NJ Law Blogs

Oxford Dictionary has named “Vape” as its 2014 word of the year. To “vape” means to inhale and exhale the vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device. Always trending, last year's Oxford English Dictionary word of the year was “selfie”. This year's buzzword, vape, is a cause for m...

NJ Attorney General's Office Seeks to Obtain Phone Records Without Warrant New Jersey Assistant Attorney General Ronald Susswein is challenging a 32-year-old ruling by the NJ State Supreme Court. The original ruling (State v. Hunt) requires prosecutors to obtain a warrant in order to get access t...

A fun night out with friends could quickly turn rowdy…and illegal. If you have been charged with graffiti charges it can be a concerning and nerve-racking experience. It is against the law in NJ to spray paint or otherwise embed your “tag” or nickname on public or private property, unless the pro...

Not many places celebrate the night before Halloween, but New Jersey has historically ‘honored' the occasion. Mischief Night, as it is most commonly known, generally occurs on Oct. 30 of each year. On Mischief Night, kids and teenagers will typically engage in activities such as throwing toilet p...

Halloween can be a time for pranksters to get their fix by participating in mischievous activities. The festivities, alcohol and party mentality frequently conspire to cause people to behave in ways that do not reflect their best judgment. While it is meant to be a night filled with fun, let it j...

Marijuana possession and distribution in New Jersey can lead to serious penalties according to state law. However, distribution charges tend to carry heavier penalties than possession, and when you factor in distribution to minors in a designated school zone, penalties increase once again. That's...

Auto theft and joyriding are viewed as two different crimes in New Jersey – but both are illegal and are punishable offenses for which you should consult a criminal defense lawyer. Auto theft is frequently used to describe a whole host of statutorily prescribed offenses related to the theft or un...

When an individual is arrested for a crime in New Jersey, the county prosecutor presents the case to a grand jury for indictment.  To indict someone means to formally charge them with an offense, for which they will tried in a court of law.  The decision to indict is made by a group of rand...

When it comes to court hearings, people typically focus on defense strategies, such as challenging procedures used during the arrest, and refuting the prosecution's version of events.  However, your physical appearance—especially your choice of attire—is also an important consideration.  Wh...

Computer and internet crimes, also known as cybercrimes, refer to the illegal use of a computer or network.  The computer may be the target of a crime, or be used in the commission of criminal activity such as identity theft, distribution of child pornography and copyright infringement.  Th...

In late October of 2012, the State of New Jersey was devastated by the effects of Hurricane Sandy—the deadliest hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season.  As of March 2014, the resulting damages were estimated to be over $68 billion, with most of the damage having occurred in the bea...

Classification of Marijuana Charges in New Jersey In New Jersey, possession of marijuana is an offense classified as either a disorderly persons offense (less than 50 grams) or an indictable crime (50 grams or more).  If you are not eligible for diversionary programs, such as conditional di...

Probation is defined as a period of time in which an offender is supervised by a probation officer, and required to meet certain conditions imposed by the courts.  The New Jersey Courts system uses probation as an alternative either for individuals who are facing incarceration.  An offender...

The Different Heroin Offenses Under New Jersey Law It is against the law for you to possess any amount of heroin in New Jersey. A person who is convicted of the possession of heroin, no matter how small the amount, is guilty of a crime of the third degree at the minimum.  If someone knowing...

If you have been charged with a first time disorderly persons offense in New Jersey, you may be eligible for diversionary programs, such as pretrial intervention or conditional discharge.   The latter option is a program that allows defendants charged with certain drug offenses to have thei...

Meeting and speaking with your attorney is like going to meet with your psychologist. In order to properly diagnose the situation, your attorney must be provided with all the important information that makes up your case. This relationship is important to make sure that the attorney has the...

A restraining order is an order that is issued by a court with the primary purpose to protect one person from another person.  A restraining order prohibits the party it is entered against from contacting or communicating with the individual on whose behalf the order is entered. There are s...

When two parties are involved in the same incident and require representation, an attorney is not prohibited from retaining both individuals as their client. Although you and a friend may both want the same attorney to provide your NJ criminal defense, this might not be such a great move. ...

A person's arrest for the recreational use or possession of marijuana, hash or drug paraphernalia can have a better outcome in the court through grant of a “conditional discharge” under New Jersey statute N.J.S.A. 2C:36A-1.  This law allows the municipal judge to grant a conditional dischar...

Recent Spike in Drug Overdoses in New Jersey In the past few years, both heroin and prescription drug abuse have risen dramatically in New Jersey.  There were 112 drug-related deaths in Ocean County alone in 2013, and a total of 700 opiate overdose deaths since 2009.  The State Commission o...

New Jersey legislators and law enforcement have been working together to target a new dangerous fad called “knockout games”.  This violent game involves the action of knocking down random people in public with one blow, usually by punching or jumping them.  It is not motivated by any crimin...

Even with Good Behavior, Certain Convictions can Keep You Incarcerated for More than Minimum Term Most of the time, a person sentenced to time in jail or prison for a criminal conviction will be subject to parole, or early release, after having served his or her minimum term, as set by the judge ...

Conditional Discharge can be a Second Chance at a Clean Slate Marijuana use and possession have become a frequently violated offense at the Jersey Shore in Ocean County and Monmouth County. A drug offense is something everyone wishes to avoid having on their record. Having a drug offense on your ...

You Could Be Charged With a Drug Offense While Attending a Concert in Holmdel With the summer concert series heating up in Holmdel, some fans may see themselves in a lot of trouble having been charged with drug possession or possession of drug paraphernalia in Holmdel. The drug and the amount you...

Distribution or Possession of a Prescription Legend Drug Adderall is an amphetamine and a prescription medication that is typically prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and narcolepsy. Adderall is the functional equivalent of amphetamine salts, Vyvanse, and Ritalin. In the p...