Camden County NJ Juvenile Charged as an Adult Lawyer
When it comes to juveniles in New Jersey, the criminal justice system tends to be geared more towards rehabilitation and teaching a lesson rather than punishing the offenders. This is because many times these offenders are dealing with a difficult period in their life in regards to their family or school and end up making misguided decisions. However, there are times when the prosecution elects to charge a juvenile with a crime as an adult. When this happens, the minor can be punished to the full extent that the law allows. If your son or daughter has been charged with a crime as an adult, it is imperative that you consult with a skilled and experienced attorney who can help get the best result in his or her case.
The criminal defense team at the the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall has had great success defending juveniles charged with offenses such as underage DWI, criminal mischief, and marijuana possession in Camden County including Cherry Hill, Lindenwold, Gloucester Township, and Haddon Township. With around 200 years of combined experience, our defense attorneys know what it takes to help get you the most desirable result in your case. In fact, one of the members of our criminal defense team is a former county prosecutor in New Jersey who used to work on various charges for the State. This means we can predict what kinds of arguments the prosecution will make and use this knowledge to defend your case. The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall are available anytime for a free initial consultation to speak with you about your case. Call us today at (856) 288-3350.
Juveniles Charged as Adults in New Jersey
The important thing to keep in mind when a juvenile has been charged with a crime is that the standard is different if he or she is charged as a minor or as an adult. As mentioned above, the juvenile system is concerned with the best interests of the child and these cases will take place in family court. The key in juvenile cases, therefore, is to keep it in family court. If the prosecution gets the case moved to adult court, which they will usually try to do with more serious crimes, the penalties associated with a conviction will be much more severe. These can include a long stay in New Jersey State Prison, and heavy fines.
When the prosecution tries to get the case moved to adult court, there will be a waiver hearing in front of a judge who will make the decision based on a variety of factors including:
- The nature of the offense
- The age of the juvenile
- The juvenile’s prior history
- The juvenile prior response to rehabilitation (if any)
- The juvenile’s potential response to rehabilitation
- The juvenile court’s ability to impose an appropriate punishment
- The danger to the public
Note: One of our attorneys recently represented a juvenile in a possession of marijuana case and was able to get it the Family Intake Division to give the case to a probation officer. The officer gave the minor community service and kept the charges pending until the service was complete. So, in the end, the client did not get arrested, completed the community service, and the charges were dismissed.
Contact a Lindenwold NJ Juvenile Defense Lawyer for a Free Consultation
The criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall are always available to speak with you about your case and begin to formulate an aggressive strategy to defend you against your juvenile charges. Our criminal defense team understands the details of juvenile law in New Jersey and we will use this knowledge to help you best defend against these charges. Call us today at (856) 288-3350 for a free initial consultation about your case.
The attorneys at our Camden Law Firm defend juveniles charged as an adult throughout Camden County, including those arrested in Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Gloucester Township, Haddon Township, Pine Hill, Winslow, Voorhees, Waterford, Haddonfield, Bellmawr, Lindenwold, Berlin, Runnemede, Somerdale, Haddon Heights, Magnolia, Audubon, Mount Ephraim and elsewhere.
