Juvenile Criminal Charges in Monroe Township New Jersey
Almost any child can make a mistake that results in a juvenile criminal offense in Monroe Township New Jersey. Even good kids break the rules from time to time. What is crucial when this occurs is that every effort be undertaken to protect the future of the minor and hiring a skilled lawyer is the first step in achieving this goal.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have considerable experience handling Middlesex County juvenile delinquency charges, including those arising in Monroe New Jersey. Our team of juvenile criminal lawyers includes former Middlesex County prosecutors and other seasoned lawyers who have more than 200 years of experience representing children charged with juvenile offenses at the Family Division in New Brunswick. In fact, a member of our team oversaw the prosecution of these cases prior to join the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall.
If your son or daughter has been charged with a juvenile criminal offense and you would like to take advantage of a free consultation with an attorney, contact our New Brunswick Office at your earliest convenience. A Middlesex County juvenile defense lawyer is available 24/7 to speak to you. Contact our Edison or New Brunswick Office now at 732-246-7126 for a free consultation.
Monroe NJ Juvenile Criminal Offense
If your child has been accused of juvenile delinquency in Monroe, New Jersey, there a few things you need to know:
- Juvenile delinquency charges are handled differently than adult criminal charges. Juvenile delinquency offenses are adjudicated at the Family Division of the Superior Court, which has exclusive jurisdiction over juvenile charges in Middlesex County.
- The primary objectives of the juvenile justice commission is to determine why your child is being accused of a juvenile delinquency offense and what can be done to prevent your child from committing crimes once they become an adult.
- Your child must be represented by an attorney in juvenile court. You as the parent cannot waive your child’s right to counsel and no one other than a licensed attorney can represent your child in before the court. If you have limited financial resources you may qualify for a public defender. Otherwise, you are required to hire a private attorney to represent your child.
- The penalties imposed for a conviction in a juvenile proceeding are far less severe than those that would be imposed in an adult criminal proceeding and are primarily designed to rehabilitate rather than punish. The chart below outlines the maximum period of incarceration for a juvenile conviction and examples of criminal charges falling within the related grade of criminal offense:
| Degree of Offense | Period of Detention | Examples of Charges |
| First Degree Crime | 4 Years Other Than Murder | Armed Robbery, Aggravated Sexual Assault, First Degree Distribution of CDS |
| Second Degree Crime | 3 Years | Strong-arm Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Eluding, Sexual Assault, Possession With Intent to Distribute Molly, Ecstasy, Heroin or Cocaine (1/2 ounce to 5 ounces) |
| Third Degree Crime | 2 Years | Possession of Cocaine, LSD, MDMA or Heroin, Burglary, Shoplifting Property Valued at Over $500, Terrorist Threat |
| Fourth Degree Crime | 1 Year | Possession of Over 50 Grams of Marijuana, Resisting Arrest, Forgery, Possession of Prescription Drugs, Selling 4 or fewer dosages or pills of prescription drugs like Xanax, Percocet, Adderall or Oxycodone |
| Disorderly Persons Offense | Six Months | Harassment, Simple Assault, Disorderly Conduct, Obstructing the Administration of Law |
Because of the differences between a juvenile proceeding and an adult criminal proceeding, the defense attorney who you choose to represent your child should:
- Have experience handling juvenile cases;
- Know how the juvenile system works, what players are involved; and
- Be familiar with the overall environment surrounding a juvenile case in Middlesex County.
Your child and your entire family deserve representation from the best possible lawyer available. This may turn out to be an isolated incident and the only time your child and your family have to go through a juvenile proceeding. Therefore, you want to make sure that it is handled properly and that you will be able to completely move on with your lives after it is over. Selection of the right juvenile attorneys to defend the charge is probably your most powerful tool to reach this objective.
Monroe New Jersey Juvenile Defense Attorney
A defense attorney at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall can equip you with representation to achieve the best possible outcome. We have several decades of experience handling burglary, drug distribution, aggravated assault or other Monroe New Jersey juvenile delinquency cases. Call one of our knowledgeable and highly qualified juvenile criminal defense lawyers for a free consultation and to learn how we can help you put this matter behind you. A lawyer can be reached 24/7 to assist you at 732-246-7126.
