If you find yourself arrested for or charged with a crime in Union Township, NJ, you need the help of a criminal defense lawyer right away. Being convicted of a crime could cost you your job, your reputation, thousands of dollars in fines, and even your freedom. But remember: in the United States, you are innocent until proven guilty, and a criminal defense lawyer with the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall can protect your rights and fight back against the charges against you.
Our Union Township criminal attorneys have more than 200 years of combined experience and are dedicated to helping people who find themselves in positions like yours. As former prosecutors and public defenders, our New Jersey criminal defense attorneys understand how criminal cases work and what your options are. We also appreciate the stakes you’re facing and the pressure you’re likely feeling, and we will do whatever we can to make the process easier and less stressful for you.
You deserve a vigorous defense. Let us provide it. Contact the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall today for a free initial consultation.
What Charges Can a Union Township Criminal Defense Lawyer Help Me With?
Our Union Township criminal defense lawyers have experience with many kinds of cases. Some of the criminal cases we can help with include:
- Drug Charges – In New Jersey, drug crimes include everything from simple possession to manufacturing and distribution. A simple possession charge may be a disorderly persons offense, but even these can carry significant penalties. If prosecutors accuse you of drug trafficking or distribution, you could face decades in prison. Our drug crimes lawyers can examine the evidence against you and find the best way forward.
- Domestic Violence – The damage to your reputation caused by a domestic violence conviction could be swift and severe. Depending on the charges, you could face years in prison, thousands of dollars in fines, and significant collateral consequences. Our New Jersey domestic violence attorneys can craft a strategy to protect your freedom and reputation.
- DWI/DUI – Prosecutors often come down hard on alleged drunk drivers. On the other hand, proving a driver was drunk at the time of arrest can be challenging without hard evidence. Our Union Township DUI and DWI defense attorneys can seek to have any medical evidence against you dismissed, which may lead prosecutors to drop the charges. We can also explore alternative sentences and reduced charges.
- Sex Crimes – Allegations of sex crimes can be difficult to prove, but the consequences of a conviction can be severe. In addition to a prison sentence and fines, a conviction for a sex offense could force you to register as a sexual offender. This could block you from living in or visiting certain areas, and many registered sex offenders find it difficult to find well-paying work. We will do everything possible to protect your freedom and reputation if you are charged with a sex crime.
- Juvenile Charges – Juvenile offenders usually face less strict penalties when convicted of a crime. That said, the penalties for a juvenile offense may include jail time and other harsh measures. And in some instances, prosecutors can try juveniles as adults, leading to stricter penalties on conviction. If your child is facing juvenile charges, we can argue for reduced or alternative sentencing to spare them the long-term consequences of a conviction. And if they are facing more serious charges, we can work to keep your child in the juvenile system and out of the criminal courts.
- Assault and Threat Charges – Many people believe assault is the crime of physically attacking someone with their hands, feet, or a weapon. While this belief is not entirely wrong, you do not have to strike someone for the police to arrest you on suspicion of assault. Making threats can be enough for prosecutors to charge you with assault. Violent crimes like assault frequently carry hefty penalties, but a Union Township criminal defense attorney could fight against the worst potential consequences for a conviction.
- Gun and Weapons Offense Violations – New Jersey has a well-deserved reputation for having some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Possessing a prohibited weapon, failing to follow the rules for buying and registering a handgun, using a gun while committing a crime, and other weapons charges carry lengthy prison sentences. Many convictions allow authorities to take away your gun rights. We could help protect your freedom and constitutional rights if the police arrest you for a weapons-related offense.
- Theft Charges – Property crimes like theft, robbery, and burglary carry significant penalties in New Jersey. If prosecutors accused you of using a firearm or another weapon during the crimes, the penalties could be even more severe. We can explain how theft charges work in New Jersey and prepare a defense strategy aimed at keeping you out of jail by reducing or beating the charges.
- Fraud-Related Charges – Fraud is the crime of using deceptive means to steal from a person, business, or the government. As with other property crimes, New Jersey prosecutors do not take fraud cases lightly. As defense lawyers, neither do we. Our attorneys can review the charges against you, independently investigate the allegations, and build a strong case in your defense.
What Should I Do if I Have Been Arrested in Union Township, NJ?
There are three key things to remember if the police arrest you in Union Township or elsewhere in New Jersey:
Cooperate as Best You Can Without Incriminating Yourself
You have nothing to gain from fighting the police when they arrest you. Physically attacking an officer, hiding or destroying evidence, or getting into an argument will only complicate your case and could lead to additional charges.
Do Not Say Anything to Police or Prosecutors Without a Lawyer Present
The constitutional right to remain silent is one of the best protections you have in a criminal case. Anything you say could be used against you later, so do not give law enforcement the ammunition they’re after. Your defense attorney can handle most of the communication with the police and prosecutors, which protects you from saying or doing anything that could hurt your case.
Hire a New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer immediately
The best defense is the one that starts before the police arrest you. The sooner you hire a lawyer, the more they can do to help and protect you. Hiring a New Jersey defense attorney is critical in the early stages of a criminal case to reduce your chances of making a potentially catastrophic error.
Where Are Union Township, NJ, Criminal Matters Heard?
Criminal cases in Union Township take place at one of two locations. The first is the Union Township Municipal Court. The municipal court hears cases involving disorderly persons offenses (New Jersey’s term for a misdemeanor), traffic offenses, and other minor crimes. If prosecutors accuse you of drug possession, simple assault, shoplifting, or another lesser crime, your case will likely take place in the Union Township Municipal Court, located at 981 Caldwell Ave., Union, NJ 07083.
More serious criminal cases in Union Township typically take place at the Union County Superior Court in Elizabeth. If you’re accused of an indictable offense like homicide, sexual assault, burglary, drug trafficking, or fraud, your case will likely take place in the Union County Superior Court at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth.
What Are Potential Defenses to Charges I Am Facing?
Your defense attorney could advocate for you and develop a strong strategy to defend against the specific charges you face. Some potential defenses include the following.
Self-Defense
Self-defense is a typical defense strategy in cases where prosecutors accuse someone of a violent crime. Using even deadly force to defend oneself is legal in certain circumstances, and an experienced attorney could demonstrate how you were justified in attacking someone who threatened or attacked you.
Lack of Intent
To convict you of certain crimes, prosecutors must show you deliberately intended to commit the underlying offense. An experienced attorney may be able to show you did not mean to commit a crime and have the case against you dropped.
Mistaken Identity
Police sometimes arrest the wrong person for a crime because they have bad evidence or make a procedural mistake. If your lawyer can demonstrate that the police arrested the wrong person, the prosecution must drop its charges against you.
You Were Not at the Scene When the Crime Occurred
A solid alibi can demonstrate that you could not have committed the crime in question because you were somewhere else when it happened. If you have proof to back up your alibi, prosecutors will likely drop the case against you.
How Can a Union Township, NJ, Criminal Lawyer Improve the Outcome of My Case?
Here are a few ways a criminal lawyer in Union Township, NJ, can help you reach a better result in your criminal matter:
- Protecting your constitutional rights
- Dismissing evidence obtained through an illegal search
- Negotiating a plea deal to reduce your sentence
- Developing a defense strategy if your case goes to trial
Why Hire Our Union Township Criminal Defense Law Firm?
Choosing the right defense attorney can substantially impact your case’s outcome. Here are a few reasons to select the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall for your Union Township criminal case:
- Our attorneys have more than 200 years of combined experience.
- Our team includes several former New Jersey prosecutors and public defenders.
- Our office is conveniently located near the Union Township Municipal Court and Union County Superior Court.
- Our team understands the stakes of your case and will protect your freedom in every way we can.
Contact a Union Township Criminal Lawyer Today
At the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, a Union Township criminal defense lawyer is ready to start on your case immediately. We can meet you wherever you are or at our office, which is conveniently located near the Union Township Municipal Court and Union County Superior Court. Call us today or visit our contact page for a free consultation with a Union Township criminal defense lawyer.
