Author: William Proetta Criminal Law

porch piracy

You’ve undoubtedly seen and heard it before. Police arrest a suspect for a crime. We all know the words that come next. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you. But what happens if a police officer fails to read you your rights in New Jersey? People charged […]

constructive possession

Almost all of us have friends or acquaintances who take recreational drugs like marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy in some form or another. Say one of these friends offers you a ride home and they have a stash of drugs in their car. You get pulled over. The police find the drugs. Can you be charged and […]

Wheel of car

They say that no good deed goes unpunished. This can certainly be true in New Jersey if you do a favor for a friend and loan her or him your car, only to later find out that your friend was driving without a valid license. You can be convicted of a traffic offense carrying stiff […]

hands with handcuffs lying on top of fingerprint sheets.

Warrant Defense Lawyers in Middlesex County, New Jersey Learning that you have a warrant out for your arrest can come as a shock, and it happens more frequently than you might think. If you believe that a warrant has been issued for you, or you recently found out about an outstanding warrant, you should know […]

first

New Jersey prohibits the possession, manufacture, and distribution of controlled dangerous substances. These substances include Schedule I drugs like heroin and methamphetamine, along with some illegally obtained prescription drugs like oxycontin. Drug charges are punished severely in the New Jersey. Fortunately, first-time drug offenders have several options that are not available to people who have been previously convicted of […]

A man being arrested and handcuffed

Is a Juvenile Criminal Case the Same as an Adult Criminal Case? No, a juvenile case is different from an adult case. There are significant differences between a juvenile and adult criminal case in New Jersey. If you or your child has a pending juvenile criminal matter, it is important to understand some of the […]

Water droplet on beer can

Municipal Court Defense Lawyers in Point Pleasant, NJ People go to the Shore to have a good time, but cutting loose can have a downside. If you frequently visit Jersey Shore towns like Point Pleasant, Long Beach Township, Mantaloking, Seaside Heights, Lavallette, or other shore communities, you may have occasionally had a little too much […]

A policeman with his police dog.

How Long can Police Detain you While Waiting for a Drug Dog? If police suspect you of drug dealing or distribution, or an officer has reason to believe there are drugs in your car, they may request a canine unit or “drug-sniffing” dog to come to the scene.   These dogs are trained to alert their […]

evidence for bail hearing

New Jersey eliminated the cash bail system and implemented a new pretrial detention system in January 2017. Under the new system, the state has the burden of making a motion that establishes, by clear and convincing evidence, that you should remain in jail leading up to your trial. If the state fails to meet this […]

justice

New Jersey offers a number of programs designed to help certain qualifying criminal defendants avoid a costly and potentially life-altering criminal conviction. These programs are broadly referred to as diversionary programs. If you have been charged with a crime in New Jersey, you should know about all of your legal options, especially those that may […]