent themselves in court. This reluctance to pay for a DUI lawyer is partially built on the assumption that there is no defense to DUI charges, but this assumption is false. Many defendants will find that a criminal defense lawyer in New Jersey can build a strong defense for them.
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Assault
Assault – causing or attempting to cause bodily harm to another individual – is clearly addressed in New Jersey law, which begins by dividing assault into two broad categories based on the intent of the actor and the seriousness of the harm caused to the victim. For example, causing serious bodily injury is a more substantial crime than causing bodily injury. The less serious offense, referred to as simple assault, is:
Simple assault is a disorderly persons offense, and it is punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000. In three specific simple assault situations, New Jersey law provides for a specific, alternative punishment. First, simple assault is considered a less serious crime when it is committed during a mutual fight. This type of assault is considered a petty disorderly persons offense, and the fine cannot exceed $500.
Second, simple assault is a more serious offense if it is committed to an elderly individual, as an employee of a health care facility. Third and finally, it is a more serious offense to commit simple assault at a school or community center when an individual under 16 is present. These more serious offenses can be punished by a maximum of 18 months in jail.
Assault can also be charged as an indictable offense in New Jersey and, in such cases, is referred to as aggravated assault. The circumstances leading to charges of aggravated assault are:
As an indictable offense, aggravated assault can be charged as a second-degree offense, third-degree offense, or fourth-degree offense. The degree is dependent upon the specific circumstances that led to each case and whether the victim suffered serious or significant bodily injury. An aggravated assault that results in significant bodily injury is likely to be charged as a second-degree offense, which is a very serious crime.
The maximum punishment for aggravated assault is 10 years in prison.
Other Crimes
The lawyers who comprise Criminal Lawyer are prepared to defend a variety of crimes in New Jersey. The experience of our criminal lawyers in New Jersey is not limited to the most common crimes in the state; rather, it extends to the defense of federal crimes as well as the pursuit of appeals to higher courts. Whether you are seeking a lawyer to defend you against charges of embezzlement or robbery, we can help.
Importance of an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer
Although there are many New Jersey law firms and lawyers, not every attorney in the state practices criminal law. When it comes to building a robust and strong defense to the criminal charges against you, it is imperative that you engage a lawyer who is focused on criminal law. Finding a lawyer with extensive experience in the specific area of criminal law applicable to your case is even better. This holds true whether you need a New Jersey larceny defense attorney or a team of simple assault lawyers in New Jersey.
If you are looking for experienced lawyers in New Jersey, but you don’t know where to turn to ensure the reliable defense you deserve, turn to us.
Find more information on a top New Jersey criminal lawyer who is ready to take your case.