If you've recently been arrested or charged with a crime in Gloucester County, NJ, you and your family could face an uncertain future. Not only can being arrested be very disruptive to your life and routine, but a conviction even for a minor offense can result in hefty fines and even jail time. It's enough to strike fear and concern into the heart of anyone facing criminal charges: What does the future hold for you and your family? Will this hurt your job prospects? What happens if you're convicted? What happens to your children if you go to jail?
Joseph D. Lento is a New Jersey criminal defense attorney with a deep understanding of New Jersey court systems in general and the Gloucester County courts in particular. To help you understand what's at stake and how to prepare, the Lento Law Firm has compiled the following information on the New Jersey criminal justice system and the local Gloucester County courts.
Ramifications of Criminal Charges in Gloucester County, NJ
You and your family will likely feel the impact of criminal charges even before your case goes to trial. The good news is that New Jersey bail reform has eliminated bail requirements for almost all criminal cases in the state. However, there are other potential restrictions that the courts may impose on your “conditional release” while you await trial. Depending on the circumstances and how much of a “risk” you are deemed to be, you need to be prepared for any or all of the following:
- Travel restrictions—limits on when/how/if you can leave the state
- Curfews
- The requirement to stay at your job or to actively seek employment
- Restrictions on alcohol intake and/or firearms possession.
- Periodic check-ins with designated law enforcement
- Remaining in custody with a designated person
- Restraining orders (especially if your alleged crime involved violence against a loved one)
Bear in mind that if the courts deem you to be a “flight risk,” there are still instances in which bail might be assigned. However, with the new reforms, it's more likely that you would be assigned to “pre-trial detention” in a local jail pending trial—especially if you don't have a good criminal defense attorney to negotiate otherwise.
What Happens if You Are Convicted?
Being convicted of a crime in New Jersey can have far-reaching implications for you, your family, and your future. A conviction can result in any or all of the following:
- Fines, probation, and/or jail time.
- Financial challenges. Between time spent in jail and the possibility of losing your job, you may have difficulty providing for your family.
- Limited job prospects. A conviction can affect your promotion opportunities at work. It can also prevent you from getting hired at certain jobs.
- Custody challenges. A criminal conviction does not play well in custody disputes over children. In some cases, it can cost you custody altogether.
Misdemeanors VS Felonies in New Jersey
New Jersey has a different classification system for crimes than most other states, although different crimes are treated similarly as far as penalties go. In New Jersey, misdemeanor crimes are called disorderly persons offenses, and felonies are called indictable offenses. Let's discuss the differences between these categories and give some examples.
Disorderly Persons Offenses in New Jersey
In New Jersey, disorderly persons offenses are “minor” crimes (similar to misdemeanors in other states) that are usually punished by lesser fines, probation, and occasionally some jail time. Common examples of New Jersey disorderly persons offenses include:
- Simple assault
- Disorderly conduct
- Bad check writing
- Harassment
- Shoplifting
For alleged disorderly persons offenses in Gloucester County, you will be required to appear in the Municipal Court associated with where the alleged crime took place, whether it's in Logan Township, Glassboro, Newfield, Monroe Township, etc. A conviction for a disorderly persons offense can result in maximum fines up to $1000 and jail time of up to six months. However, depending on the circumstances, Gloucester County Municipal Judges often turn to reduced sentences like probation for these types of offenses, rather than jail time. Having a skilled NJ defense attorney in your corner can greatly increase the chances of a more favorable outcome.
Indictable Offenses in New Jersey
In New Jersey, crimes at the felony level are called indictable offenses, in part because New Jersey is one of a handful of states that require a grand jury indictment for all felony-level crimes. If you are charged with an indictable offense in Gloucester County, your case will be tried in Gloucester County Superior Court in Woodbury, NJ.
In New Jersey, indictable offenses are categorized as Fourth Degree, Third Degree, Second Degree, and First Degree offenses, with penalties of increasing severity for each. A Fourth-Degree indictable crime, for example, could result in a maximum of 18 months in prison and $10,000 in fines, while a First-Degree crime could result in life in prison and fines up to $200,000.
Examples of indictable offenses in New Jersey include:
- Lewdness
- Forgery
- Marijuana possession (more than 2 ounces)
- Burglary
- Arson
- Aggravated assault
- Sexual assault/rape
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Drug distribution
- Armed robbery
- Manslaughter
- Murder (homicide)
Some indictable offenses may be charged under different degrees based on the circumstances—for example, distribution of drugs could be charged as a Second-Degree or First-Degree crime according to the amount of contraband that was allegedly trafficked.
Criminal Courts in Gloucester County, New Jersey
New Jersey's court system is fairly straightforward, and different courts handle different types of criminal charges based on severity. If you're charged with a crime in Gloucester County, let's talk about the types of courts you may encounter and their respective locations.
Municipal Courts in Gloucester County
Municipal Courts are the lowest tier within the New Jersey court system, handling minor issues like traffic and vehicle offenses and disorderly person (misdemeanor-level) offenses. Municipal Courts also host preliminary hearings for indictable offenses to determine whether they should be bound over to Superior Court for trial. Municipal Courts are “bench trial” courts, meaning there are no jury cases. Both sides present their case before the presiding judge who issues a ruling.
Depending on where your alleged offense occurred, your case will be heard in one of the following 16 Municipal Court locations in Gloucester County:
Deptford Township Municipal Court
1011 Cooper Street, Deptford, NJ 08096
Phone: 856-686-2230
East Greenwich (Woodbury) Joint Municipal Court
159 Democrat Road, Mickleton, NJ 08056
Phone: 856-423-3010
Elk Township Joint Municipal Court
667 Whig Lane Road, Monroeville, NJ 08343
Phone: 856-881-6631
Franklin Joint Municipal Court
1571 Delsea Drive, Franklinville, NJ 08322
Phone: 856-694-1661
Glassboro Municipal Court
1 South Main Street, Glassboro, NJ 08028
Phone: 856-881-0383
Greenwich Township Municipal Court
21 North Walnut Street, Gibbstown, NJ 08027
Phone: 856-423-0113
Harrison Township Municipal Court
Harrison Township Municipal Building
114 Bridgeton Pike, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
Phone: 856-478-4049
Logan Township Municipal Court
125 Main Street, Bridgeport, NJ 08014
Phone: 856-467-3425
Mantua Joint Municipal Court
Township Justice Center
405 Main Street, Mantua, NJ 08051
Phone: 856-468-3078
Monroe Township Municipal Court
125 Virginia Avenue, Williamstown, NJ 08094
Phone: 856-728-9800 ext. 500
Paulsboro Municipal Court
1211 Delaware Street, Paulsboro, NJ 08066
Phone: 856-423-3888
South Harrison Municipal Court
114 Bridgeton Pike, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
Phone: 856-478-4049
Washington Township Municipal Court
1 McClure Drive, Sewell, NJ 08080
Phone: 856-589-0546
West Deptford Township Municipal Court
400 Crown Point Road, Thorofare, NJ 08086
Phone: 856-845-0120 ext. 115
Phone: 856-384-3065
Westville Municipal Court
114 Crown Point Road, Westville, NJ 08093
Phone: 856-456-0066
Woolwich Joint Municipal Court
120 Village Green Drive, Woolwich Township, NJ 08085
Phone: 856-467-1555 ext. 2100
Gloucester County Superior Court
Superior Courts in New Jersey serve as the official trial courts, holding jury trials for both civil disputes and criminal offenses. If your indictable offense goes to trial, your case will be heard at the Gloucester County Superior Court in the county seat of Woodbury, NJ.
Superior Court in Gloucester County is held in two locations in Woodbury:
Gloucester County Superior Court
Gloucester County Justice Complex
70 Hunter Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096
Phone: 856-853-3200
Gloucester County Superior Court
Gloucester County Courthouse
1 North Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096
Phone: 856-853-3200
Appeals Court/NJ Supreme Court
You have the right to appeal an adverse decision, whether in Municipal or Superior Court. Your attorney may appeal your case to the Appellate Division of Superior Court, and then, if applicable, to the New Jersey Supreme Court, for review. There is no jury and no witnesses at these courts, and you will not appear. Your attorney will argue before the judges on your behalf.
Gloucester County Criminal Defense Attorney
When you're accused of any type of crime in Gloucester County, NJ, no matter how minor, your first line of defense should be to hire a skilled New Jersey criminal defense attorney with specific experience in Gloucester County courtrooms. Joseph D. Lento has many years of experience with criminal defense cases in New Jersey. His in-depth knowledge of the system has resulted in an admirable track record of success in defending Gloucester County clients. Don't take unnecessary risks with your future. Call the Lento Law Firm at (888) 535-3686 to see how we can help.
