It is never easy to face New Jersey’s criminal justice system. When you are charged with a crime, you have to go through an overwhelming criminal process involving different statutes, rules, and determinations that may be difficult to handle. One important thing to remember is no matter how small your criminal charges are, a criminal conviction can haunt you even years after paying your dues.
Our Stone Harbor, NJ, criminal defense attorneys from the Law Offices of John J. Zarych understand the difficulties and challenges criminal charges can have over your life. That is why we work aggressively and strategically to make sure all of your rights are upheld. To learn more about all of our services in a free, confidential consultation, call our law offices today at (609) 616-4956.
Reasons to Hire an Experienced Stone Harbor, NJ Criminal Defense Attorney
Facing New Jersey’s criminal justice system can be a daunting, overwhelming experience, especially if you have never been arrested and charged with a crime. The criminal process consists of different stages, each with its own sets of rules. As a defendant, it is essential to understand how this process works and what your rights are. Without the guidance and assistance of an experienced Stone Harbor, NJ criminal defense attorney, you may risk facing severe penalties.
One of the reasons you should hire an experienced, skilled criminal defense attorney is to understand how the law works. There may be multiple legal statutes and rules that may apply to your case, and having a clear understanding of them is crucial. Our Stone Harbor, NJ criminal defense attorneys can provide you with the legal representation you need.
Prepared and experienced public defenders are often overworked and underpaid, and they may not have the time and resources needed to go the extra mile in working your case. This is yet another reason to hire a Stone Harbor, NJ criminal defense attorney. At the Law Offices of John J. Zarych, we dedicate all of our resources and efforts to provide you with the quality legal assistance you deserve.
A criminal defense attorney can also help you with plea bargains, negotiate to lower your sentence, have your charges reduced, or have your case dismissed. However, to have access to these potential outcomes in your case, you need experienced legal representation like the one you can find at the Law Offices of John J. Zarych.
Criminal Penalties in Stone Harbor, NJ: Jail, Prison, and Fines
New Jersey – unlike other states – does not categorize crimes as misdemeanors and felonies. Instead, they refer to crimes as indictable crimes, disorderly person offenses, and petty disorderly persons offenses. To provide you with some perspective, an indictable crime is equivalent to a felony, and disorderly persons offenses are equivalent to misdemeanors.
The penalties for your criminal charges can change depending on the circumstances of your case. As a general rule of thumb, the more severe your crime, the higher your penalties. Indictable crimes in New Jersey are divided into degrees. Typically, the lower the degree, the more severe the punishment can be for the convicted felon. Let’s have a closer look. According to N.J.S.A. 2C:43-1, indictable crimes are divided into fourth, third, second, and first-degree crimes.
Fourth Degree Crimes
Fourth-degree crimes are the lowest type of “felony” in New Jersey. However, this does not mean this type of charge should be taken lightly. A criminal conviction for a fourth-degree indictable crime in New Jersey can lead to severe criminal penalties. Common examples of fourth-degree indictable crimes include things like marijuana possession, shoplifting, and lewdness. This type of crime is punishable with up to 18 months in prison and steep criminal fines.
Third Degree Crimes
Third-degree crimes are more serious and can lead to severe consequences if convicted. If you are found guilty of a third-degree crime in New Jersey, you can face up to five years in prison plus criminal fines. Examples of third-degree crimes include aggravated assault, drug charges, and eluding police officers. If you have been charged with a third-degree crime in New Jersey, you need to act quickly. Our Stone Harbor, NJ criminal defense attorneys can help.
Second Degree Crimes
A criminal conviction for a second-degree crime in New Jersey can lead to a maximum of ten years in prison plus thousands in criminal fines. Second-degree crimes typically involve offenses such as sexual assault, aggravated assault with serious bodily injury, and aggravated arson. If you or a loved one was charged with a second-degree crime in New Jersey, our Stone Harbor criminal defense attorneys can help.
First Degree Crimes
First-degree crimes in New Jersey are the most serious. A criminal conviction for this type of criminal offense can lead to devastating consequences. If you are found guilty of a first-degree crime, you can face up to 20 years in prison. If you were charged with a first-degree crime in New Jersey, we can help.
In addition to prison time and criminal fines, a convicted felon faces additional consequences. Typically, your criminal conviction will appear in your criminal background, which can have devastating implications. A criminal conviction in your record can make it nearly impossible to get a new job, apply for a loan, or get into college. If you have been charged with a crime in Stone Harbor, NJ, you need to act quickly. Our criminal defense attorneys can help you build a strong criminal defense strategy to defend and uphold your rights.
Stone Harbor, NJ Criminal Defense Attorneys Offering Free Consultations
Facing criminal charges in New Jersey can be one of the most intimidating experiences of your life. The criminal consequences of a criminal conviction can turn your life upside down in an instant. However, not everything is lost after facing criminal charges. You can always fight for your rights and your freedom. In our criminal justice system, you are innocent until proven guilty. With our Stone Harbor and Atlantic City criminal defense attorney’s assistance, you can make sure your constitutional rights are upheld every step of the way. Our criminal defense lawyers will fight aggressively and strategically to get the best possible outcome on your case. To learn more about our services in a free, confidential consultation, call the Law Offices of John J. Zarych today at (609) 616-4956.
