When someone is charged with a crime, they have a lot on the line, which is why it is imperative that they speak with an experienced Morristown criminal defense lawyer who can formulate the best strategy possible going forward in an effort to effectively combat their charges. A criminal conviction can follow a person for the rest of their life. Our firm staunchly believes that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and we are ready to do everything in our power to have your charges mitigated, or, in the best cases, altogether dropped. We are on your side. Contact Graves Andrews, LLC to learn more about what we can do for you.
Do I Need a Morristown Criminal Defense Lawyer?
Mr. Graves served as an assistant prosecutor at the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office for more than four years and is an experienced criminal defense attorney. He has argued numerous cases throughout the state in Municipal Courts, Superior Courts, and the Appellate Division. Our Morristown criminal defense lawyer will take the time to sit down with you to review and discuss the facts of your case and answer any questions or concerns you have.
Our firm’s first priority is making sure you understand every aspect of your case. As a former assistant prosecutor, Mr. Graves prosecuted a wide range of criminal matters and worked side-by-side with police and detectives in assisting them with search warrant applications and investigations. This past experience as an assistant prosecutor allowed Mr. Graves to see, firsthand, the techniques and methods utilized by law enforcement to gather evidence and the mistakes and shortcuts that occur when this is not done properly.
In addition to handling adult criminal matters, Mr. Graves’ practice also includes representing juveniles in Family Court, where the person charged is younger than eighteen years of age. In most cases, the overall goal of the Family Court is the rehabilitation of the juvenile. Mr. Graves has extensive experience in all aspects of juvenile proceedings and has handled numerous cases over the years as both an assistant prosecutor and defense attorney.
Our Legal Services
Graves Andrews, LLC handles a wide array of criminal matters, including the following:
- Posting Bail
- Pretrial Intervention (PTI)
- Drug Offenses
- Theft and Fraud Offenses
- Assault Offenses
- Eluding
- Motor Vehicle Violations
- Driving While Intoxicated
- Domestic Violence
- Sex Offenses
- Arson
- Juvenile Offenses
- Probation Violations
- Parole Violations
- Drug Court Violations
- Indictable offenses
- Non-indictable offenses (Disorderly Persons, Petty Disorderly Persons, Ordinance Violations)
Domestic Violence Defense in Morristown
New Jersey takes domestic violence very seriously and has enacted some of the most comprehensive and protective laws in the country to ensure that victims of domestic violence can receive protection against their abusers from the courts. By its nature, domestic violence is something that often occurs in the privacy of the family home behind closed doors. Victims of domestic violence often live this unfortunate reality for many years before coming forward and seeking help from the courts. This is particularly true when the party who is being abused is financially dependent on the abuser.
As a former assistant prosecutor, Mr. Graves is keenly aware of the nuances and unique issues involved in domestic violence cases. He is also aware that occasionally, people abuse the protections available under the domestic violence statute by making false accusations of domestic violence against an innocent party. If you are the victim of a false accusation of domestic violence, you should speak with a knowledgeable Morristown criminal defense lawyer here at Graves Andrews, LLC as soon as you can.
The Burdens of a Criminal Record
Having a criminal record comes with a unique set of burdens that can affect a person for years into the future. Some of the most common burdens associated with having a criminal record are as follows:
- Having difficulty getting certain jobs
- Being unable to rent certain properties
- Being unable to secure certain loans
- Being placed on the Sex Offender Registry (if you were convicted of a sex offense)
- Losing your driver’s license
- It may affect your immigration status, if applicable
These are just some of the long-term effects of having a criminal record, which is why if you are currently facing criminal charges, you need a Morristown criminal defense lawyer who can effectively fight them.
Expungements in New Jersey
Expungements are truly a wonderful thing. They allow you to wipe the slate clean by erasing your arrest record and criminal history. In today’s job market, any type of criminal infraction, even a charge or arrest for a minor offense that was ultimately dismissed, can ruin an otherwise promising employment opportunity. Expunging your arrest record and criminal history is beneficial in the following ways:
- With the exception of law enforcement and the judiciary, you will be able to legally answer on job applications and during interviews that you were not arrested or convicted of the offense that you had expunged.
- You may become eligible to purchase and possess firearms
- It increases your chances of being considered for employment opportunities in law enforcement, governmental agencies, and other positions where security clearance is required.
Many criminal offenses are eligible for expungement. Therefore, you should not assume that your conviction is not eligible. An attorney must carefully look at your record to determine what actually happened when you appeared in court on the underlying charge(s) to understand if and when you will be eligible for an expungement.
Contact a Morris County Criminal Defense Lawyer
Whether you’ve been charged with a crime, convicted of one, and are looking to have your record cleared, or you have any other criminal matter that you need assistance with, you can depend on Graves Andrews, LLC to fight for your rights through every step of the process ahead. Contact us so we can get started.
