Bergen County Criminal Defense Lawyers

Criminal Defense Lawyers With Exceptional Experience Defending Cases At The Bergen County Superior Court

Whenever someone is charged with a crime of the first degree, second degree, third degree, or fourth degree in New Jersey, the related offense is considered indictable. A local municipal court lacks jurisdiction to hear criminal cases within these grades and the charges must be referred to the Bergen County Superior Court. These types of violations typically arise out of investigations conduct by a police department, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, or investigators from the Division of Law.

If, after the investigation, the police believe they have probable cause to believe a violation of criminal law was committed, a complaint charging the accused can be issued. This commonly comes in the form of a warrant complaint which requires a formal arrest and transport to the Bergen County Jail, or a summons can be issued requiring an initial court appearance at the county courthouse in Hackensack on some later date.

Whether your case was filed on a summons complaint or on a warrant, you will have an initial appearance at the county court where the terms of your pretrial release are set. In the event that the prosecutor files a detention motion, you will be held for an additional three (3) business days until a contested hearing can be conducted to determine whether or not you secure pretrial release. It is always extremely important to retain an attorney as soon as possible in order to minimize the chance of the Bergen County Prosecutor filing a motion to detain. Our savvy Bergen County criminal lawyers can often negate needless periods in the county jail by pleading our client’s side of the case so that pretrial release terms can be negotiated without additional time in confinement.

Top Qualifications To Secure a Favorable Result In Your Bergen County Indictable Criminal Criminal Case

The New Jersey criminal law contains over one hundred different felony criminal charges. The attorneys at Marshall Criminal Defense have handled just about every one of them but encounter the following most often:

New Jersey classifies every indictable offense as either a first, second, third, or fourth-degree crime. A first-degree crime is the most serious criminal charge you can face at the Bergen County Superior Court. A person convicted of a first-degree crime faces fines of up to $200,000 and may be sentenced to ten to twenty years in prison. Aggravated sexual assault is an example of a first-degree crime. A conviction for a second-degree crime such as unlawful possession of a handgun results in five to ten years in prison and fines of up to $150,000. The majority of criminal charges brought in Bergen County are third-degree crimes, which can result in imprisonment for three to five years and fines of up to $15,000. Credit card theft, terroristic threats, and shoplifting over $500 of merchandise are third-degree crimes. Fourth-degree crimes are the least serious felonies but can nonetheless result in 18 months in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

Decades of Success Representing Clients Charged With Domestic Violence in Bergen County

You should know that our team also has occasion to defend restraining order cases in Bergen County Family Court. If you were served with a restraining order based on allegations of domestic violence, you will have an opportunity at the Final Restraining Order Hearing to contest the one-sided allegations that formed the basis for the issuance of the temporary restraining order. This will be your sole opportunity to secure a dismissal so it is imperative that you hire an experienced domestic violence lawyer like those at Marshall Criminal Defense if you want to avoid permanent restraints.

The United States Constitution, as well as NJ State Law, affords every person charged with an indictable crime in Bergen County certain rights and protections. For example, they cannot be compelled to incriminate themselves and have the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. They also have the right to an attorney along with the right to remain free on bail or pretrial release as a general rule.

Our Bergen County criminal defense lawyers ensure that the rights of our clients are fully protected and that they achieve the best outcome possible under the facts of their case.  And while there is no shortage of attorneys that practice criminal law in Bergen County, all aren’t well-equipped to navigate the complexities of indictable charges like aggravated assault, handgun possession, or sex cases, to name a few. The seasoned criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall understand what it takes to win felony criminal cases, and if you hire us, we will craft compelling arguments on your behalf so that you are not convicted for the crime you are presently facing in Hackensack at the Bergen County Superior Court.

Bergen County Superior Court Information

Law Enforcement In Bergen County New Jersey