What are the requirements for a dismissal under the Graves Act?
Under the Graves Act, mandatory minimum sentencing occurs. For the prosection to be able to create a plea deal and dismiss a charge carrying this type of sentence, there are specific requirements. Because the Graves Act crimes deal with firearms, courts are not too...
How do Graves Act waivers get started?
If the police arrest you on a weapons charge, it could result in serious jail time. The Graves Act denies you parole until you serve half of your prison sentence or at least 42 months, meaning you could be in prison for at least two and a half years out of a five-year...
What happens at a pre-trial detention hearing?
New Jersey is undergoing an intense movement toward criminal justice reform, and the New Jersey Bail Reform Act changes the way pre-trial detention works. Bail reform efforts place the emphasis on a variety of risk factors for holding an individual until trial rather...
What distinguishes voluntary from involuntary manslaughter?
Manslaughter may not be as serious a charge as murder, but it is still a criminal offense that you should not take likely. A conviction for manslaughter could put you away in prison for as long as 10 years or more. Whether your situation qualifies for voluntary or...
Your child has the right to legal counsel no matter what
Juvenile delinquency is a crime or penal violation committed by a minor under 18. According to the Juvenile Law Center, the US Supreme Court ruled in 1967 that every juvenile has the civil right to counsel. New Jersey law also holds that youths have a right to counsel...
When can a teenager be tried as an adult?
As a parent, the thought of your child entering the criminal justice system accused of a crime is terrifying. For many parents of young people struggling to stay on the right path, it is a reality. According to the New Jersey Supreme Court, prosecutors can charge...
Increased online sales may lead to counterfeiting allegations
Internet sellers could come under investigation. Customers may claim they advertised and sold reproductions as authentic brands. Under the New Jersey Trademark Counterfeiting Act, officials may investigate allegations of sellers advertising or displaying a counterfeit...
Shoplifting surge hits retailers hard and shoplifters harder
When you stop by a drug store, you expect to find the necessities for everyday life. Toothpaste, medicine, toilet paper – the items you need for functioning. Unfortunately, many shoppers are having a hard time coming by these and other items. A wave of shoplifting has...
When does theft become a robbery?
When a New Jersey resident is facing theft charges they can wonder what kind of punishment they may incur. It may surprise them that the theft charge they may be facing can change to robbery. So how can a New Jersey theft case turn into robbery? New Jersey robbery...
Jersey Shore man arrested for distributing child pornography
The increasing use of electronic devices to collect, store and distribute information from the Internet has led to an increased frequency of individuals being charged with crimes involving pornography, especially pornography focusing on children. A recent arrest of a...