New Jersey's Criminal Defense Blog
Typically, law enforcement officers in New Jersey must obtain a warrant before they can search a person or a person’s property. However, an exception exists for automobiles. Police officers do not need a warrant to make a traffic stop or search a person’s vehicle. Instead, they can act…
Shoplifting is not a minor offense in New Jersey. If you are convicted of shoplifting, you face a serious risk of going to jail. It will depend on the circumstances of the charge, including whether: The full retail value of the item (or items) that you allegedly stole…
In 1994, New Jersey passed Megan’s Law. The law provides additional consequences for those convicted of sex crimes, including a requirement to register as a sex offender. Aggravated sexual assault and criminal sexual contact are among the crimes that could require you to register as a sex offender…
If you have been arrested in New Jersey for an indictable offense – also called a Superior Court offense or, in other states, a felony – you will have many things to worry about, including what it will be like to go into the courtroom. As you wait…
If a small quantity is involved, it can be relatively minor charge. However, it can be charged as a second-degree crime with penalties that involve fines up to $150,000 and up to a 10-year prison sentence if the value of the drugs is worth $75,000 or more. While…
Police in New Jersey can obtain different types of warrants. Arrest warrants, bench warrants and search warrants are the three main types. While police use a search warrant to find and seize evidence in a case, they use bench and arrest warrants to take people into custody. If…
It can come as a shock to find there is a bench warrant out against you. Issued by a judge, a bench warrant is generally put into effect when you have failed to comply with a court order or to take certain required actions. Unfortunately, once it has…
If you are charged with aggravated assault in New Jersey, you need to take the charge seriously. While simple assault is a disorderly persons offense, or misdemeanor, aggravated assault is an indictable offense, or felony. If convicted for the offense, you could face a significant fine and prison…
Possession of Alcohol Underage in NJ Results in a Fine Most people know that the legal age to consume alcohol in New Jersey is 21. If a person under the legal drinking age, or a “minor,” is caught holding or drinking alcohol in our state, the minor could…
You can get in legal trouble in many ways because of drugs – even without having drugs in your possession. Possession of drug paraphernalia is one of those situations. In particular, you may face serious consequences in New Jersey if you are found to be in possession of…