New Jersey's Criminal Defense Blog

As a New Jersey resident, understanding your legal rights is essential for protecting yourself if you face criminal charges. Your rights regarding search and seizure law are particularly crucial. The Law Office of Jason A. Volet understands the challenges people face when they believe law enforcement officers may…

New Jersey issues probationary licenses to new drivers who are at least 17 years old. These licenses are subject to certain rules and limitations. Drivers 18 and older can upgrade to a regular driver’s license after 12 months of unsupervised driving. How Do You Obtain a Probationary License…

A waiver of extradition is when someone waives their right to an extradition hearing or similar procedures. They agree to be returned to the requesting state or country without going through the usual extradition process to fight it. What Is Extradition? Extradition is the formal process of one…

The main differences between aggravated and simple assault in New Jersey are the severity of the injury caused by the offense and the degree of charges. Simple assault is a more minor crime charged as a disorderly person’s offense. Aggravated assault is serious and charged as an indictable…

What is the Age of Consent in New Jersey? The age of consent in New Jersey is 16. That means anyone under 16 cannot legally consent to sexual activity of any kind. Although someone under the age of consent might agree to a sexual act, by definition, they…

In New Jersey, driving while intoxicated (DWI) and driving under the influence (DUI) are essentially the same. Impaired driving offenses are all DWIs in our state. Even though DWI is the official legal term here, DUI is a popular equivalent. If you’re facing a DWI charge in New…

You can usually expunge one indictable crime and three disorderly persons charges from your record after waiting four to five years in New Jersey, though exceptions apply. Records of recovery court matters, some marijuana charges, and arrests that don’t result in a conviction can also be expunged.   Expungement…

New Jersey’s expungement procedures allow some people with criminal histories to have certain records isolated or sealed from the public record. An expungement is an important legal option to explore because a criminal background can affect future life opportunities, such as getting a job or finding suitable housing….

If you have been accused of shoplifting in New Jersey, you might wonder how serious the charge against you is. In most instances, shoplifting in New Jersey is categorized as a “disorderly persons offense,” roughly the equivalent of a misdemeanor in other states. But if the value of the…

You can obtain a copy of your criminal record through the New Jersey Division of State Police Criminal Information Unit (CIU). You can also try requesting a copy of your records from a specific law enforcement agency or court. However, the CIU is the most efficient source for…