Police officers need legal justification before they can stop, search, or arrest someone. This legal justification falls under two of the most important legal standards in criminal cases: probable cause and reasonable suspicion. These standards affect everything from traffic stops and searches to the evidence prosecutors may try to use…
Specific intent crimes come up often in New Jersey criminal cases. However, the concept can feel confusing if you’re not familiar with how the law differentiates between mental states and why it affects some charges. Simply put, specific intent crimes require proof that a person did something with a particular…
TL;DR A DUI conviction in New Jersey can delay or prevent someone from obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), depending on the number of offenses. After a first DUI conviction, drivers generally must wait at least one year before becoming eligible to apply for a CDL. A second DUI conviction…
TL;DR New Jersey largely eliminated cash bail in 2017, replacing it with a system that evaluates whether a defendant poses a flight risk or public safety risk. Judges typically decide whether a defendant will be released or detained within 48 hours of arrest based on a risk assessment score. The…
TL;DR In New Jersey, bicycles are generally not considered motor vehicles, so a standard DUI charge for riding a bicycle while intoxicated may not apply. New Jersey courts have issued conflicting rulings on bicycle DUI cases, creating legal uncertainty about whether intoxicated cyclists can be charged under DUI laws. Even…
