WOODBRIDGE NJ CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY
. The Law Office of Charles Dawkins Jr., LLC ph. (908)-962-9929 represents the accused charged with all criminal felony charges, disorderly persons, Municipal Ordinance violations, DUI, and Traffic violations allegedly committed in Woodbridge, NJ. . The Woodbridge New Jersey Township Court is one of the busiest municipal courts in the State of New Jersey. The Woodbridge Township Municipal Court is located at 1 Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ. 07095. Persons charged with felony crimes allegedly committed in Woodbridge, N.J. Township are charged in Middlesex County, NJ. Superior Court. Attorney Charles Dawkins Jr., has over 20 years of legal experience.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DISORDERLY PERSONS CHARGE IN WOODBRIDGE, NJ MUNICIPAL COURT, AND A FELONY CHARGE?
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 New Jersey the accused of a disorderly person or petty disorderly person will not be tried with a jury, but the 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 Disorderly Persons case will be heard in Woodbridge. NJ. Municipal Court by a Judge. The 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.
Domestic violence disorderly persons complaints are also heard in Woodbridge, NJ. Municipal Court. The Judge will usually Order the Accused to have "no contact" with the alleged victim during the proceedings in Municipal Court. Domestic Violence complaints are serious in all courts.
Felony charges are crimes. Middlesex County N.J. Superior Criminal Court deals with all felony criminal charges committed within Middlesex County, NJ. located in 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
The sentencing penalties in Middlesex County Superior Court Criminal Division are greater than in Woodbridge, NJ. Municipal Court. In some cases, a criminal defense attorney may obtain a plea where a criminal charge is pleaded down to a disorderly person's charge, or the prosecution on its own accord will remand a criminal case to Woodbridge, NJ. Municipal Court.
WHAT HAPPENS IF DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY OR IS FOUND GUILTY OF DISORDERLY PERSONS IN WOODBRIDGE, NJ MUNICIPAL COURT?
A conviction for a disorderly persons offense 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 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.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLEADING TO A WOODBRIDGE, NJ. ORDINANCE VIOLATION AND PLEADING TO A DISORDERLY PERSONS OFFENSE?
The Council Township of Woodbridge in the County of Middlesex, NJ. has enacted "The Revised General Ordinances of the Township of Woodbridge 1996." The City Ordinances cite many police regulations under Chapter III including some of the following: litter control; consumption and possession of alcoholic beverages in public places; drug paraphernalia; glue with toxic fumes; drug-free school zones; noise control; discharge of firearms; possession and use of high-powered guns; juice bars and cabarets; skateboards, bicycles, tricycles and similar vehicles; bingo and games of chance permitted on Sunday; discotheques; Halloween curfew ordinance; loitering; supervision of minors; obscene materials; obscene crime and "comic" publications; disorderly conduct; proscribing the emission of body fluids and/or solids; enhanced penalties for offenses motivated by racial, religious, or other animus.
Ordinance violations have lesser penalties than violations under the 2C Criminal Code violations. Moreover, Ordinance violations are not on any criminal history report as disorderly persons violations. The disorderly person's record is not like bad credit. It does not drop off in time. It remains there until the record is expunged. Even if the record is expunged, the police will always be able to see the record. In some cases, the Criminal Defense Attorney may be able to negotiate with the Municipal Prosecutor a downgrade of a disorderly persons violation to an Ordinance violation if the Attorney can get a factual basis for the Ordinance violation.
CONTACT A WOODBRIDGE, N.J. CRIMINAL LAWYER TODAY
If you are accused of violating any Crime, disorderly persons offense, or Ordinance violation in Woodbridge, NJ. Contact the Law Office of Charles Dawkins Jr. LLC. Here at the Law Office of Charles Dawkins Jr., LLC, we will represent you and defend you against Criminal charges, dui, disorderly persons, and Ordinance Violation allegations. Schedule a Consultation to learn more. Attorney Charles Dawkins Jr. has practiced Criminal Defense Law in Municipal, State, Federal, and Appellate courts. He has been practicing law for over 20 years.