You’re here because a felony charge is on the table in Essex County. You need straightforward information about what happens next, what the risks look like, and how a defense is built. When you sit down with one of our Essex County felony defense lawyers, you should walk out with a plan that fits your life, not a one-size script.
We’re The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall. Our defense team includes former New Jersey prosecutors and public defenders, with years of experience in courtrooms across the state and regular time in Newark’s criminal courts. An Essex County felony defense attorney from our firm will break down the path ahead in plain English and explain where we’ll fight, from detention to trial. Please get in touch with us as soon as possible.
What “Felony” Means in New Jersey – and Why Degrees Matter
New Jersey calls felonies “indictable offenses.” They’re grouped by degree, ranging from first to fourth. The degree drives the sentencing range, the leverage at the table, and the long-term fallout. However, the label on the complaint isn’t the end of the story; degrees can be downgraded by negotiation or through pretrial motions that change the evidence picture.
First-degree crimes (like armed robbery or certain drug offenses) carry the longest prison exposure and often trigger parole bars under the No Early Release Act. Second-degree offenses are serious and can still mean years in state prison. Third- and fourth-degree cases result in lower penalties but still pose a threat to freedom, employment, and immigration status. Your Essex County felony defense lawyer will translate the degree of your charge into practical risks – including jail time, fines, and collateral damage – and then map ways to mitigate them.
Statutes and court rules also shape what’s possible. Pretrial diversion programs, sentencing alternatives, and even treatment-based courts exist in the right cases. A thorough Essex County felony defense attorney will identify whether a program or plea structure can cut exposure or preserve licenses and jobs.
Consequences of a Conviction
Time in custody is only part of the cost. A felony record can affect housing, schooling, licensing, and immigration. Certain offenses result in mandatory parole ineligibility, registration requirements, or lengthy supervision periods. Even a non-custodial sentence can carry high fines, restitution, and strict probation terms you must follow closely.
For violent crimes, the No Early Release Act can require serving 85% of your sentence before you’re eligible for parole. Gun cases bring additional rules, and drug-distribution convictions can include no chance for parole and asset forfeiture. Down the line, expungement may be possible for some records after lengthy waiting periods, but it isn’t automatic. Your Essex County felony defense lawyer will focus on outcomes that protect family, work, and immigration status wherever the law allows.
Our Essex County Advantage
We know Essex County because we’ve tried cases here for years. One of our team members is a former prosecutor in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. That perspective helps us read files the way the State reads them, anticipate moves, and speak the same courtroom language. We also have counsel stationed in multiple New Jersey courts, which means we’re familiar with how calendars operate, how discovery is conducted, and how local units investigate.
The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall is the largest criminal defense firm in New Jersey, with 20 professionals focused 100% on criminal defense across more than 10 offices statewide. That scale enables us to conduct fieldwork, legal research, and client meetings without delay. It also gives us bench strength for hearings on short notice and fast-moving negotiations.
Trial credentials matter when it’s time to negotiate. Members of our team hold Supreme Court certification in criminal trial law – a distinction held by less than two percent in New Jersey. That signal tells the State we try cases, not just talk about them. An Essex County felony defense lawyer with our firm will bring that credibility to the table from day one, and if a trial becomes the best path, we’ll be ready to seat a jury.
How We Build Strong Defenses
A strong defense begins with the stop, search, and seizure. If officers lacked probable cause or a warrant exception, we’ll move to suppress. Statements need Miranda warnings and must be voluntary; coercive tactics can taint the interview. Identification procedures must be fair; suggestive lineups and photo arrays can be challenged with expert testimony and cross-examination.
Digital evidence also matters. We’ll examine phone extractions, GPS records, license plate readers, and surveillance video for gaps and timing issues. Lab results require proper collection, storage, and chain of custody. If the science is weak or the paperwork is sloppy, the State’s proof can crumble. Your Essex County felony defense attorney will track the defense’s evidence so there are no surprises if a trial occurs.
Not every case turns on a single motion. Some are won through steady pressure: witness interviews, subpoenas for third-party records, alternate-suspect theories grounded in the discovery, and targeted negotiations that secure a downgrade or program slot. When you have an alibi or a defense grounded in mental health or self-defense, we’ll collect the records and professionals needed to present it convincingly. An Essex County felony defense lawyer will test each part of the State’s timeline until the picture looks different – or falls apart.
What We’ll Do Right Away
Speed protects evidence. We’ll send preservation notices to stores, buildings, buses, and homeowners who may hold footage that can disappear in days. We’ll request dispatch audio and body cam footage from every officer on scene, not just the primary investigator. The goal is straightforward: to build a more comprehensive record than what is initially reported in the police report.
You’ll get clear instructions about court dates and conditions of release. We’ll keep communication practical – what to wear, when to arrive, how to handle contact restrictions, and why small mistakes can hurt a detention review.
Negotiation doesn’t wait for indictment. Early conferences can lead to dismissals, downgrades, or entry into Pretrial Intervention when the facts fit. An Essex County felony defense attorney will weigh any early offer against the strength of a suppression motion or a lineup challenge, then recommend the path that best protects your future.
Common Essex County Felony Charges We See – and How We Approach Them
Drug distribution and possession with intent cases often hinge on car stops, search warrant affidavits, and lab proof. We drill into the stop justification, affidavit details, and the handling of evidence from the street to the lab. Weak links in any of those steps can lead to suppression or dismissal.
Robbery, burglary, theft, and carjacking often rely on eyewitness accounts and video evidence to establish guilt. Lighting, distance, stress, and suggestive procedures can distort memory. We pair careful cross-examination with a review of every camera angle we can find, including private systems that weren’t gathered by police.
Weapons cases turn on possession – actual or constructive – and the legality of the search. Domestic-violence-related felonies require focused work on statements, prior history, and 911 timing. Sex-offense cases demand measured, respectful investigation, with attention to forensic reports, phone records, and medical notes that can make or break credibility.
Why Our Team Fits Your Case
We have counsel in multiple New Jersey courts with regular experience in virtually every local venue, which helps with scheduling, motion practice, and reading the room during negotiations. Our size enables us to assign the right mix of investigators, legal researchers, and trial counsel promptly, and our internal reviews keep our strategies sharp.
You also gain the inside perspective of a former Essex County prosecutor on our roster. Those relationships – and our experience on the other side of the courtroom – give us a leg up when assessing charging decisions, speaking with unit chiefs, or identifying pressure points in a case. An Essex County felony defense attorney will bring that insight to your file from the first meeting.
Criminal Defense Attorneys Ready to Help You in Essex County
You deserve straight answers and a strategy tailored to your life and your charges. An Essex County felony defense attorney will lay out the steps we’ll take, the motions we’ll file, and the outcomes we’ll target. When you’re facing state power, the details matter, and so does the team standing next to you in court.
An Essex County felony defense lawyer with The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall will bring courtroom skill, local know-how, and clear advice to every decision point in your case. If you would like a complimentary evaluation of your case, please contact us online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I go to jail on a first offense?
It depends on the degree, guidelines, and risk factors; many first-time offenders receive non-custodial outcomes, especially in non-violent cases.
Can charges be downgraded to municipal court?
Yes, when facts and records support it, downgrades are common for fourth- and some third-degree cases.
What happens at the detention hearing?
The judge reviews the risk, the strength of the proof, and the conditions that could ensure safety and appearance; we argue for release with a workable plan.
What is Pretrial Intervention (PTI), and who qualifies?
PTI diverts eligible individuals out of the system with specific conditions. Completion of the PTI program can result in dismissal.
How long will my case take?
Simple files can be resolved in a few months; contested indictments with motions and forensic issues can take much longer.
