If you are found guilty of committing a criminal offense in the state of New Jersey, the odds are that you may now be up against serious, long-term, and life-altering consequences. Continue reading to learn the maximum possible penalties for criminal offenses and how an experienced Morristown criminal defense lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC can help reduce or eliminate them altogether.
What are the different criminal offenses recognized by New Jersey law?
Unlike most states, New Jersey law does not use the terms, “misdemeanor” or “felony” when describing the two categories for criminal offenses. Rather, it uses the terms, “disorderly persons offense” and “indictable offense,” respectively.
On the one hand, a disorderly persons offense is a low-level crime typically handled by the municipal court rather than a grand jury indictment or a trial by jury. Common examples include simple assault, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, shoplifting goods worth less than $200, etc.
On the other hand, an indictable offense is a serious crime usually punishable by a prison sentence of at least one year, along with other serious penalties, as per the grand jury’s or trial jury’s best judgments. An indictable offense is further broken down into four subcategories. Namely, there are first-degree (i.e., murder, manslaughter, and aggravated assault); second-degree (i.e., burglary, robbery, and arson); third-degree (i.e., heroin possession, theft, and fraud); and fourth-degree offenses (i.e., criminal mischief, restraining order violation, and harassment).
What are the maximum possible penalties for criminal offenses in New Jersey?
Even though a disorderly persons offense is considered a low-level crime, it is still associated with significant criminal punishments. That is, the maximum possible penalty is a fine of up to $1,000 and a jail sentence of up to six months. There may even be the possibility of a driver’s license suspension, regardless of whether the offense was driving-related.
Then, a first-degree indictable offense is the most serious crime you can be found guilty of. With that being said, the maximum possible penalty is a fine of up to $200,000 and a life sentence in prison. What’s more, many first-degree offenses fall under the state of New Jersey’s No Early Release Act. This act holds that you must serve at least 85 percent of your prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Unfortunately, regardless of whether you are charged with a disorderly persons offense or an indictable offense, you may receive a permanent criminal record. This may have long-lasting impacts on your personal life, such as your ability to obtain employment, see your children, own property, and much more.
We strongly encourage you to retain the services of a skilled Morristown criminal defense lawyer. You may do so by scheduling an initial consultation with Graves Andrews, LLC today.
