Disorderly Persons Offenses in New Jersey

Disorderly persons offenses, known in other jurisdictions as misdemeanors, are the lowest level of criminal charge in New Jersey. These cases are heard in the municipal court of the jurisdiction where the offense occurred. While these may be the lowest level of criminal charge, they still can impact your life in a variety of ways. You will have a criminal record, which can lead to problems obtaining a job down the road, and face up to six months in county jail. You need an experienced attorney, like the ones at Cores and Associates, to fight, to dismiss, or reduce your charges.

New Jersey Disorderly Persons Offenses

There is a wide range of disorderly persons offenses in New Jersey. These include offenses like simple assault, harassment, criminal mischief, shoplifting, underage drinking, trespassing, possession of small amounts of marijuana or drug paraphernalia, and possession of a fake ID and providing alcohol to a minor.

The court may impose fines of up to $1,000 for offenses like these, along with other fines and penalties. You could also face up to six months in jail or a period of probation. Also, certain offenses carry mandatory or discretionary period of driver’s license suspension. Even for what may be termed a “minor” offense, you still need an experienced and dedicated attorney, like the ones at Cores and Associates, by your side to help you navigate the process.

Conditional Dismissal and Conditional Discharge

First-time offenders facing disorderly persons offenses have several options to defer their charges and get a dismissal after a period of supervision. The attorneys at Cores and Associates have the knowledge of these programs to help you succeed and clear your record. Contact Cores and Associates for a confidential consultation to discuss your options.

Conditional dismissal is a diversionary program where certain first-time offenders enter a plea to their charge, but the sentencing is deferred for a period of time. The court will impose certain conditions, such as anger management, counseling or other treatment, which must be complied with, along with staying clear of further criminal charges. If the offender complies with all the terms, the charges will be dismissed at the end of the period of supervision.

Conditional dismissal is a very similar program for certain first-time narcotics offenders. Similar to conditional discharge, the offender is placed on probation for a period of time, with certain other conditions imposed. If the conditions are successfully met, the charges will be dismissed at the end of the period of time. The attorneys at Cores and Associates have years of experience dealing with these programs and can assist you in getting your charges dismissed. Contact Cores and Associates for a confidential consultation.

Ordinance Violations

Another common way to resolve certain disorderly persons offenses is through ordinance violations. These are non-criminal violations of the municipal code of the municipality. Many types of disorderly persons offenses can be plea bargained down to this non-criminal offense, meaning that you will not have a criminal record. Although this type of offense can lead to a higher fine, the fact that you will not have a criminal record can greatly lessen the impact of the offense. Contact the experienced attorneys at Cores and Associates to see if your disorderly persons offenses can be reduced to ordinance violations.