Burlington County, NJ Law Blog

How much prison time could I receive if I am convicted of burglary?

Burglary and theft are both property crimes that carry potentially serious penalties in the state of New Jersey.  While the crimes of theft, robbery, and burglary are often lumped together, these crimes have quite different definitions and penalties vary widely depending on which crime you have been accused.  Anyone charged with a theft related crime should contact a New Jersey criminal defense lawyer for assistance with mounting a strong defense against these grave charges.
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What happens during a grand jury proceeding in NJ?

Grand jury proceedings are largely shrouded in mystery for most defendants.  Individuals who face serious felony charges in New Jersey may be indicted via a grand jury.  During a grand jury proceeding, up to 23 New Jersey citizens are shown evidence and asked to determine whether or not the charges should result in an indictment.
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Will I be sentenced to jail time if I am arrested for heroin possession?

A heroin epidemic is sweeping much of New Jersey and the rest of the nation.  According to data released by the New Jersey Medical Examiner’s Office, Camden County alone was the site of 115 fatal heroin overdoses in 2015.  Fentanyl, a prescription opioid, killed an additional 53 people that year.  Several other counties experienced similarly high death counts.  Hundreds of other heroin and fentanyl users are arrested for Read more . . .

What are the best defenses to a DUI/DWI charge?

Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a serious offense in New Jersey.  The penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol range from up to 30 days in jail and loss of your license for three months to 180 days of jail time and suspension of your license for 10 years.  While being charged with a DUI is frightening, a charge does not always have to equal a conviction.  There are several options when it comes to mounting a strong defense against your DUI/DWI charge.  Our Read more . . .

How many people are wrongfully convicted each year?

Over two million Americans are currently behind bars, representing the world’s highest incarceration rate.  It is difficult to accurately calculate how many of those in jail actually committed the crimes of which they were convicted.  One study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that 4.1 percent of defendants sentenced to death in America were later found to be innocent.  This equates to one in 25 innocent death row inmates, and the true figure could be far higher among the general prison population.
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What are the penalties for being convicted of a weapons charge?

New Jersey strictly enforces its numerous gun and weapons laws.  Conviction for a weapons offense can lead to stiff penalties, including prison time.  Gun charges can be secondary crimes that exacerbate the punishment of the main crime, such as possession of a firearm while committing a burglary.  A gun offense can also be a standalone crime, in which possessing the illegal weapon is sufficient for indictment.  Our Read more . . .

What are the grounds for suppressing evidence in New Jersey?

If you are facing criminal charges and have concerns about some of the evidence that the state intends to use against you, you may wish to have the evidence suppressed or deemed inadmissible in court.  To successfully move to have evidence excluded, you will need to file a motion to suppress evidence with the assistance of your experienced criminal defense lawyer.  Suppression motions must be backed by strong proof as to why the evidence should not be admissible and, while many suppression motions are filed, only a small portion of them are granted.
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What convictions are eligible for expungement in New Jersey?

Having a criminal record can seriously impact your ability to find employment, apply for loans or scholarships, and better your career.  Your criminal record will be visible to potential employers, schools, and others.  Even if you were not convicted of a particular crime, you will still have an arrest and arraignment record, which could be enough for potential employers to pass on your job application.  The good news for some people in New Jersey is that there are ways to erase your criminal record.  The process is called Read more . . .

When must prosecutors turn over evidence to defendants in New Jersey?

If you have been charged with a crime, you are entitled to receive certain kinds of evidence and information.  Generally, a defendant has the right to receive evidence held by the prosecution before trial.  This is known as discovery, and the prosecutor’s duty to turn over discovery is ongoing.  In New York and several other states, however, prosecutors are legally allowed to wait until right before trial to turn over witness statements and other key pieces of evidence.  Such late discovery can cripple your ability to defend against the criminal charges against you.

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What are the sex offender registration requirements in New Jersey?

Sex crimes are some of the most serious offenses you can face in New Jersey.  If convicted of a sex offense, you could be sentenced to years or even decades in prison.  In addition to prison time, sex offenders will be forced to comply with New Jersey’s sex offender registration law, known as “Megan’s Law.”  Megan’s Law enacts strict requirements for sex offenders that can be life altering.  Our Read more . . .

Is fingerprint evidence reliable?

Crime scene investigators have long relied on fingerprint evidence to uncover who committed a crime.  Fingerprint evidence is widely regarded as powerful evidence because all of us carry around a unique pattern of swirls and ridges on each of our fingers.  Despite the widespread use of fingerprint evidence in courtrooms across the nation, many judges and researchers across the nation have questioned whether fingerprint experts use scientifically sound techniques to determine a suspect’s identity.  Our Read more . . .