For many of us, it's our worst nightmare – you find yourself arrested or charged with a crime, and you don't know where to turn or what to do. This could happen anywhere, but if you're reading this, then it may have happened to you in Morris County, NJ. Depending on the charge, you may have many questions about what could happen to you, how long the process will take before things are resolved, and, most importantly, who can help you figure things out.
This is not something you want to deal with by yourself. The criminal justice system in Morris County is made up of prosecutors and judges who are experienced at what they do, and if you've been charged with a crime, it is not their job to help find you innocent. You need someone with experience on your side, someone who can help you defend yourself against the charges and make sure that the prosecutors and court system follow the rules that have been set up to provide defendants with a fair trial. You also need someone who can spot the holes in the prosecution's case and negotiate on your behalf to reduce or drop charges where that is appropriate.
This page won't answer all of your questions about your case, but it will give you some idea of how the criminal justice system operates in Morris County. If you have specific questions about your particular case, the best way to start to get some answers is to contact an experienced and dedicated criminal defense attorney who can learn about your situation and explain to you what your potential defenses are and how the process will operate.
Joseph D. Lento has experience defending clients against criminal charges in New Jersey and can help you understand your case and will work with you to build the best defense possible. The information below will give you some idea of how crimes are prosecuted in Morris County, what you may be able to expect in terms of where your case will be tried, and what the process will be like. After you've had a chance to review this, feel free to contact Joseph Lento and the Lento Law Firm at (888) 535-3686 or through our contact form today to learn more about how we can help.
What Happens if You are Charged with a Crime in Morris County, NJ
Of course, being charged with a crime in Morris County means you can expect there to be some changes in your everyday life. Fortunately, having to stay in jail until the trial is probably not one of them since, in most cases, there is no longer any bail requirement in New Jersey (though bail laws are ones that frequently change).
That said, judges in Morris County are free to place certain conditions or restrictions on you after you've been released, which can remain in place until your trial date or until your case is dismissed. These can include the following:
- A friend, family member, or other designated person may be given temporary custody of you, meaning they are responsible for your whereabouts and to make sure you return for court dates.
- You may be restricted from traveling, particularly outside of New Jersey or the US.
- The judge may require you to stay employed at your current job or to look for work if you're not currently employed.
- You may be required to be at home during certain hours.
- You may have to check in from time to time with a law enforcement official.
- If you've been charged with a crime of violence against someone else, the judge may issue a restraining order preventing you from having contact with that person.
In some cases, you'll be released with none of these conditions – that's called being “released on your own recognizance.” When that happens, you should not experience any unusual restrictions on your everyday life, except, of course, to make sure you attend court-ordered hearings and your trial if your case goes to trial. In other cases, if the judge decides you are a flight risk and other legal conditions are met, the court may assign bail or even decide to keep you in custody until trial. It helps to have a skilled and knowledgeable New Jersey attorney such as Joseph Lento representing you in these cases, to negotiate on your behalf so that any restrictions on your everyday life are kept at a minimum.
What to Expect if You Are Convicted
Things change significantly, of course, if you are convicted of your criminal charges in Morris County, NJ. Depending on the conviction, your sentence can include any or all of probation, fines, community service, or jail time. That alone may seem like more than enough, but the long-term effects of a criminal conviction can include some or all of the following:
- Financial burdens. Jail does not pay well, and if you are incarcerated, you're unlikely to be able to provide for yourself or for your family. Even if your conviction does not result in a jail sentence, your employer may decide that it no longer wants to keep you on as an employee. That can lead to...
- Difficulties in finding a job. Many employers aren't interested in hiring someone with a criminal record, and depending on your conviction, you may not be able to work in certain fields that require certification or licensing.
- Restrictions on where you live. After being convicted of some crimes, such as those involving sexual offenses, you may not be allowed to live in certain areas, such as near schools or community centers for young people. In other instances, just the fact that you have a criminal conviction could make it more difficult for you to rent a home or borrow money to buy one.
- You may lose custody of your children. If you are a single parent and are required to serve jail time, your children may be placed in foster care during your sentence. If you share parenting duties with a former spouse, you may also lose your right to care for your children and may have to go to court to recover that right after you leave jail. And, of course, having a criminal conviction is not helpful when you're trying to restore custody.
Types of Crimes in New Jersey
New Jersey has two types of crimes: disorderly persons offenses, which are similar to misdemeanors in other states, and indictable offenses, which are similar to other states' felonies.
What Is a Disorderly Persons Offense in New Jersey?
As noted, disorderly persons offenses are similar to misdemeanors, which tend to be lower-level crimes. Sentences for these types of offenses tend to be shorter than for more serious ones and have less of a bad effect in the long term. Some common disorderly persons offenses include:
- Shoplifting (under $200)
- Disorderly conduct
- Writing bad checks
- Harassment
- Simple assault
- Resisting arrest
Disorderly persons offenses in Morris County are handled by the Municipal Court in the town or borough where you were charged, whether that's in Parsippany, Riverdale, Madison, Florham Park, or another city or town. As noted, sentences for disorderly persons offenses are generally mild, usually consisting of some combination of probation, community service, and/or fines—especially for first-time offenders. Some offenses, however, include possible fines of up to $1000 and up to six months in jail. Again, if you have an experienced attorney helping to defend you, it could help to reduce the penalties of a conviction—and possibly, depending on the situation, your attorney may even be able to have some, or all, of the charges dismissed.
What Is an Indictable Offense in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, a prosecutor needs to obtain an indictment from a grand jury before charging you with any crime at the indictable offense (or felony) level. This is why New Jersey calls these more serious crimes “indictable offenses.” Some examples of indictable offenses are:
- Unlawful possession of a weapon
- Aggravated assault
- Armed robbery
- Marijuana possession (more than 6 ounces)
- Burglary
- Drug distribution
- Lewdness
- Forgery
- Kidnapping
- Sexual assault/rape
- Homicide
- Manslaughter
There are four levels of indictable offenses in New Jersey, with Fourth Degree being the least serious and First Degree being the most serious (with Third Degree and Second Degree lying in between). A Fourth Degree offense can result in a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, while a First Degree offense can mean life in prison and a fine of up to $200,000.
Courts in Morris County, New Jersey
New Jersey courts include Municipal, Superior, and Appellate courts, each one dealing with different types of cases. Here are the courts you may be dealing with if charged with a crime in Morris County.
Municipal Courts in Morris County
Municipal Courts handle almost all the minor offenses in New Jersey. These range from traffic tickets to disorderly persons offenses (misdemeanors). The Municipal Courts don't hold jury trials; instead, the cases are decided by a judge, who also determines the sentence if there is a conviction. The more serious Indictable Offenses are not tried by the Municipal Courts, but these courts may hold some of the preliminary pre-trial conferences and hearings, and these judges may decide whether the case should go to trial.
Morris County has 39 Municipal Court locations (note that some towns or boroughs may share the same court location):
Boonton Municipal Court
3333 Route 46, Parsippany, NJ 07054
Phone: 973-263-4290
Boonton Township Municipal Court
155 Powerville Road, Boonton Township, NJ 07005
Phone: 973-402-4006
Butler Borough Municipal Court
91 Newark-Pompton Turnpike, Riverdale, NJ 07457
Phone: 973-835-1013
Chatham Borough Municipal Court
50 Kings Road, Madison, NJ 07940
Phone: 973-593-3026
Chatham Township Municipal Court
50 Kings Road, Madison, NJ 07940
Phone: 973-593-3026
Chester Borough Municipal Court
1 Parker Road, Chester, NJ 07930
Phone: 908-879-5100
Chester Township Municipal Court
1 Parker Road, Chester, NJ 07930
Phone: 908-879-5100
Denville Township Municipal Court
1 Saint Mary's Place, Denville, NJ 07834
Phone: 973-625-8300
Dover Municipal Court
37 N. Sussex Street, Dover, NJ 07801
Phone: 973-366-2200
East Hanover Municipal Court
1000 Route 10, Whippany, NJ 07981
Phone: 973-428-2519
Florham Park Municipal Court
111 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932
Phone: 973-410-5324
Hanover Municipal Court
1000 Route 10, Whippany, NJ 07981
Phone: 973-428-2519
Harding Township Municipal Court
915 Valley Road, Gillette, NJ 07933
Phone: 908-647-8369
Jefferson Township Municipal Court
1033 Weldon Road, Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849
Phone: 973-208-6129
Kinnelon Borough Municipal Court
130 Kinnelon Road, Kinnelon, NJ 07405
Phone: 973-838-7644
Lincoln Park Municipal Court
34 Chapel Hill Road, Lincoln Park, NJ 07035
Phone: 973-694-6100
Long Hill Township Municipal Court
915 Valley Road, Gillette, NJ 07933
Phone: 908-647-8369
Madison Joint Municipal Court
50 Kings Road, Madison, NJ 07940
Phone: 973-593-3026
Mendham Borough Municipal Court
43 Schooleys Mountain Road, Long Valley, NJ 07853
Phone: 908-876-3852
Mendham Township Municipal Court
1 Parker Road, Chester, NJ 07930
Phone: 908-879-5100
Mine Hill Township Municipal Court
65 Mt. Hope Road, Rockaway, NJ 07866
Phone: 973-627-9000
Montville Township Municipal Court
360 Route 202, Suite 2, Montville, NJ 07045
Phone: 973-335-1022
Morris Plains Municipal Court
531 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains, NJ 07950
Phone: 973-538-4019
Morris Township Municipal Court
50 Kings Road, Madison, NJ 07940
Phone: 973-593-3026
Morristown Municipal Court
200 South St, PO Box 150, Morristown, NJ 07963
Phone: 973-292-6687
Mountain Lakes Municipal Court
1 Saint Mary's Place, Denville, NJ 07834
Phone: 973-625-8300
Mt. Arlington Municipal Court
419 Howard Boulevard, Mt. Arlington, NJ 07856
Phone: 973-398-6832
Mt. Olive Township Municipal Court
204 Flanders-Drakestown Road, Budd Lake, NJ 07828
Phone: 973-691-0900
Netcong Borough Municipal Court
204 Flanders-Drakestown Road, Budd Lake, NJ 07828
Phone: 973-691-0900
Parsippany Troy Hills Municipal Court
3333 Route 46, Parsippany, NJ 07054
Phone: 973-263-4290
Pequannock Township Municipal Court
530 Newark-Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
Phone: 973-835-5700
Randolph Township Municipal Court
502 Millbrook Avenue, Randolph, NJ 07869
Phone: 973-989-7055
Riverdale Borough Municipal Court
91 Newark-Pompton Turnpike, Riverdale, NJ 07457
Phone: 973-835-1013
Rockaway Borough Municipal Court
3339 Route 46E, Parsippany, NJ 07054
Phone: 973-263-4290
Rockaway Township Municipal Court
65 Mount Hope Road, Rockaway, NJ 07866
Phone: 973-627-9000
Roxbury Township Municipal Court
1715 Route 46W, Ledgewood, NJ 07852
Phone: 973-448-2034
Victory Gardens Municipal Court
37 N. Sussex Street, Dover, NJ 07801
Phone: 973-366-2200
Washington Township Municipal Court
43 Schooleys Mountain Road, Long Valley, NJ 07853
Phone: 908-876-3852
Wharton Borough Municipal Court
419 Howard Boulevard, Mt. Arlington, NJ 07856
Phone: 973-398-6832
Superior Courts in Morris County
The Superior Courts are the ones that try the more serious cases in New Jersey. These are jury trial cases that include indictable offenses as well as some family law and civil matters. There is one Superior Court location in Morris County, located in Morristown:
Morris County Superior Court
Morris County Courthouse
56 Washington Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
Phone: 862-397-5700
What if I Wish to Appeal a Verdict?
Criminal verdicts are appealed for a wide variety of reasons, ranging from procedural errors made by the court during the trial to insufficiency of the evidence used to convict to problems with jury selection and more. In cases where the defendant believes there were problems with the trial sufficient to overturn the guilty verdict, the case can be appealed to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court and then, if applicable, to the New Jersey Supreme Court. These appellate courts don't try the cases again; instead, they will rule on whether the problems with the trial that the defendant brought to their attention are serious enough to overturn the verdict or, sometimes, send the case back to the Superior Court for a new trial.
Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney for Morris County, New Jersey
If you've been accused of a crime in Morris County, New Jersey—no matter how minor the offense—it is important that you choose an experienced and dedicated criminal defense attorney to help defend you and work to achieve the best outcome for your case. Joseph D. Lento has years of experience defending clients in Morris County courtrooms. He understands how the courts, the prosecutors, and the judges work, and he will position your defense for the best possible outcome. Don't take chances with your future; hire an attorney with the experience and dedication to provide you with the best chance of success in your case. Contact the Lento Law Firm at (888) 535-3686 or through our contact form today to learn more about how we can help.
