CAMDEN, NJ. CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY 

The Law Office of Charles Dawkins Jr. LLC (908) 962-9929 is an experienced criminal defense attorney who represents Criminal Defendants charged with crimes in State and Federal Courts; Disorderly Persons charges in  Camden, NJ   Municipal Court, and alleged Juvenile Delinquent Acts in Family court or if waived up in Camden County Superior Court. State Criminal charges and Juvenile charges are heard in Camden County, NJ Superior Court.  Federal Criminal Charges are heard at the New Jersey District Court located in Mitchell H. Cohen Building & U.S. Courthouse 4th & Cooper Street, Camden, New Jersey.

The goal is to give Criminal Defendants effective legal counsel while permitting them to make voluntary, knowing, and with a full understanding of the consequences of their decisions---not to make decisions for them and certainly not to push them to take a plea but to advise them.

Camden, NJ. is located in Camden County, NJ. Camden, NJ is very close to Pennsylvania. The State Courthouse is located within walking distance of the light rail. Camden New Jersey has produced many great citizens including Lola Falana who was at one time one of the most sought-after entertainers in Las Vegas and on many television shows and commercials. 

 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DISORDERLY PERSONS CHARGE IN CAMDEN, NJ MUNICIPAL COURT, AND A  CRIMINAL CHARGE IN STATE COURT?

One important distinction is that Disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses are petty offenses and are not crimes within the meaning of the Constitution of New Jersey State. N.J.S.A. 2C:1-4(b) In Camden, NJ., the accused of a disorderly person or petty disorderly person will not be tried with a jury, but the, NJ. Municipal Judge will be the trier of fact in the case, and the accused will not be indicted by a Grand Jury.  The legal action will be initiated by a Complaint. THERE IS NO RIGHT TO INDICTMENT BY GRAND JURY AND NO RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF DISORDERLY PERSONS. 

     The Camden, NJ. Municipal Prosecutor will prosecute the case. Some examples of Disorderly persons offenses are Harrassment, Simple Assault, Shoplifting (less than 200 dollars)  Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest, Lewdness, and Obstruction of Justice.  In some cases, a plea agreement is accepted in Camden County Superior Court that downgrades the Criminal charge to a disorderly persons charge. The Camden County Superior Court Judge has the authority to hear and accept or reject plea offers that deal with downgraded criminal charges to disorderly persons charges.   

 New Jersey Criminal charges committed in Camden, NJ. are heard in Camden County N.J. Superior Criminal Court. The New Jersey Criminal Code fails to classify serious crimes as "Felonies". Union County Superior Court prosecutes all criminal charges under Title 2C of the New Jersey Criminal Code.  Some of these charges are the following:

• Criminal Homicide
• Assault, Reckless Endangering; Threats
• Kidnapping and Related Offenses: Coercion
• Aggravated Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault, Sexual Contact
• Robbery
• Bias Crimes
• Arson, Criminal Mischief, and Other Property Destruction
• Burglary, and theft above a certain amount
• Forgery
• Possession of Drugs, Manufacturing of Drugs, or Distributing Drugs   
• Domestic Violence
• Bribery and Corrupt Influence
• Misconduct in Office; Abuse of Office
• Controlled Dangerous Substances
• Anti-Drug Profiteering Act
• Drug Dealer Liablility
• Firearms, Other Dangerous Weapons and InstrumCents of Crime
• Sexual Offenses
• Stalking (often related to Domestic violence and Restraining Orders)

 The sentencing penalties in Camden County Superior Court Criminal Division are greater than in Camden, NJ. Municipal Court. In some cases, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office on its own accord will remand a criminal case to Camden, NJ. Municipal Court. The Camden County NJ Prosecutor has the discretion to charge according to its interpretation of the New Jersey Criminal Code. 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A  CRIMINAL CHARGE IN N.J. STATE COURT AND A FELONY CHARGE IN  NEW JERSEY FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT?

There are many differences. This article will only highlight a few. The major difference is that "generally" Federal Law Enforcement Agencies complete the Criminal Investigation---such as the FBI and DEA.  The FBI agents are trained in Quantico, Virginia and some of the agents are lawyers and accountants, while all of the agents are college educated and highly trained in financial crimes, violent crimes, drug crimes, and other Federal Crimes. Consequently, many times the cases presented for prosecution are compelling. 

The Federal Government must be at the cutting edge of technology to protect the citizenry. The Federal Government have many technological crime prevention advancements, some of them unknown to the general public.

Moreover, State crimes are prosecuted under Title N.J.S.A. 2C while most Federal Crimes are prosecuted under Title 18 of the US Code and Title 26 of the US Code. If a person is charged with a crime in Camden, NJ, most of the time the Camden Police Department or the New Jersey State Police will conduct the investigation.

Notwithstanding, the major difference between State and Federal Crimes is that the Federal Court have Sentencing guidelines that the Federal Criminal lawyer must understand, and Federal Case Law is related to the guidelines and Statutory law. The sentencing guidelines are not complicated for most criminal defense lawyers.  Most law schools have courses regarding federal crimes and sentencing taught by former or current High ranking former U.S Attorneys, Federal Defenders, or Federal District Judges.

The truth of the matter is that most Federal Cases are pleaded out. The Federal Guidelines offer "Offense Level Reduction for Acceptance of Responsibility" as well as other Sentencing guideline options depending on the facts of the case.  Statistically, the federal government wins as high as 97 percent of cases which rivals the rate of the USSR; and most are deals. 

 The Federal Judge sometimes will appoint CJA lawyers. In New Jersey, most CJA Lawyers are former Federal Prosecutors in New Jersey. 

The Law Office of Charles Dawkins Jr., LLC has trial experience in Federal Court. While trials are rare---some accused will refuse to plea guilty which is their right after the Attorney has thoroughly explained the case, given them all discovery, and thoroughly went over the plea offer by the government. The government usually put the plea offer in writing and are forthcoming.

The Government is good but they are not perfect. If a Camden, NJ. Criminal Defendant believes they are innocent they should seek a lawyer who wants to try the case. If the client wants to try the case and the Lawyer does not---the case will be a disaster! 

• Healthcare Fraud
• Mail and Wire Fraud
• Money Laundering
• Mortgage Fraud
• Securities Fraud
• Mortgage Fraud
• Immigration crimes-smuggling across the border
• Drug Crimes
• Violent Crimes.

WHY IS A DISORDERLY PERSONS CHARGED IN CAMDEN, NJ. MUNICIPAL COURT TRIAL MUCH FASTER THAN CAMDEN, COUNTY NJ CRIMINAL COURT.

     Camden, NJ. Municipal court is able to try a case faster than Camden County Superior Court for many reasons.al for many reasons. However, one of the most significant reasons for the Camden, NJ. Criminal Defendant is that Municipal Trials require no voir dire while criminal trials require voire dire. State v. Zola, 112 N.J. 384, 395 (1988) (“Voir dire is a shorthand expression for the questioning of a pool of potential jury members to select impartial jurors to hear a case.) 

In most Camden County, NJ State criminal cases, a jury must be selected and much time is taken in an attempt to select a fair and impartial jury. This process is painstaking and very important in any criminal case irrespective of the New Jersey County Superior Court.

WHAT HAPPENS IF PLEA OR FOUND GUILTY OF DISORDERLY PERSONS IN CAMDEN, NJ MUNICIPAL COURT?

     A conviction for a disorderly persons offense generally carries a maximum possible sentence of up to six months in jail and or a fine of up to 1000 dollars. The person may also be sentenced to pay restitution. N.J.S.A. 2C:43-3(c); N.J.S.A  2C: 43-8

     A conviction for a petty disorderly person's offense carries a maximum possible sentence of up to 30 days in jail and or a fine of up to 500.00 dollars. The person may also be sentenced to pay restitution. N.J.S.A. 2C:43-3(d); N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8

     The facts of the case and the defendant's prior criminal history will affect the outcome of the penalty under the Statute. The disorderly persons accused in Camden NJ. Municipal Court has the right to a trial and if he is unable to afford counsel and qualifies for legal assistance, Counsel will be appointed to him. As mentioned above a disorderly persons defendant will be able to get a trial in Camden, NJ.  Municipal Court much faster than Camden County, NJ. Criminal Court.

  WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLEADING TO CAMDEN, NJ ORDINANCE VIOLATION AND PLEADING TO A DISORDERLY PERSONS OFFENSE?

The Camden, N.J. council and Mayor have enacted local ordinances. Some of these Ordinances pertain to personal conduct in Camden, NJ. Camden, NJ. local police know these ordinances. Occasionally a person will be charged with an Ordinance violation or the Attorney will negotiate a plea bargain that entails a Camden, NJ. municipal ordinance violation.

Similar Ordinance violations will have lesser penalties than the New Jersey Criminal Code; moreover, the violation will be precluded from the State Criminal History. The Criminal Defense Attorney may in some cases be able to negotiate a city Ordinance violation as opposed to a 2C Criminal Code violation. The disorderly persons record is not like bad credit. It does not drop off automatically in time. The record remains there until the record is expunged.  Even if the record is expunged, the police will always be able to see the record. The Garwood, NJ. Municipal Judge will be able to see the Ordinance violation,

The Municipal Prosecutor for the city of Camden, NJ., and the Camden, NJ. Municipal Court Judge will know the Ordinance violations. The Criminal Defense Lawyer must familiarize himself/herself with Camden, NJ Municipal Ordinances,

CONTACT THE LAW OFFICE OF CHARLES DAWKINS JR LLC. IF YOU HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH ANY STATE CRIME, FEDERAL FELONY, DISORDERLY PERSONS, OR JUVENILE OFFENSE(S) IN CAMDEN, NJ.

   Camden County, NJ. State Criminal Court and Federal Criminal Courts', Municipal Courts', or Family Courts' Decisions should not vary depending upon the Federal District Court, or city where the matter is being heard. The United States Constitution, Federal Statutes, and Sentencing guidelines apply to all Federal Courts regardless of the State. Also, the New Jersey State Constitution, New Jersey Supreme Court, precedential Appellate Division Superior Court decisions, and New Jersey Statutory Law and Rules apply to the entire New Jersey State. 

     Consequently, the Law Office of Charles Dawkins Jr., LLC represents all Federal Felonies and State criminal charges, Disorderly Persons, and Family Court Juvenile matters in the entire State of New Jersey including the following cities: Camden, NJ., Garwood, NJ,. Summit, NJ., Scotch Plains, NJ., Cranford, NJ, Westfield, NJ., Springfield N.J,, Fairfield, NJ, Elizabeth, NJ, Newark, NJ. East Orange, NJ, Irvington, NJ., Jersey City, NJ. Edison, NJ. Hamilton Township, Trenton, NJ. Parsippany, NJ., Paterson, NJ., Middleton Township, Lakewood Township, NJ., Cherry Hill, NJ., Hackensack, NJ, Franklin Township, NJ., Mount Holly, NJ, and the entire state of New Jersey.   THE LAW OFFICE PHONE NUMBER IS (908) 962-9929