The trusted Salem County criminal defense attorneys of The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall specialize in defending people charged with indictable crimes and disorderly persons offenses in the Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem County Superior Court and Municipal Courts. Our team benefits from having over 200 years of combined experience representing criminal defendants in Salem County and throughout the state. This extensive experience has enabled us to develop an in-depth understanding of how to navigate the courts and effective defense strategies that we use to our clients’ advantage.
Our firm stands out among other firms in the County in that we have:
- 12 experienced attorneys on staff who specialize in criminal defense representation – we don’t split our focus by pursuing other areas of law
- Office locations in 18 different communities throughout the Garden State
- The notable distinction of employing certified criminal trial attorneys
- The experience of trying a host of criminal matters to verdict before New Jersey juries
- The unique perspective that comes with employing several attorneys who have experience working as County and municipal prosecutors
If you have been accused of committing an indictable crime or disorderly persons offense in Salem County, it is critical to contact a New Jersey criminal defense attorney to assess your options as soon as possible. The seasoned attorneys of The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall take pride in aggressively advocating on behalf of the rights of those who have been charged with criminal wrongdoing. As a result, both you and your case will always be treated with the respect, focus, and consideration that the situation required.
If you engage our services, we will work diligently on your behalf. Although no ethical attorney can guarantee the outcome of a case, our track record speaks for itself. If you’re ready to start building your defense, know that our attorneys are ready to field your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can contact us at any of our office locations to schedule a confidential, complimentary legal consultation.
LEGAL REPRESENTATION READY TO AGGRESSIVELY ADVOCATE FOR YOUR INTERESTS IN SUPERIOR OR MUNICIPAL COURT
In New Jersey, the Superior Court sitting in each County preside over indictable crimes cases. Indictable crimes are infractions punishable by more than six months in jail. They are classified according to a first-through-fourth-degree system (first = worst, fourth = least egregious). In most other jurisdictions in the U.S., more severe crimes are referred to not as indictable crimes but as felonies.
By contrast, the County Municipal Courts handle lower-level crimes tried by New Jersey prosecutors. These crimes are referred to as disorderly persons offenses in the Garden State and “misdemeanors” virtually everywhere else. These lesser-offenses are generally punishable by a maximum of six months in jail.
Keep in mind that if someone in New Jersey is accused of a federal crime, they will not be tried in either superior or municipal court. Instead, they will be tried in a federal courthouse. If you have recently been accused of criminal wrongdoing and are unsure of where you’ll be tried, make sure to clarify your circumstances with our experienced criminal defense lawyers.
RESPONDING TO CRIMINAL CHARGES WITH INTENTION AND SERIOUSNESS OF PURPOSE
Most criminal cases in Salem County begin with the police filing a criminal complaint against a person because they have reason to believe the person committed a crime or received credible information from a witness that the person engaged in criminal activity. In some instances, a criminal case will begin with an indictment before a grand jury, which will determine if there is adequate evidence to charge the indicted individual with a crime.
Whether you have been arrested and formally charged or are aware that you’re the subject of a criminal investigation, it is time to start executing the strongest criminal defense strategy possible. Note that prosecutors – not defendants – are tasked with proving each element of their case beyond a reasonable doubt, so there are often numerous ways to successfully fight back against criminal charges. Working with an experienced criminal defense attorney to safeguard your rights and minimize the likelihood that you’ll incur potentially life-altering consequences as a result of your situation is a worthy investment of your time and energy.
CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS REPRESENTING CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS IN SALEM COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
Criminal convictions often result in serious penalties in New Jersey. This is one of the reasons why our team works so diligently on behalf of our clients. We understand that a conviction would be life-altering, so we do our utmost to mitigate the risk that our clients will face the harsh sentences often imposed by New Jersey superior courts. Although no ethical lawyer can guarantee the outcome of a case, our team boasts a track record of success on behalf of our clients that speaks for itself.
The precise punishment imposed in the event of a conviction will depend on the nature of the crime, a defendant’s prior criminal record, and other factors. In New Jersey, crimes are categorized by degree, with first degree being the most serious and fourth-degree being the least serious. These are the specific baseline sentencing ranges that usually define each of New Jersey’s indictable crime classifications:
- First-degree indictable offenses: A term of incarceration ranging between 10-to-20 years and fines not to exceed $200,000
- Second-degree indictable offenses: A term of incarceration ranging between 5-to-10 years and fines not to exceed $150,000
- Third-degree indictable offenses: A term of incarceration ranging between 3-to-5 years and fines not to exceed $15,000
- Fourth-degree indictable offenses: A term of incarceration not to exceed 18 months and fines not to exceed $10,000
Some criminal charges arise more frequently in Salem than others. For example, although Salem County is relatively small, a relatively significant number of people in Salem City and Penns Grove have been charged with murders, gun crimes, and drug offenses in recent years. Additionally, there is a high rate of burglary and larceny charges in Pennsville Township.
While each criminal case is unique, some strategies work better for certain charges than others. The trusted Salem County criminal defense lawyers of The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have ample experience defending people charged with the aforementioned offenses, and if you engage our services, we will employ our ample knowledge to craft compelling defenses on your behalf in order to provide you with a strong chance of a favorable outcome.
We also regularly defend people charged with crimes in the Salem County Courts, including:
- Sexual Assault
- Aggravated Assault
- Robbery
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Trespassing
- Arson
- Domestic Violence Offenses
EXPERIENCED NEW JERSEY CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER DEFENDING YOU IN SALEM COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURTS
New Jersey refers to relatively minor crimes as disorderly persons offenses; they are charged much like misdemeanors, not felonies, because they are not considered to be as egregious as indictable crimes. With that said, being convicted of a disorderly persons offense can be life-altering and should be treated as a serious risk. As a result, our team aggressively advocates on behalf of those who are facing such charges, just as we aggressively advocate on behalf of those who are facing charges that have been classified as indictable crimes.
Complaints that result in disorderly persons charges are heard by the Salem County Municipal Courts. Disorderly persons offenses are generally heard in the Court for the municipality in which the offense supposedly occurred. There are fifteen municipalities in Salem County, but some of the Municipal Courts have jurisdiction over more than one municipality. A judge, not a jury, will ultimately determine whether a defendant is guilty of committing a disorderly persons offense as only defendants who have been accused of an indictable offense are guaranteed the right to a jury trial.
At The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our skilled Salem County criminal defense attorneys vigorously advocate on behalf of clients in the Municipal Courts, and if you hire us, we will fight to help you protect your interests. We routinely represent parties charged with disorderly persons offenses in Carneys Point, Pittsgrove Township, Woodstown Borough, and other towns in Municipal Courts throughout the County. The disorderly persons offenses our Salem County clients are frequently charged with include simple assault, disorderly conduct, and criminal mischief, as well as impaired driving offenses, harassment, resisting arrest, vandalism, and some lesser drug charges.
OUR QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
People accused of committing crimes or disorderly persons offenses have the ability to choose one attorney to represent them out of thousands who practice in New Jersey. This selection process can be understandably overwhelming, especially because there is so much on the line. However, there are good reasons to choose some attorneys over others.
For example, simply because an attorney is licensed to practice law does not mean that they are qualified to defend a person who has been charged with a crime. Hiring an attorney who does not have adequate experience handling criminal matters can result in devastating consequences. This is one of the reasons why the Salem County criminal defense attorneys of The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall stand out among other lawyers. We benefit from extensive experience defending clients in criminal cases in the Salem County Municipal Courts and Superior Court and a history of obtaining favorable verdicts.
But it isn’t just that we are experienced and that our firm has cultivated a hard-earned reputation for success and providing client-focused representation. One of our firm’s greatest assets is that criminal law is the sole focus of our one-dozen attorneys. By concentrating on the ever-evolving realities of New Jersey criminal law, we are uniquely prepared to serve our clients’ needs in personalized, informed ways. We also benefit from having former prosecutors on staff, who regularly advise the rest of the team concerning how “the other side” will likely be constructing its case.
Each criminal defense lawyer at our firm understands the importance of protecting our clients’ liberties and reputations. We understand that when someone walks through our office doors, they are not just hoping to win a criminal case. They are hoping to preserve their freedom, their hope for the future, and their life as they know it. As a result, our team works tirelessly on behalf of our clients. If you entrust your case to us, we will work tirelessly on behalf of your interests as well.
SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION WITH A SALEM COUNTY CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY TODAY
The assertive attorneys of The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall possess the skills and experience needed to mount persuasive defenses to criminal charges and disorderly persons offenses in Salem County. We encourage those who have recently been charged with criminal wrongdoing to contact us for a free case evaluation. That way, you can ask questions, express concerns, receive personalized feedback, and learn more about our approach to representation before making any decisions concerning the kind of attorney-client relationship you’ll need to enter into in order to have the best possible chance of succeeding on the merits of your case.
Our team is proud to offer legal consultations at no cost and in a pressure-free environment. The stakes of your situation are so high that you don’t need to add the cost of a consultation or a pressure-filled “salesy” approach to the consultation process to add to your stress. Instead, simply call us at (855) 927-0372 or reach out to us online and we’ll take this process one step at a time. Our criminal lawyers are ready to speak with you, night or day. Once we’re alerted to the ins and outs of your situation, we’ll be prepared to start safeguarding your rights and aggressively advocating on behalf of your interests.
