In certain cases, New Jersey recognizes that a defendant may not be legally responsible for their actions if they were suffering from a severe mental disorder when they committed a crime. If successful, it can mean the difference between incarceration and receiving necessary psychiatric treatment. Although it’s often dramatized in…
Many states have criminal statutes outlawing public intoxication. These laws allow police to arrest or cite individuals simply for showing obvious signs of alcohol or drug intoxication in public. However, New Jersey takes a different approach by specifically not allowing state or local laws outlawing public intoxication. Still, public intoxication…
Are you worried about how an arrest in New Jersey could affect your immigration status? Criminal charges can have serious consequences for U.S. immigrants, including deportation. A New Jersey criminal defense lawyer can explain how the charges you face could impact your immigration status and build a strong defense to…
In most criminal cases, a defendant’s guilty plea ends the case. But occasionally, information comes to light indicating that a guilty plea was a mistake. Neither the court nor certainly the defendant wants an unjust verdict and sentence to go forward, but what can be done? How can you appeal…
After being charged with committing a crime in New Jersey, a defendant may avoid punishment if they can show that they were forced to act illegally through coercion or threats of harm. New Jersey’s criminal code recognizes the affirmative defense of duress in criminal cases. While the burden of proof in a…
