Hackensack

Criminal charges in Hackensack can affect nearly every aspect of your life, from your employment and housing to your family relationships and personal reputation. The decisions made in the early stages of a case can influence whether you face incarceration, fines, a criminal record, or other long-term consequences.

At The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our Hackensack criminal defense lawyers bring the knowledge, resources, and experience needed to defend individuals charged in Bergen County and throughout New Jersey. If you have been charged with a crime, contact our firm for a free consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney who can help you understand what comes next.

Trusting Our Hackensack, NJ Criminal Defense Firm

Our firm brings more than 200 years of combined experience defending individuals accused of violating the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice. We maintain offices throughout the state and appear regularly in courts across New Jersey, including Bergen County municipal courts and Superior Court.

Our team of approximately 20 lawyers devotes its practice to criminal defense. This concentration allows our attorneys to collaborate on serious cases and draw from decades of experience involving municipal offenses, indictable crimes, trials, and criminal investigations.

Benefits of Working With The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall

Our attorneys include former municipal prosecutors who served in more than 20 towns across New Jersey, as well as former County Prosecutors who held senior positions involving Major Crimes, Special Victims, Domestic Violence, Juvenile, and Trial Division matters. That experience provides insight into how criminal cases are evaluated, charged, and prosecuted.

Working with attorneys who have experience on both sides of the criminal justice system can provide important perspective when defending against criminal charges:

  • Understanding how prosecutors evaluate case strengths and weaknesses.
  • Anticipating arguments the State may raise in court.
  • Identifying procedural errors and constitutional issues.
  • Recognizing when the evidence may not support the charges filed.
  • Understanding which evidence is likely to be central to the prosecution’s case.
  • Evaluating negotiation and resolution options based on the circumstances of the case.

We apply this perspective to the cases we handle, developing defense strategies informed by experience evaluating criminal matters from both the prosecution and defense sides.

Our Legal Services

The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall defends clients against a wide range of criminal charges filed in Hackensack Municipal Court, Bergen County Superior Court, and federal court. Our comprehensive legal services span municipal offenses through serious indictable criminal charges.

Drug Crimes

Drug cases can involve fines, probation, treatment requirements, or incarceration depending on the substance, quantity, prior history, and circumstances involved. Our attorneys represent individuals facing drug possession and CDS charges in Bergen County, including allegations involving:

  • Possession of controlled dangerous substances
  • Distribution and intent to distribute
  • Drug paraphernalia
  • Prescription-related offenses
  • Drug manufacturing

DWI/DUI

DWI and DUI charges in Bergen County can result in license-related consequences, fines, ignition interlock requirements, mandatory programs, and potential jail exposure. Defense often requires close review of the traffic stop, field sobriety testing, breath or chemical testing, and other evidence relied upon by the State.

  • DWI: Allegations involving operation of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or with a blood alcohol concentration at or above the applicable legal threshold.
  • DUI: Allegations involving operation of a vehicle while impaired by drugs or other substances.

Assault and Other Violent Crime Allegations

Violent crime allegations can carry serious penalties and immediate personal consequences. Our attorneys defend individuals facing assault charges in Bergen County as well as other allegations involving:

Guns and Weapon Offenses

New Jersey imposes significant penalties for many firearm and weapon offenses. Even a weapon that is lawfully owned can lead to criminal allegations depending on where and how it is possessed or transported. Our attorneys defend individuals facing weapons and firearms charges in Bergen County, including:

Sex Crimes

Sex crime allegations can produce serious legal and reputational consequences even before a case is resolved. Our attorneys defend individuals facing allegations that may include:

  • Sexual assault
  • Aggravated sexual assault
  • Criminal sexual contact
  • Endangering the welfare of a child
  • Child sexual abuse material offenses
  • Lewdness and indecent exposure

Juvenile Defense

Young people accused of delinquency offenses can face consequences affecting education, employment, and future opportunities. Juvenile proceedings differ from adult criminal cases and require a defense strategy tailored to the juvenile justice system.

  • Drug offenses
  • Theft and shoplifting
  • Assault and fighting
  • Vandalism and property damage
  • Underage alcohol-related offenses
  • Weapons violations

Property Crimes

Property crime allegations range from relatively minor offenses to serious indictable crimes depending on the conduct and circumstances involved. Our attorneys handle theft and burglary charges in Bergen County as well as related property offenses.

Federal Crimes

Federal criminal cases often involve lengthy investigations and extensive government resources. The United States Attorney’s Office prosecutes federal matters in the District of New Jersey, often following investigations involving federal agencies.

Our firm provides defense representation in federal criminal cases involving allegations such as:

  • Drug trafficking
  • Wire, mail, bank, and healthcare fraud
  • Federal firearms offenses
  • Computer and cybercrime allegations

White Collar Crimes

White-collar criminal charges frequently arise from detailed investigations involving financial records, business transactions, digital evidence, and cooperating witnesses. We defend professionals and business owners facing allegations involving:

  • Embezzlement
  • Fraud and false pretenses
  • Identity theft
  • Forgery
  • Money laundering
  • Tax-related offenses

Theft and Shoplifting Charges

Theft offenses vary considerably depending on the property involved and the circumstances of the allegation. Our attorneys represent clients facing theft charges and shoplifting allegations in Bergen County, including:

  • Shoplifting and retail theft
  • Theft by deception
  • Theft of services
  • Employee theft allegations
  • Motor vehicle theft
  • Credit card theft and fraud

What Happens After an Arrest in Hackensack?

What happens after an arrest depends on the charge, whether the individual is released, and whether the matter will remain in municipal court or proceed through the Bergen County criminal court system. More serious indictable offenses may involve county-level processing and appearances at Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.

A defendant may encounter Central Judicial Processing in Bergen County as the case enters the county court system. Depending on the circumstances, an individual may also face a first appearance or detention hearing that addresses release and whether the defendant will remain in custody while the case is pending.

These early proceedings can move quickly. Defense counsel can begin reviewing the charges, addressing release issues, preserving evidence, and preparing for the next stage before avoidable mistakes affect the case.

Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Defense in Hackensack, NJ

Where will my Hackensack criminal case be heard?

The answer depends on the type of charge. Disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, and many traffic matters may be handled at the municipal level. Indictable criminal charges generally proceed through Bergen County Superior Court, which is located in Hackensack.

What is Central Judicial Processing in Bergen County?

Central Judicial Processing is an early stage of the county criminal process for certain cases. It can involve initial case handling, scheduling, and decisions concerning how an indictable matter will proceed. The exact process depends on the charges and procedural posture of the case.

Can I be held in jail while my case is pending?

In some criminal cases, prosecutors may seek detention rather than release. A judge can consider the charge, the defendant’s background, prior history, and other factors during the detention process. Because these hearings occur early, prompt preparation can be important.

Can criminal charges be dismissed or reduced?

Possibly. The outcome of a criminal case depends on the evidence, the applicable law, how the evidence was obtained, the defendant’s history, and other case-specific circumstances. Suppression issues, evidentiary weaknesses, diversionary programs, and negotiated resolutions may affect how a case ultimately proceeds.

Should I speak with police before hiring an attorney?

Statements made during an investigation can later become evidence. Before providing a substantive explanation regarding an alleged offense, obtaining legal guidance can help you understand your rights and the possible consequences of making a statement.

Consult an Experienced Hackensack NJ Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal charges require prompt attention and careful defense planning. The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall represents individuals facing charges in Hackensack Municipal Court, Bergen County Superior Court, and other courts throughout New Jersey.

Our team brings more than 200 years of combined criminal defense experience and includes former prosecutors and certified criminal trial lawyers who have handled cases ranging from municipal offenses to serious indictable crimes.

Contact our office today to schedule your free consultation with a Hackensack NJ criminal defense lawyer who can review the charges against you, explain the process ahead, and begin building a defense strategy based on the facts of your case.