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Criminal Defense

When it comes to criminal defense in New Jersey, Rosenberg | Perry & Associates provides elite representation and counsel.

Our commitment to N.J. criminal law is no secret, and we’re repeatedly recognized for it. In 2017 alone, our team earned two coveted spots amongst SJ Magazine’s Top Attorneys 2017, were honored by Super Lawyers Magazine as “Rising Stars,” and two of our attorneys became certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as criminal trial attorneys — a distinction only 300 out of 40,000 lawyers statewide have earned.

Our competitive advantage comes from hands-on experience working for the other side. As former county prosecutors, we strategically consider the prosecutor’s perspective when preparing your case to develop the most comprehensive defense possible. Our expertise in New Jersey criminal law is expansive and includes:

Juvenile Crime

A teenage boy in handcuffs.In New Jersey, people younger than 18 years old who commit crimes are considered juveniles and are tried in the family part of Superior Court. Although the law is designed to protect children rather than punish them, it’s not uncommon for prosecutors to argue children should be tried as adults — especially if they are repeat offenders. When that happens, children are “waived” to adult court and face the same punishments as an adult would. Having a criminal record can be detrimental for your child and could prevent them from going to college or getting a job. As your criminal lawyer, it’s our job to protect your son or daughter and ensure they are treated fairly and in a way that will help them become productive, law-abiding adults.

  • Juvenile Case Process
  • Juvenile Tried as an Adult (“waiver” cases)
  • Juvenile Diversionary Matters (such as Intake Services Conference or
  • Juvenile Conference Committee)

“Once you’re charged, you enter the criminal justice system. And sometimes it’s fair, often times it’s not. But what you need to know is, no matter what your situation – we have your back. That’s what we do.”

Attorney Daniel M. Rosenberg, 2021

Daniel M. Rosenberg, Esquire

Sex Crimes

Crimes of a sexual nature are taken very seriously in New Jersey, especially when involving children, family members, and domestic partners. In N.J., sex crimes include sexual harassment, criminal sexual contact, and sexual assault. Sex crime charges vary from petty disorderly persons to first degree. Without a proper defense, a person accused of any of these crimes could spend 30 days – 20 years in jail and be required to register on the sex offender list under Megan’s law. Some convictions are also subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA), meaning that if convicted a defendant must serve 85 percent of their sentence before they become eligible for parole.

Title IX Investigations

Title IX laws prohibit discrimination on college campuses in the United States on the basis of sex by or against students, staff, or faculty at federally funded institutions. Since 2011, colleges have been aggressively pursuing allegations of sexual misconduct and discrimination on their campuses through Title IX investigations. This process is often stressful and traumatic and could result in suspension, expulsion, or criminal charges putting a student’s professional and academic career in jeopardy.

Title IX rules are complex and not always applied uniformly which puts students at risk of being treated unfairly or being denied their due process rights. Having a Title IX lawyer familiar with Title IX hearings and investigations to defend you is important to protect your future and ensure you are treated fairly throughout the investigation.

Drug Crimes

A policeman with a drug-sniffing dog.As the “war” on drugs continues to rage nationwide and the opioid epidemic grows, New Jersey maintains its stance against the possession, use and distribution of illegal drugs including narcotics/opioids, methamphetamine, cocaine, and more. While medical marijuana is legal, New Jersey residents are still using pot illegally, sometimes being arrested despite the privacy that should be afforded by the Plain Smell Doctrine. A conviction for drug crimes can result in jail time and participation in drug treatment programs.

  • Drug Court
  • Marijuana
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Dangerous Substance
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute Within 1,000 ft. of a School Zone
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute Within 500 ft. of a Public Park
  • Opiate Addiction

Stalking

Stalking involves engaging in multiple behaviors involving another person that cause them to fear for their safety. Stalking charges involve jail time and fines, but also a powerful stigma of what it means to be a “stalker.” It’s crucial to obtain qualified legal help in a stalking case because many nuanced factors such as your relationship with the plaintiff could help an attorney reduce charges to harassment.

Arson

Firetrucks heading to an emergency.In New Jersey, arson is defined as recklessly or intentionally causing a fire or explosion of land, a structure, or a vehicle. The law allows for harsher punishment if the target is a religious building. In many cases, arson charges accompany insurance fraud charges. Charges can vary from fourth to first degree, with punishment including jail time and thousands of dollars in fines. Some convictions are also subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA), meaning that if convicted a defendant must serve 85 percent of their sentence before they become eligible for parole. Also, arson charges cannot be expunged from a criminal record, meaning a wrongful conviction could prevent you from getting employment, loans, or military work for the rest of your life.

Our attorneys are part of the less than 3% of attorneys in the state of New Jersey that are “Certified Criminal Trial Attorneys”, certified by the New Jersey State Supreme Court.

Attorney Daniel M. Rosenberg, 2021

Daniel M. Rosenberg, Esquire

Bail

The New Jersey bail system — which allows for those charged with a crime to be released from jail between their arrest and trial date — has undergone massive changes since early 2017. Traditional bail involves paying thousands to the state; under bail reform, however, the conditions of your release are no longer dependent on your bank account. Under the new law, a judge will evaluate your case and extend bail options based on the likelihood that you’ll miss your court date, commit another crime and commit another violent crime. Having a top criminal lawyer in N.J. on your side is critical to ensuring you are given the opportunity to make bail and resume your job or caring for your family while awaiting trial.

Expungement

Historic Burlington County CourthouseEvery New Jersey resident has the opportunity to remove or expunge a criminal charge from their record. For many, expungement is an opportunity to remove barriers to employment, education, military service, or bank loans. Expungement is not automatic in N.J., however, and you must petition the court for it to expunge your record. While this is something you can do on your own, the process can involve court appearances and other nuances that are best handled by an experienced criminal lawyer.

Pre-Trial Intervention

The state of New Jersey’s goal is to prevent crime rather than exclusively punish wrongdoers. If you’re charged in New Jersey, you may have a unique opportunity to engage in a pre-trial intervention (PTI) program. The program can be from six months to three years and can involve community service, drug tests, psychological evaluation, and fees. If you complete the program successfully, your original charges will be dismissed and your criminal record can be expunged. You must apply to enter the pre-trial intervention program and not all cases are accepted. Often, you need legal and factual arguments to persuade the Criminal Division to accept individuals into the program. If your application for PTI is denied, you may appeal your denial. It is often in your best interest to retain an attorney to help with the application and avoid any unexpected obstacles.

Theft Crimes

A man hiding a pair of headphones in his jacket.Stealing in New Jersey can lead to a number of theft charges depending on the circumstances of what you are accused of stealing. These crimes vary from common theft like shoplifting or computer theft to extortion for property in excess of $75,000. The state of New Jersey considered bad checks, forgery, credit card fraud, and insurance fraud all theft crimes. If you are convicted of a theft crime, you could face fines, a negative impact on your credit score, jail time, and other penalties.

Weapons Charges

While the Constitution protects your right to bear arms, there are nuanced restrictions of this right in New Jersey. You may be facing a weapons charge if you own, were using, or were driving with any number of firearms, including a handgun, airsoft gun, paintball gun, or BB gun without a permit. Even if you have a permit to carry in another state, your permit will not prevent you from being charged in New Jersey if you are not permitted to possess a firearm by New Jersey law. Weapons charges also include possession of illegal weapons like silencers, handcuffs, gravity knives, brass knuckles, explosives, and slingshots. These felony criminal charges carry steep penalties including thousands of dollars in fines and many years in prison.

Violent Crimes

Closeup view of marble columns.Violent crimes are some of the most serious charges in the New Jersey legal system. These crimes involve threatening or causing bodily harm to another person. This can involve a total stranger — such as in a car accident — or a loved one — such as in domestic violence cases. Regardless of the crime, violent crimes carry the highest levels of penalties, including life in prison.

Sentencing & Appeals

A significant part of your criminal defense strategy relates to sentencing for your case and possibly fighting the outcome via an appeal. A talented and diligent criminal lawyer will negotiate on your behalf during the trial to reduce sentencing as much as possible. If you are convicted, you also have the right to an appeal, meaning a new judge will consider changing the outcome of your case. In both cases, you need a strong criminal defense attorney in the courtroom who is experienced in negotiation and will advocate on your behalf.

Related Criminal Defense Content

NJ Price Gouging

Learn about price gouging, including the legal definition, when price gouging laws are in effect, which merchandise is covered, government penalties if you are found price gouging, and how an experienced attorney can help you navigate your defense.

New Jersey Unlawful Possession of a Weapon Charges

New Jersey has some of the toughest weapons laws in the nation. Learn about types of weapons charges, penalties, common defenses, factors that impact your sentence, and how an experienced legal team can help defend you.

Juvenile Crime

Rosenberg | Perry & Associates offers criminal defense services to juveniles facing complaints of juvenile delinquency and other charges to help protect their futures. Learn more about the juvenile criminal justice system in NJ.

Drug Crimes

Learn more about drug crimes and how they are handled in the state of New Jersey, the potential consequences of a conviction, the plain smell doctrine, and potential defenses to drug charges in NJ for juveniles and adults.

New Jersey Stalking Laws

Stalking charges in New Jersey can lead to significant jail time that may increase with every subsequent offense. Learn about the potential penalties of a stalking charge in NJ, how victims can get a restraining order & how our lawyers can help you.

Sentencing and Appeals

An experienced lawyer should recognize errors in a trial or sentencing when their client is convicted of a crime. Learn about the sentencing & appeals process in NJ, reasons to appeal a conviction, potential outcomes & how we can help you.

NJ Arson Charges & Punishments

Learn about arson charges & the possible consequences of an arson conviction in NJ. The lawyers at Rosenberg | Perry & Associates have successfully represented clients with arson charges in the past & are ready to help you build your arson defense.

Bail in NJ – How Does It Work?

New Jersey’s bail system has seen significant changes since 2017. Learn about the new bail guidelines & bail process in New Jersey and how Rosenberg | Perry & Associates can help.

Record Expungement in New Jersey

A criminal record can hurt your chances when applying for work or educational opportunities. Learn more about the expungement process in NJ & factors that could affect your eligibility to have your record expunged.

NJ PTI Program (Pretrial Intervention)

If you are facing a drug offense, you may be eligible for the Pretrial Intervention Program in NJ. Learn the benefits of PTI, conditions for participation, who is eligible, how to apply & how an experienced attorney can help you decide your next steps.

Theft Crimes

Convictions for a theft crime in New Jersey vary depending on the severity of the offense. Learn more about what you may be charged with if you are accused of a theft crime and the differences between fraud & theft in NJ.

Violent Crimes in New Jersey

Violent crimes are considered very serious offenses in New Jersey & should not be faced without the help of an experienced legal team. Learn about different violent crimes in NJ & how our lawyers can help.

New Jersey Child Pornography Defense Lawyers

Child Pornography, more properly identified as Child Sexual Abuse Material (“CSAM”), is legally identified as the depiction of any person under the age of 18 (a “child”) engaging in a prohibited sexual act or simulating such an act, or depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child. Possessing, Distributing, or Producing CSAM is a sex crime for which a…

Federal Crimes

Federal crimes are serious offenses that may carry serious consequences. Find out what makes a crime a federal offense, how the sentencing & appeals process works, and how our lawyers can help if you are the subject of a federal investigation.

NJ Title IX Defense Attorneys

Title IX investigations and their consequences can damage your future. Our lawyers are experienced in Title IX violation investigations & protecting the rights of those accused of sexual misconduct. Contact us for help today.

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