Salem Criminal Defense Attorney
Get the Representation You Need from an Experienced Salem Criminal Defense Attorney
If you’ve been charged with a crime in New Jersey, you need experienced legal representation. Prosecutors will be working hard to convict you, and if you fail to defend yourself effectively, the judge may have no choice but to find you guilty. While you have clear legal rights—and while you may have a variety of defenses available—at this stage, it is up to you to protect yourself from unnecessary consequences. This starts with putting an experienced Salem criminal defense attorney on your side.
The attorneys in our Salem office have extensive experience defending clients against all types of criminal charges under New Jersey law. If you need to avoid unnecessary consequences following an arrest, we can help. We handle cases involving all types of disorderly persons offenses and indictable offenses, and no matter what is at stake in your case, you can trust our attorneys to protect you by all means available.
Criminal Cases We Handle in Salem, NJ
All criminal offenses fall into one of two broad categories under New Jersey law. A criminal offense is either (i) a disorderly persons offense or (ii) an indictable offense. While disorderly persons offenses are generally less serious than indictable offenses, all charges carry the potential for fines, jail (or prison) time, and other consequences.
At Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A., we defend individuals who are facing charges for disorderly persons offenses and indictable offenses of all kinds. This includes (but is by no means limited to) common criminal charges such as:
- Assault and Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Drug Crimes
- Murder and Homicide
- Resisting Arrest and Parole/Probation Violations
- Sexual Assault and Aggravated Sexual Assault
- Stalking and Cyberstalking
- Terroristic Threats
- Theft and Shoplifting
- Weapons Offenses
There are two “degrees” of disorderly persons offenses and four “degrees” of indictable crimes under New Jersey law. The degree of your charge will determine the specific penalties you are facing. The penalties for disorderly persons offenses generally range from 30 days in jail and a $500 fine to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, while the penalties for indictable offenses start at 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine and increase all the way to a life sentence and hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial liability.
Understanding Your Criminal Case in Salem
If you are facing criminal charges in New Jersey, it is imperative that you have a clear understanding of how the law protects (and fails to protect) you. You also need to understand the court process so that you can make sure you are fully prepared every step of the way. While you will need to speak with a Salem criminal defense attorney to obtain advice that is specific to your type of case, here are some of the basics:
- You Are Innocent Until Proven Guilty – Throughout your case, you need to remember that you are innocent until proven guilty. If prosecutors cannot prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, you are entitled to a “Not guilty” verdict, if not a dismissal before trial. With that said, a conviction is still a very real possibility, and you will need to take action to prevent the prosecution from meeting its burden of proof.
- You May (or May Not) Have the Right to a Jury Trial – Whether you have the right to a jury trial depends on the charge (or charges) you are facing. Disorderly persons offenses aren’t technically “crimes” under New Jersey law, which means that individuals charged with these offenses are not entitled to a trial by a jury of their peers.
- Violations of Your Constitutional Rights Can Provide Defenses in Court – Along with various other defenses, violations of your constitutional rights can provide defenses in court. For example, if the police stopped you without reasonable suspicion or conducted a warrantless search without probable cause, your Salem criminal defense attorney may be able to use this to protect you.
- After Your Arraignment, the Steps in Your Case Depend on the Charge (or Charges) Against You – Once you get arrested, the next step in your criminal case is your arraignment. This is where the judge will read the charges against you and inform you of your legal rights. After this, the steps in your case will depend on whether you are facing a disorderly persons offense or an indictable offense—which will determine whether your case will be tried in Municipal Court or Superior Court.
The Options for Appealing a Conviction in New Jersey Are Limited – While criminal convictions are generally subject to appeal, the options for appealing a conviction in New Jersey are much more limited than most people realize. You also need to preserve issues for appeal during your criminal trial. With this in mind, you should not assume that you will have the opportunity to try again if you receive a “Guilty” verdict in court.
Do You Need a Salem Criminal Defense Attorney?
From determining what defenses you can (and should) assert to protecting your right to appeal, there are many ways an experienced Salem criminal defense attorney can help you. As a result, it is strongly in your best interests to have an experienced attorney on your side.
Even if you cannot avoid a conviction entirely, your attorney may be able to negotiate a plea bargain that minimizes the consequences of your arrest. Pre-trial intervention (PTI) is an option in some cases as well. If you qualify for PTI, your attorney may be able to help you resolve your case without a conviction—even if there is no question that you committed a crime under New Jersey law.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation with a Criminal Defense Attorney in Our Salem Office Today
To learn more about how a Salem criminal defense attorney at Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A. can help you, schedule a confidential consultation today. Call 877-435-6371 or send us your information online to discuss your case with an attorney in confidence as soon as possible.
