Criminal charges

The law in New Jersey treats underage people who break the law differently than those over the age of 18. There is a much stronger focus on rehabilitation when the person accused of violating the law is a minor. The penalties they face will typically be less severe,...

As a U.S. citizen, you are entitled to freedom from government intrusion – to an extent. There are limits to your privacy and authorities (when justified) have the right to search your property if a crime is suspected.  It’s important to know your rights and the...

You may remember your teen years when your parents told you not to drink alcohol – and you did it anyhow. Now you have a teen (or two) of your own and you may be worrying if they’re going to follow in your footsteps.  While it’s not legal for teens to drink (without...

You may have heard people discuss crimes of passion. A crime of passion is when someone is so overcome by emotion that they react without thinking and do something illegal. In the most serious cases, it results in death. Can you really claim that it was a crime of...

The actors on TV police dramas say words like murder, homicide and manslaughter all the time. You figure those terms all describe one individual taking the life of another, so they must mean the same thing, right? Actually, they do not. Each is unique in key ways....

The film and television industry misrepresents the insanity defense, making it seem easy to beat charges for committing a violent offense. In real life, it is extremely hard to win a trial based on the insanity of a defendant. However, some people need an insanity...

When people are accused of serious crimes and they begin looking into their criminal defense options, they often have some expectations about trying to stay out of jail. They believe that they need to get the charges dropped and that they can avoid any serious...

You’ve lived your whole life without ever using physical violence. Violence is alien to most people, and the mere thought of it can be extremely upsetting. One day, you’re having a look around Atlantic city with your family. You were minding your own business when...

If a person is convicted of a severe criminal offense, or they are facing prosecution having been convicted in the past, then the court may impose a sentence that includes jail time. During their time in jail, the behavior of an inmate will be monitored. Negative...

You might be thinking that a plea deal is heaven-sent. After all, you will likely face a reduced sentence depending on the terms of the agreement with the prosecution. However, everything is not as it seems. Rushing into accepting a plea deal is a mistake many people...