People who have been arrested and charged with any kind of criminal act in Monmouth County, New Jersey, have a long, difficult, and rocky road ahead of them. There's the uncertain period between the arrest and your appearance in court or your trial; there's the nerve-wracking experience of standing before a judge and/or a jury of your peers; and then there's the rest of your life, which will be impacted to some degree by this crime and punishment.
Moreover, your family is going to be affected, too. If you're lucky, you have close relatives and friends who are willing to support you emotionally and perhaps even financially. It's not unheard of, however, for a defendant's loved ones to distance themselves from the entire affair—or even sever the relationship altogether.
Whether your family is supportive or not, there are some people you can count on for assistance during this trying time: the team at the Lento Law Firm. Including Joseph D. Lento himself, these experienced and compassionate professionals will be right beside you, doing their level best to help, as you navigate the Monmouth County judicial system.
A Quick Note on Nomenclature
The state of New Jersey has different names for the two types of criminal acts that are known elsewhere as “felony” and “misdemeanor.” Because New Jersey is one of the states in which all felony-level crimes require a grand jury indictment before they can move forward, the term used is “indictable offenses.” These include manslaughter, homicide, burglary, armed robbery, arson, kidnapping, aggravated assault, sexual assault, drug possession or distribution, and the like.
More minor crimes—think obstruction of justice, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, simple assault, harassment, shoplifting (items worth $200 or less), etc.—would be called misdemeanors elsewhere. In New Jersey, they are known as “disorderly persons offenses.”
The Effect of an Arrest on the Entire Family
Have you ever heard the expression “victimless crime”? It's used to describe criminal behavior like theft, gambling, traffic violations, prostitution, public drunkenness, trespassing, and so on. They certainly don't have victims in the same way that assault, armed robbery, rape, or manslaughter do, but in reality, there is no such thing as a truly victimless criminal act. When a person commits a crime, their family is invariably victimized. Family members of someone charged with a crime will feel the impact financially, practically—for example, when an adult defendant is released to the custody of one of their parents—and of course, emotionally. The stigma of arrest and conviction is larger and longer-lasting than many people realize.
Even before you enter the courtroom, your life and that of your family will be altered. Thanks to New Jersey's recent bail reform act, a significant proportion of those charged with a crime will be released on their own recognizance. The judge will set a date for their next court appearance and will also set some conditions that the individual must abide by in order to remain at liberty. These include:
- Complying with a curfew
- Being on house arrest or fitted with an ankle monitor
- Refraining from traveling out of the area without informing or getting permission from law enforcement
- Regularly checking in with local law enforcement
- Abstaining from alcohol or drug use
- Surrendering a firearm
- Maintaining employment (or, if unemployed at the time of arrest, actively seeking employment)
Judges still have the discretion to remand defendants, which means they will remain in Monmouth County custody until their trial. This generally occurs when the judge feels that the accused presents a flight risk or a risk to the community at large.
The Consequences of Conviction
It's bad enough being arrested and arraigned. This whole experience can be surreal, as though you are living a nightmare. But it's important that you face the reality of your current state unflinchingly, in order to understand it. Being charged with a crime isn't a problem you can ignore, and it's not going to go away on its own. You need to be prepared.
Here's what can happen if you don't prepare a defense and don't work with a criminal defense lawyer. You could:
- Do time in jail
- Owe a great deal of money in fines
- Be on probation for a long time
- Be beholden for many hours of community service
- Experience financial trouble for years to come
- Have difficulty landing a job or a rental apartment due to your criminal past
- Have custody of your kids revoked or be denied visitation rights
- Lose the love of friends and family
- Lose the respect of your coworkers and acquaintances
- Experience mental illness such as depression
- Fail to rally and rebound from this setback, and go on to live a very different life than the one you've always imagined and planned for
You're at a crossroads right now. It's not too late to stop, get your bearings, and choose the best possible path. But you're going to need some help.
Don't Go It Alone
There is too much at stake to try to DIY your defense. You need help, and that means retaining a criminal defense attorney Joseph D. Lento.
With the assistance of a lawyer, you may be able to avoid going to trial. You could be eligible for something called pretrial diversion, which attempts to ease the burden on our court system. Pretrial diversion essentially allows low-level, first-time offenders to bypass trial and avoid jail by participating in educational programs, going to rehab as necessary, performing community service, and keeping their nose clean.
If this is not an option for you, an attorney can still ameliorate the situation by negotiating a plea deal.
Mr. Lento and his team can advise you as to the best possible route in your situation. Should you end up going to trial, they will represent you to the fullest of their legal talents and ability.
Call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3683 or fill out this form to give them an overview of your situation.
