Blog: Criminal Law

When it comes to background checks in New Jersey, individuals often wonder what information will be revealed to potential employers, landlords, or other interested parties. One common question that arises is whether a disorderly offense will show up on a background check. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of disorderly offenses in New Jersey, how they differ from other criminal charges, and whether they will appear on your background check. Understanding Disorderly...

When facing criminal charges in New Jersey, understanding the sentencing factors and how they can affect the outcome of your case is crucial. Sentencing in criminal defense cases is a complex process that takes various factors into consideration. In this article, we will delve into the important elements of criminal sentencing in New Jersey, including aggravating factors, mitigating factors, pretrial intervention (PTI), defense strategies, and how judges determine sentences in criminal cases. I. Aggravating Factors:...

Some Halloween pranks may be illegal, even when they have no bad intentions. Teens who get into the holiday spirit may go out and cause mischief with their friends. Depending on the type of mischief, they may be charged with a crime. Some charges may drop once the teen turns 18 but some can follow them through life. Common Crimes that Teens Commit On/Around Halloween These are some of the most common...

Drug possession charges on their own can be life-changing. When you factor in an intention to sell or distribute drugs, it can lead to even more severe consequences. If you’re dealing with potential criminal drug possession charges with intent to sell, it’s imperative that you reach out to a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. What Does Drug Possession with Intent to Sell Mean? Drug possession with intent to sell, or crimes under N.J.S.A...

Halloween is one of the most common times of the year for crime. You might be surprised to learn some of the statistics related to this crime increase. Here are some of the most surprising facts about Halloween crime spikes: Of the number of car accident fatalities on Halloween night, 40% are due to drinking and driving, according to the NHTSA. Property crime is the most common crime committed on Halloween,...

As a parent, you often worry about the safety and well-being of your child. It can be especially scary when you receive a phone call that your teen has been arrested. For the first time, you may no longer have control over the consequences that your child receives. It’s common and likely that you will have a lot of questions. Here are a few of the most common questions about juvenile crimes in New Jersey: What...

New Jersey is one of the strictest states when it comes to weapons charges. If you are dealing with potential weapons charges, whether it is a disorderly persons offense or a first-degree crime, you need an experienced lawyer to build your defense. The sooner that you reach out to a lawyer, the more options you may have. Continue reading to find out what the penalty for a weapons charge in New Jersey is. Types...

Because possession of marijuana is no longer a crime, a police officers’ ability to stop, search, or detain you based on the smell of raw or burnt marijuana has been eliminated. If you are a pedestrian, a police officer may not stop you, request to search you, or even detain you based on the odor of burnt or raw marijuana. In addition, the odor of marijuana by itself does not establish probable cause to conduct...

The Attorney General has issued guidelines related to the new law in New Jersey which has legalized marijuana. The first instruction to all prosecutors is that any pending charge of distribution of marijuana or hashish be dismissed. If you have any of the above charges currently pending against you, they will be dismissed. The Attorney General’s Directive also addresses cases which had been previously resolved. For all of the same criminal charges...

The New Jersey Appellate Division recently decided in State v. Simms that a defendant who was arrested by the police in a murder case should have been informed of the precise charge he was facing in order to properly waive his Miranda rights. The arrest was based on the police officer’s determination of probable cause to believe the defendant committed a murder. What this means is that once arrested, the police must tell a person...