WESTFIELD, NJ. STATE AND FEDERAL 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 charged in Westfield Municipal Court, and Juveniles in Family court or if waived up in Union County Superior Court.  State Felony charges and Juvenile charges are heard in Union County, NJ Superior Court. The criminal division hears the felony charges and in most cases, the Family division in Union County, NJ Superior Court hears the Juvenile cases that are not waived up to the Union County Criminal Division Superior Court.

Federal Criminal Charges are heard at the New Jersey District Court located in Newark, New Jersey

Westfield NJ. is located in Union County and has approximately 31,000 people.

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

     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 case will be heard in the Westfield. NJ. Municipal Court by a Municipal 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 the Township of Springfield, NJ. Municipal Court. 

Felony charges are crimes.  Union County N.J. Superior Criminal Court deals with all felony criminal charges 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 Union County Superior Court Criminal Division are greater than in the Westfield, NJ. Municipal Court. In some cases, a criminal defense attorney may obtain a plea where a criminal charge is pleaded down to a disorderly persons charge, or the prosecution on its own accord will remand a criminal case to the Municipal Court. 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING CHARGED WITH A FELONY IN N.J. STATE COURT AND NEW JERSEY FEDERAL 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 is 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, and drug 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. State law enforcement agencies usually do not have the financial resources and training level of Federal Investigators.

The main difference is that State crimes are prosecuted under Title N.J.S.A. 2C while most of the Federal Crimes are prosecuted under Title 18 of the USC Code.

Notwithstanding, the major difference between State and Federal Crimes is that the Federal Courts have Sentencing guidelines that the Federal Criminal lawyer must understand, and Federal Case Law is related to the guidelines and the law. The sentencing guidelines are not complicated for most criminal defense lawyers.

The truth of the matter is that most Federal Cases are pleaded out. 

However, in the few cases that are not pleaded out, then the most significant skill is effective trial skills. There is no hierarchy for trial lawyers---a good state trial lawyer is just as effective with a federal jury as he is with a state jury.  One of the major skills that all trial lawyers have is knowing how to hire effective investigators and paralegals to digest and organize the trial.

Some Federal Crimes are the following:

• 1. Embezzlement
• Forgery
• 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 CHARGE IN WESTFIELD, NJ. TRIAL MUCH FASTER THAN A FELONY TRIAL?

A felony trial takes longer than a Municipal Trial for many reasons. However, one of the most significant reasons for the Criminal Defendant is that Municipal Trials require no voir dire while felony 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 felony 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 felony case irrespective of the New Jersey County Superior Court.

WHAT HAPPENS IF PLEA OR FOUND GUILTY OF DISORDERLY PERSONS IN WESTFIELD, 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. As mentioned above a disorderly persons defendant will be able to get a trial in a Municipal Court much faster than in a Felony Trial Court.

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

The Westfield, N.J. council and Mayor have enacted local ordinances. Some of these Ordinances pertain to personal conduct in , Westfield, NJ.  The 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 municipal ordinance violation.

Similar Ordinance violations will have lesser penalties than the State Statute; 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 Municipal Judge of the respective city will be able to see the Ordinance violation,

The Municipal Prosecutor for Westfield, NJ., and the Municipal Court Judge will know the Ordinance violations. The Criminal Defense Lawyer must familiarize himself with Westfield, NJ. Ordinance Violations.

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

  The State and Federal Criminal Court, Municipal Court, or Family Court Decision should not vary depending upon the Federal District Court, or city where the matter is being heard or the previous employment of the Attorney. 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. 

Many Federal Cases are handled by CJA (Criminal Justice Attorneys) appointed by the Federal Judge, but as in State Court, some people seek private counsel.

Attorney Charles Dawkins Jr., Esq. is licensed to practice law in all State and Federal Courts in New Jersey. Moreover, he has argued before N.J, Supreme Court and Appellate Division NJ. Appeals Courts; and he has appealed all the way to the United States Supreme Court.

Consequently, the Law Office of Charles Dawkins Jr., LLC represents  all Federal and State Felony charges, Disorderly Persons, and Family Court Juvenile matters in the entire State of New Jersey including the following cities: Westfield, NJ., Springfield N.J,, Fairfield, NJ, Elizabeth, NJ, Newark, 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