1. Marshall Criminal Defense & DWI Lawyers
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, DUI/DWI defense, drug crimes, domestic violence, weapons offenses, sex crimes, theft, federal crimes
Case Types Handled: DUI and DWI charges, drug offenses including possession and distribution, burglary, domestic violence, assault, weapons charges, sex crimes, theft, white collar crimes, juvenile offenses, federal charges
Legal Services: Trial defense in municipal and superior courts throughout New Jersey, motion practice, plea negotiations, investigation, sentencing advocacy, appeal representation
Background: Marshall Criminal Defense & DWI Lawyers has a team of twelve New Jersey criminal defense attorneys with a combined 200 years of experience. Multiple attorneys are former prosecutors and public defenders. The firm operates offices throughout New Jersey including Jersey City. Attorney Jonathan F. Marshall leads the practice. The attorneys have extensive experience in Hudson County courts and maintain relationships with local prosecutors. The firm has handled thousands of criminal cases throughout the state. Several attorneys are Certified Criminal Trial Attorneys under the New Jersey Supreme Court certification program.
Location: Jersey City, NJ office
Contact: (877) 534-7338 | https://www.newjerseycriminallawattorney.com
Consultation: Free consultation available
2. William Proetta Criminal Law
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, DWI defense, traffic offenses, juvenile matters, restraining order defense
Case Types Handled: Drug possession and distribution, shoplifting, criminal mischief, simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct, DUI and DWI, domestic violence, white collar crimes including fraud, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, kidnapping
Legal Services: Defense representation in municipal and superior courts, motion practice, plea negotiations, sentencing advocacy, constitutional rights protection
Background: William Proetta has dedicated his career to practicing criminal and DWI defense in New Jersey. He co-founded Proetta & Oliver, LLC with partner Keith G. Oliver. The firm maintains offices in Jersey City, Edison, Cranford, and Point Pleasant. The attorneys represent clients in criminal, DWI, juvenile, and restraining order matters in municipal and superior courts throughout New Jersey.
Location: Jersey City, NJ office (with additional New Jersey locations)
Contact: (201) 992-5891 | https://www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com
Consultation: Free legal consultation available
3. Bhatt Law Group
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, personal injury, family law, traffic violations
Case Types Handled: Drug offenses, DUI and DWI, theft charges, assault, domestic violence, harassment, weapons charges, white collar crimes
Legal Services: Criminal defense representation, rights protection during investigations, defense in municipal and superior courts, plea negotiations, trial defense
Background: Jay Bhatt is the owner and managing attorney of Bhatt Law Group in Jersey City. The firm has nearly two decades of legal experience. The attorneys represent clients for criminal and traffic charges throughout New Jersey including Hudson County. The firm handles cases in Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren Counties.
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Contact: (201) 798-8000 | https://www.bhattlawgroup.com
Consultation: Consultation available
4. Law Offices of Joel Silberman LLC
Practice Focus: Criminal defense exclusively, civil rights litigation, police misconduct cases
Case Types Handled: Felonies and disorderly persons offenses, drug charges, assault, domestic violence, DWI, sex crimes, weapons offenses, theft, juvenile matters
Legal Services: Criminal defense in Superior Court and municipal courts, evidence analysis with independent experts, witness investigation, civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. 1983 and New Jersey Civil Rights Act, appeals
Background: Joel Silberman served as an Assistant Prosecutor with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office for years. During that time, he litigated hundreds of felony and juvenile cases and appeared before the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division on multiple occasions. He focuses his practice exclusively on criminal defense. He brings experience from both prosecution and defense perspectives. He also handles civil rights cases involving police misconduct including excessive force, false arrest, and malicious prosecution.
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Contact: (201) 420-1913 | https://www.joelsilbermanlaw.com
Consultation: Consultation available
5. Camili & Capo, P.A.
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, expungement, municipal court matters
Case Types Handled: Drug offenses, DUI and DWI, assault, domestic violence, theft, weapons charges, disorderly persons offenses, traffic violations
Legal Services: Criminal defense representation in municipal and superior courts, expungement services, plea negotiations, trial defense, defense strategy development
Background: Camili & Capo, P.A. provides criminal defense representation in Jersey City and throughout New Jersey. The attorneys have experience representing clients charged with various offenses from minor disorderly persons charges to serious indictable crimes. The firm offers expungement services to help clients clear eligible criminal records. K. Camili is recognized for providing quality legal representation at reasonable prices.
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Contact: https://www.camililaw.com
Consultation: Consultation available
Criminal Defense Regulations in New Jersey
New Jersey requires attorneys to pass the New Jersey Bar Examination and be admitted by the New Jersey Supreme Court before practicing law. The bar exam includes the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). New Jersey accepts UBE score transfers from other jurisdictions. Applicants must pass character and fitness evaluation.
The New Jersey Supreme Court administers a specialty certification program. Attorneys can become Certified Criminal Trial Attorneys after meeting experience requirements, passing an examination, and demonstrating substantial involvement in criminal trial work. This certification indicates a high level of expertise in criminal defense.
New Jersey provides public defenders through the Office of the Public Defender for indigent defendants charged with indictable offenses. Municipal public defenders represent indigent defendants in municipal court matters. Defendants must demonstrate financial need to qualify for public defender services.
New Jersey attorneys must complete 24 credit hours of continuing legal education (CLE) every two years, including at least four hours in ethics and professionalism.
Attorney advertising in New Jersey is governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct and must be approved by the Attorney Advertising Committee in certain circumstances.
New Jersey classifies indictable offenses (felonies) into four degrees. First-degree crimes carry 10 to 20 years in state prison and up to $200,000 in fines. Second-degree crimes carry five to 10 years and up to $150,000 in fines. Third-degree crimes carry three to five years and up to $15,000 in fines. Fourth-degree crimes carry up to 18 months and up to $10,000 in fines.
Disorderly persons offenses (misdemeanors) carry up to six months in county jail and up to $1,000 in fines. Petty disorderly persons offenses carry up to 30 days and up to $500 in fines.
New Jersey abolished the death penalty in 2007. Life imprisonment without parole is the maximum sentence for murder.
New Jersey implemented bail reform in 2017, eliminating cash bail in favor of a risk assessment system. Judges use the Public Safety Assessment tool to determine pretrial release conditions. Defendants may be released on personal recognizance, released with conditions such as electronic monitoring or check-ins, or detained if they present a significant risk of flight or danger.
No Early Release Act (NERA) under N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2 requires defendants convicted of certain violent offenses to serve 85 percent of their sentence before parole eligibility.
New Jersey’s speedy trial requirements are governed by court rules rather than statute. The courts balance the length of delay, reasons for delay, defendant’s assertion of the right, and prejudice to the defendant.
New Jersey allows expungement of criminal records after waiting periods. Indictable offenses can be expunged six years after completion of sentence, supervision, or fine payment. Disorderly persons offenses can be expunged five years after sentence completion. Drug offenses may qualify for early expungement. Certain offenses including homicide, kidnapping, and sex offenses are not eligible for expungement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens after an arrest in Hudson County, New Jersey?
Following an arrest in Hudson County, defendants are processed at the Hudson County Correctional Facility or local police station. A complaint-warrant or complaint-summons is issued depending on the charges. Within 48 hours, a Central Judicial Processing (CJP) hearing occurs where the court conducts a Public Safety Assessment to determine pretrial release conditions. New Jersey does not use cash bail for most offenses. Defendants may be released on personal recognizance, released with conditions such as electronic monitoring or check-ins with pretrial services, or detained if they present a significant flight risk or danger to the community. For indictable offenses, the case proceeds to the Hudson County Superior Court. Disorderly persons offenses are handled in the municipal court of the municipality where the offense occurred.
How does the New Jersey bail reform system work?
New Jersey eliminated cash bail in 2017 and replaced it with a risk-based pretrial release system. When a defendant is arrested, the court conducts a Public Safety Assessment that evaluates the risk of failure to appear and risk of new criminal activity. Based on this assessment and arguments from the prosecution and defense, the judge determines whether to release the defendant on personal recognizance, release with conditions, or detain the defendant pending trial. Conditions may include electronic monitoring, travel restrictions, no-contact orders, or regular check-ins with pretrial services. The prosecution can file a motion for detention for serious offenses if they believe the defendant poses a danger or flight risk that cannot be mitigated by release conditions.
What are the penalties for drug possession in New Jersey?
Penalties for drug possession in New Jersey depend on the substance and quantity. Possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana was decriminalized in 2021, though possession of more than six ounces remains a fourth-degree crime. Possession of controlled dangerous substances such as cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine is a third-degree crime carrying three to five years in prison and up to $35,000 in fines for first offense. Possession with intent to distribute carries enhanced penalties based on quantity and substance. New Jersey has a drug court program that offers treatment alternatives for eligible defendants, potentially resulting in dismissal of charges upon successful completion. First-time offenders may qualify for Pretrial Intervention (PTI) or conditional discharge programs.
Can criminal records be expunged in New Jersey?
New Jersey allows expungement of many criminal records after specified waiting periods. Indictable offenses can be expunged six years after completion of sentence, probation, parole, or fine payment. Disorderly persons offenses can be expunged five years after sentence completion. A comprehensive expungement is available 10 years after an indictable conviction or five years after a disorderly persons conviction to expunge entire records at once. Certain offenses are not eligible for expungement including homicide, kidnapping, sexual assault, robbery, and other violent crimes. Drug offenses committed by persons under age 21 may be expunged upon successful completion of probation. Expunged records are removed from most background checks but remain available to law enforcement and certain licensing boards.
What are the consequences of a DWI conviction in New Jersey?
DWI in New Jersey is not a criminal offense but a motor vehicle violation handled in municipal court. First offense with blood alcohol of 0.08 to 0.10 percent carries three months license suspension, 12 to 48 hours in an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center, $250 to $400 fine, and insurance surcharges. First offense with BAC above 0.10 percent carries seven to 12 months license suspension and $300 to $500 fine. Second offense within 10 years carries two-year license suspension, 48 hours to 90 days in jail, $500 to $1,000 fine, and 30 days community service. Third or subsequent offense carries 10-year license suspension, 180 days in jail, and $1,000 fine. All offenders must install ignition interlock devices. DWI resulting in injury or death can result in separate criminal charges for assault by auto or vehicular homicide.