Do I Need to Worry about Child Custody Issues Due to Criminal Charges in NJ?
October 10, 2023
Potential Custody Outcomes for Parents who Get Charged with Crimes in New Jersey You bring children into the world, thinking you want the best for them and will do whatever it takes to fulfill that desire, but life sometimes turns out differently than you envision. Child custody is a significant issue when you split up with your children's mother or father. Be advised that when you cannot agree on child custody and visitation, a judge will decide for you. That decision will be the ... Read More»
Mechanisms of the New Jersey Bail System
October 2, 2023
Since NJ Reformed its Bail System, the Guidelines and Principles that Govern Pretrial Detention and Release Have Fundamentally Changed. Before January 2017, anyone arrested in New Jersey had to post bail to get out of jail pending a resolution of their charges. Typically, the accused posted cash or bond security to await a plea or trial outside of jail. The court set the bail amount to ensure the accused returned to court. Thus, if they did not return to court, the defendant would ... Read More»
Negotiating a Plea Bargain in New Jersey
September 24, 2023
In some criminal cases, a plea agreement is worth your consideration as an alternative to resolve the charges. Sometimes, it makes more sense to accept the state’s plea offer than to face a bench trial or trial by jury. Once you accept the prosecutor’s plea offer, you enter into an agreement or bargain that trades your guilty plea to some or all the charges for a lighter sentence, fewer charges, reduced charges, or waiver of mandatory minimum sentences, for example. A plea offer ... Read More»
Getting Indicted in New Jersey: Before, During, and After
September 10, 2023
Whether by arrest or summons, finding out that a grand jury indicted you can be surprising, confusing, and frightening. You may need to learn what an indictment means and what happens next. You may even confuse indictments with convictions and believe you are going to jail. An indictment means that a grand jury found sufficient evidence for the state to prosecute you formally. Even with a criminal charge, you face only an accusation of committing a crime; you are not proven guilty. When ... Read More»
Implications of Wire Fraud Charges in New Jersey
September 3, 2023
Most people are aware that scams are everywhere. You go to your email inbox and find offers, warnings, and pleas to get you to send personal information or money. Some look like legitimate ads or promotions from known reputable sources. The range of subject matter, from real estate, healthcare, consumables, and banking to investment and job opportunities, is vast. Wire fraud schemes are white collar crimes with severe penalties that typically form a cluster of federal and state ... Read More»
Seeking a Deferred Disposition for NJ Juvenile Charges
August 27, 2023
In juvenile court matters, the aim is to assist juveniles in getting the resources they need to get them on track to living a lawful life outside of the penal system. To that effect, the juvenile court philosophy encourages rehabilitation over incarceration for those with the potential to turn their lives around. In that vein, a court may give a juvenile defendant a deferred disposition. Instead of going to court, facing adjudication as a juvenile, and sentencing for a crime, a minor may ... Read More»