NEW JERSEY STATE CRIMINAL COURT PROCESS
The criminal process can be complex and confusing. But it's important to know your legal rights. The best way to be informed is to contact a New Jersey criminal attorney in your area as soon as possible. A criminal defense attorney will understand the law as it relates to the crime you've been charged with, and will be able to help you in making informed decisions as your case moves through the process.
Stop
You may be stopped for questioning by the police. A stop is not the same as an arrest because, although you may be detained, you aren't moved to a different location. During a stop the police officer may ask you questions, but you have the right to refuse to answer.
Search
Search Warrants
A search warrant authorizes police to conduct a search of a specific, place such as your residence. In order for a warrant to be issued by a judge, "probable cause" is necessary.
Probable cause to search means that:
It is more likely than not that the specific items to be searched for are connected with criminal activities
Those items will be found in the place to be searched
Warrantless Searches
The general rule is that warrants are required for searches. But search warrants are not required for the following:
Searches incident to arrest: Police officers are permitted to search your body and/or clothing for weapons or other contraband when making a valid arrest.
Automobile searches: If you're arrested in a vehicle, the police may search the inside of the vehicle. To perform a complete search of the vehicle (such as in locked glove compartments, for example), probable cause is necessary.
Exigent circumstances: Searches may be conducted if there are "exigent circumstances" which demand immediate action, such as to avoid the destruction of evidence.
Plain view: Police do not need a search warrant when they see an object that is in plain view of an officer who has the right to be in the position to have that view.
Consent: If you consent to a search of your body, your vehicle, or your home, police are not required to have a warrant. You aren't required to consent to any police searches.
Arrest
In order to be arrested, there must be what's called "probable cause." This means that there must be a reasonable belief that a crime was committed and you committed the crime. An arrest warrant is not necessary.
After you're placed under arrest, you are protected by constitutional rights. Two important rights to be aware of are right to remain silent and the right to have an attorney. After your arrest, you aren't required to say anything else to police or investigators, until you have an attorney present. You must be given the opportunity to contact an attorney.
Miranda Rule
Under the Miranda Rule, if you are in police custody you must be informed of specific constitutional rights before interrogation begins. Those rights are as follows:
The right to remain silent
The right to have an attorney present during questioning
The right to have an attorney appointed if you are unable to afford one
Important to note is that Miranda rights do not have to be read until you are taken into custody. That means that you can be questioned by the police before being taken into custody, and anything you say at that point can be used against you later in court.
Booking
After you're arrested, the police will bring you to the police station for the booking process . You'll be fingerprinted and asked a series of questions, such as your name and date of birth. You'll also be searched and photographed. Your personal property such as jewelry will be catalogued and stored.
Appointment of an Attorney
In New Jersey, if you cannot afford to hire an attorney, and if you are charged with a crime that is punishable by incarceration, an attorney will be appointed to defend you. Usually, a public defender will be appointed as your attorney.
Once a public defender has been appointed to defend you, you may ask the court to appoint a substitute attorney only for good cause. Good cause requires more than mere dissatisfaction with your appointed attorney and may include:
A conflict of interest between you and the attorney
Your attorney becomes ill and cannot continue to represent you
There is reason to believe that your attorney is not providing effective assistance.
Arraignment
Once criminal charges are filed, you'll be asked to make a court appearance which is known as an "arraignment." This is known in New Jersey as a first appearance. You will be advised of your rights and your bail will be reviewed.
If the charges are not otherwise disposed of, your case will be presented to a grand jury. If the grand jury issues an indictment, an arraignment will take place within 50 days. During your arraignment you will be asked to enter a plea. The New Jersey pleas and corresponding definitions follow:
Guilty plea: If you plead "guilty," you're admitting to the facts of the crime and the fact that you were the one who committed that crime.
Not guilty plea: A "not guilty" plea asserts that you did not commit the crime with which you were accused. After your plea, a pre-trial or trial date will be set.
No contest plea: A "no contest" plea indicates that, while you are not admitting guilt, you do not dispute the charge. This is preferable to a guilty plea because guilty pleas can be used against you in later civil lawsuits.
"Mute" plea: In New Jersey, you may "stand mute" instead of making a plea. The court will then enter a plea of not guilty. By standing mute, you avoid silently admitting to the correctness of the proceedings against you until that point. You are then free to attack all previous proceedings that may have been irregular.
Bail/Bond
In New Jersey, all defendants have a right to bail, and bail must be set within 12 hours after a complaint is issued. If you have ties to the community or no criminal history, you may be released on your own personal recognizance, which means that the court takes your word that you will appear when necessary for later court obligations.
"Bail" is money or property put forth as security to ensure that you'll show up for further criminal proceedings.
In New Jersey, bail can be paid:
In cash
A pledge of property (if permitted in that court)
A bail bond
A professional bail bondsman is an individual whose business is to pledge his or her own property or security to guarantee the bail bond to the court.
Speedy Trial
You have a right to a speedy trial under the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which requires that the trial be held within a certain time frame after a person has been charged with a crime.
This right can be waived by asking for additional time for the preparation of your defense.
Speedy Trial rights in New Jersey
With limited exceptions, a defendant should be brought to trial in New Jersey within 180 days.
A felony is a crime usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year. A misdemeanor, on the other hand, is usually punishable by a fine or a year or less of incarceration.
Trial
Many prosecutors will consider "plea agreements," although it's not legally required. If you don't reach a plea agreement with the prosecutor, your proceedings will move toward the trial stage.
Usually, if you are charged with a crime punishable by six or more months of imprisonment, you have the right to a jury trial. This right may be waived by:
Pleading guilty; or
Choosing a bench trial (a trial in front of a judge only)
If you request a bench trial, the judge will perform the fact-finding function that is usually performed by the jury.
Appeals
If you're found guilty after a trial, you're entitled to an appeals process. This process varies depending upon the crime, but there are always time deadlines by which you must file an appeal.
In New Jersey, you generally have 45 days after a conviction to file an appeal.
There are numerous reasons for an appeal from a guilty verdict in a criminal case, including what's called "legal error." Legal error may include:
Allowing inadmissible evidence during the criminal process, including evidence that was obtained in violation of your constitutional rights
Lack of sufficient evidence to support a verdict of guilty
Mistakes in the judge's instructions to the jury regarding your case
You may also appeal due to misconduct on behalf of the jurors, or if there is newly discovered evidence to exonerate you.
Expungement
In New Jersey, under some circumstances, you may be able to have a criminal record expunged, which means that records concerning your criminal case are extracted from law enforcement agency and court files and are isolated. Such records may only be used for limited purposes, such as a future criminal prosecution.
You may be eligible for expungement if:
You have Not been convicted of a serious crime such as murder, rape, or robbery. It has been two, five, or ten years (depending on the seriousness of the offense) since you completed any sentence, and You have not been convicted of any crime during that period; or You have a juvenile record; or You were given a conditional discharge as a first offender on a minor drug charge and it has been at least a year since termination of probation; or You were not convicted of charges brought against you.
If you are eligible to have your records expunged, you can file an expungement petition in court. If the State has a special need to retain the records, the court may refuse to expunge them.
