Aggravated Assault, Drug Possession, CDS Distribution, Burglary, Sexual Assault, Terroristic Threat, Robbery or Another Juvenile Charge in Edison New Jersey
When a juvenile makes the mistake of violating the law and being charged with a criminal offense in Edison NJ or another municipality, protecting their future is crucial. An experienced juvenile lawyer who understands what is involved in defending a juvenile charged with aggravated assault, burglary, drug possession (i.e. marijuana, LSD, heroin, Xanax, etc.), CDS distribution, terroristic threat, sexual assault, robbery or another criminal offense.
A Former Prosecutor in Edison and at the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office is Available at Our Firm to Defend You
The Middlesex County juvenile criminal attorneys at our firm, the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, are highly qualified to defend your son or daughter. We are a team of 15 accomplished defense lawyers with over 200 years experience, including time serving as municipal prosecutor in Edison. More importantly, our team includes Jason Seidman, a former Director in the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, who also handled juvenile cases for the agency. Call our Edison Office at 732-204-6583 to obtain a free consultation from a knowledgeable attorney immediately.
Juvenile Criminal Offense in Edison New Jersey
If your child has been accused of a juvenile offense in Edison, New Jersey, there a few things you need to know. A juvenile offender, someone under 18 years of age, doesn’t commit a crime when they violate the law but rather commit an act of delinquency. All acts of juvenile delinquency are adjudicated in the family court of the county where the conduct allegedly occurred. What this means in the case of a juvenile offense committed in Edison is that the charge will always be heard at the Family Division of the Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick. This court has exclusive jurisdiction to preside over a juvenile charge that occurs in Edison or anywhere else in Middlesex County.
The second thing you should know is that there are procedural differences between a juvenile charge and one filed against an adult in Edison New Jersey. Juveniles have a right to be notified of the charges against them, to confront witnesses, to be considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and the right to be represented by an attorney. In fact, New Jersey requires all juvenile defendants to be represented by an attorney. On the hand, juveniles do not enjoy the right to bail or to be tried before a jury. All issues of law and fact in Edison juvenile case are decided by a judge.
Third, the penalties are different in a juvenile case. The period of incarceration, which is referred to as juvenile detention, is six months for a disorderly persons offense (e.g. simple assault, possession of 50 grams or less of marijuana, harassment, etc.), one year for a fourth degree crime (e.g. shoplifting, theft, distribution of less than one ounce of marijuana, etc.), two years for a third degree crime (e.g. possession of cocaine, LSD, heroin or distribution of these types of drugs, burglary, terroristic threat, etc.), three years for a second degree crime (e.g. aggravated assault, sexual assault, robbery, etc.) and four years for a first degree crime (e.g. aggravated sexual assault, armed robbery, etc.). In applying these penalties such as these, the ultimate goal of the juvenile court system is not to punish the child but to rehabilitate him or her. That said, state prosecutors frequently seek to try juveniles who have committed very serious or violent offenses as adults, whereby they will be subject to adult criminal consequences.
Edison NJ Juvenile Defense Attorney
Juvenile cases must be handled with extreme care and caution by an experienced juvenile defense lawyer who is familiar with how a juvenile case is different from an adult criminal case. Furthermore, the Edison Criminal attorney that you hire should have experience in handling juvenile delinquency charges at the Middlesex County Superior Court.
Here at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our juvenile defense lawyers have decades of experience defending assault, CDS possession (e.g. marijuana, heroin, MDMA, LSD, hashish, cocaine etc.), drug distribution and other criminal offenses at the Family Court in New Brunswick on behalf of juveniles. We understand that having a child in trouble with the law can be an extremely challenging time for your entire family and will use all available resources to represent your child’s interests in the best possible way.
If your son or daughter has been charged with a juvenile offense in Edison, New Jersey, you need an experienced and reputable New Jersey juvenile defense attorney in your corner to help you defend your child’s case and protect his or her future. Call our firm anytime 24/7 for a free consultation with one of our accomplished attorneys.
