When you are charged with a criminal offense, your future is on the line. Criminal offenses can lead to serious penalties that impact your future, leading to changes in your quality of life. Without criminal lawyers on your side, it can be difficult to build a defense that leads to a dismissal of your charges.
That is where the criminal lawyer Jenna Casper Bloom can help. With a Trenton criminal defense attorney on your side, you have the tools and resources to potentially change the outcome of your criminal case. Reach out for help if you are unsure where to begin and how our legal criminal defense team can help you.
How Criminal Charges Work in Trenton, NJ
One of the first things you may be unaware of for your New Jersey criminal case is that New Jersey does not have felonies and misdemeanors. Instead, your criminal lawyer will help guide you through either a Superior Court charge or a disorderly person’s offense.
Superior Court charges are similar to felonies, while disorderly person offenses are handled by the Municipal Court and are similar to misdemeanors. However, in both cases, you can expect an attorney to provide resources and tools to guide you through your case.
Keep in mind that the process for both of these cases is similar. While one will be tried in Superior Court and the other in Municipal Court, you can expect to appear in court, enter your plea, and begin the process to argue your case in court and potentially go to trial.
Casper Bloom Law Takes On Virtually Any Type of Criminal Defense Case
Jenna Casper Bloom prides herself on the ability to handle essentially any type of criminal defense case. If you are facing a legal case in any field, you need support, no matter how big or small that case may seem. Getting results for our clients is our top priority.
That means we are prepared to handle disorderly person charges with the smallest penalties as well as complex, serious charges, including sex crimes or gun offenses. We understand that clients are in difficult situations in both of these cases, and they need support we are willing to provide to each of our clients. If you are facing any of the following charges, do not hesitate to reach out for help.
Drug Charges
Drug charges include a range of serious offenses, which can include drug distribution, possession, manufacturing, and more. If you are facing any of these types of charges, you may need a criminal attorney on your side to help you navigate out of these situations.
Following legislation changes completed in 2021, those facing criminal drug distribution charges can face a range of penalties depending on the degree of the offense. These penalties include the following:
- Imprisonment in a state prison
- Finds that may max out at $500,000
- Loss of your license
- Mandatory drug penalty fines
- Court costs
- Additional penalties depending on prior convictions
If you are facing any of these penalties, reach out to an attorney for guidance. Your lawyer can help you determine the degree of your offense, what penalties you may be facing, and how you can build a strong defense to potentially avoid a conviction.
DUI Charges
Driving under the influence, or a DUI, is a serious offense that can endanger others. You may face these charges if your blood alcohol content (BAC) level is over 0.08 percent. At this level, you may face the following financial penalties if you do not seek out criminal defense lawyers to help you protect your future:
- $100 charge to the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund
- A Motor Vehicle Commission restoration fee
- An Intoxicated Driving Program fee
- A Violent Crimes Compensation Fund fee
- A Safe and Secure Community Program fee
- Revocation of your vehicle’s registration
The penalties do not end here. Even for a first offense with a BAC level under 0.10 percent, you may also face the following:
- Fines up to $400
- Imprisonment up to 30 days
- License suspension unless an ignition interlock device is installed
- A minimum of 2 days in an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center
- An insurance surcharge of $1,000 per year for 3 years
These penalties only worsen if you have previous convictions. To avoid massive financial penalties and the potential loss of your driving privileges, do not hesitate to seek out help.
Assault and Threat Crimes
Assault or threat charges may be brought against you if you are accused of causing another person to feel as though they are in danger due to an imminent threat. Your criminal defense lawyer can help you build a strong defense against these cases, which can come with severe penalties.
Keep in mind that assault or threat charges may be seen in Superior or Municipal Court, depending on the severity of the charges. For example, if there are aggravating factors that impact your case, you may face up to 10 years in state prison and fines that can equal hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Those facing aggravated assault charges may also be impacted by the No Early Release Act. Under this act, you are required to complete at least 85 percent of a state prison sentence before you can seek parole. That means if you are facing a sentence of 10 years, you must serve more than 8 years of your sentence before you are able to pursue parole.
Traffic Tickets and Points
Fighting a traffic ticket with a qualified criminal defense attorney is important because these traffic tickets can put points on your driver’s license. When those points reach a certain level, you may face fines, a license suspension, insurance premium rate increases, and even jail time.
Some of the most serious traffic offenses include the following:
- Leaving the scene of an accident with injuries
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Improper passing of a school bus
- Improper turns
- Unsafe lane changes
- Careless driving
While maintaining good standing with your driver’s license may be one of your biggest concerns, the impact on your insurance premiums can have a lasting effect on your financial future. Because of this, the traffic ticket attorney, Jenna Casper Bloom, focuses on reducing points on your record and helping you avoid penalties that can hurt your future.
Sex Crimes
People accused of sex crimes in New Jersey will need to keep in mind that their case may be impacted by Megan’s Law. This law was put into effect after a 7-year-old child was murdered by her neighbor, who had been convicted of sexually assaulting a child twice. Following this tragedy, new legislation was passed to protect children by requiring those convicted of these crimes to take the following steps and more:
- Register with local law enforcement
- Notify law enforcement of a change of address
- Register as a sex offender
- Live more than a certain number of feet away from schools or daycares
- Notify any neighbors of your sex offender status
If you are convicted of a sex crime, in addition to imprisonment and fines, the impacts of this law will affect you for at least 15 years. Because these penalties can be so severe, you may need to contact a criminal defense attorney in New Jersey to help you reduce or dismiss these charges when possible.
Gun Offenses in Trenton, New Jersey
Gun offenses are taken seriously in New Jersey because these deadly weapons can lead to severe injury and death if not handled with care. Because of this, you may need a Trenton criminal lawyer on your side to avoid a superior court charge that can be difficult to defend yourself against.
These gun offenses can come with devastating penalties depending on the degree of the offense. These penalties include up to 10 years in state prison and fines of up to $150,000. Your penalties may be less severe depending on the degree, but they can still impact your life in devastating ways. Below are a few common types of gun charges in Trenton, New Jersey:
- Unlawful possession of a weapon
- Pointing a gun
- Possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose
- Possession of a weapon if you are already banned
Disorderly Person Offenses
Disorderly person offenses are similar to misdemeanors, but that does not mean that they should not be taken with serious care to avoid the penalties. Even a disorderly person offense can impact your life in serious ways, so it is still important to speak with a Trenton criminal lawyer.
Disorderly person offenses include the following:
- Harassment
- Theft
- Possession of drug paraphrenia
- Trespassing
- Simple assault
If you are facing charges like these, do not hesitate to reach out to an attorney and get the guidance you need to protect your future.
Expungements in New Jersey
In some cases, you may be eligible for expungement of your criminal offenses. Even if you are convicted, with the help of a Trenton criminal attorney, certain charges may be expunged, meaning they are completely removed from your criminal record as though they never happened. However, these come with specific requirements depending on the type of expungement you are seeking.
For example, you may be eligible for one of the following:
- Clean slate expungement
- Dismissed cases expungement
- Arrests expungement
- Drug court expungement
- Marijuana conviction expungement
- Young drug offender expungement
- Juvenile expungement
Many of these expungement options have waiting periods you need to meet. For example, depending on the conviction you faced, you may be eligible to have your record expunged as long as your release, last conviction, payment of fine, or completion of probation or parole was 10 or more years ago. In contrast, you may be able to have your rest expunged immediately if you were not charged with a crime.
Choose Your Defense Wisely
When facing a criminal case, choosing the right Trenton criminal attorney and the best defense for your case can be tough. Ensuring you have an attorney who has the tools to meet your needs and handle your case appropriately is important.
Your defense will depend on the details of your case. For example, if you have faced assault or battery charges for defending your safety or the safety of others, your best defense would not be to claim there was a mistake of identity. Your attorney can guide you through the process of determining your best defense before you ever set foot in the courtroom.
Avoid a Court Battle, Consider Pretrial Intervention
In some cases, Trenton criminal defense lawyers can help you avoid the courtroom completely. A case heard in court may have the potential to lead to unpleasant surprises, including convictions. However, you may have an opportunity to seek out pretrial intervention.
If you meet certain criteria, such as admitting guilt, being a first-time offender, or being charged with a less severe offense, you may be eligible for pretrial intervention. This can give you the opportunity to seek out rehabilitative services rather than criminal penalties. Your attorney can advise you on whether you are eligible and whether this would be the best opportunity for you.
Common Defenses at Trial
When you are facing a criminal offense case, building a strong defense is one of the first steps to a successful case. Your Trenton criminal defense lawyer can guide you through the process of choosing the right defense based on the details of your case.
Below are a few common defenses used in criminal trials:
- Self-defense
- Mistake of fact
- Mistaken identity
- False accusations
- Defense of others
- Entrapment
- False or forced confessions
Contact a Trenton Criminal Defense Attorney
When you are facing a criminal case, dealing with it alone can be daunting. Fortunately, Trenton criminal defense attorneys like Jenna Casper Bloom are prepared to guide you through your case and seek out a reduction or dismissal of the charges you were facing. Jenna Casper Bloom has handled a variety of criminal cases over the 19 years she has been practicing in the state of New Jersey.
Now, she is ready to put that extensive trial experience and track record of success to work for people like you. If you are ready to speak with an attorney about your options to defend your future after being accused of a criminal offense, reach out for a free consultation. Jenna Casper Bloom is prepared to hear you when you call or fill out our online contact form.
