If you were recently arrested for a minor offense or crime, your case might be tried in municipal court. Our attorneys can help defendants navigate these situations and overcome them in Pennsauken.
In general, municipal courts have jurisdiction over minor criminal offenses, traffic violations, local ordinance violations, and disorderly persons offenses. Though a charge brought in municipal court might seem less serious than others, that is not necessarily the case. Disorderly persons convictions can still come with detrimental consequences for defendants, so preparing a defense against them is important. On top of building your defense, our lawyers can keep you abreast of all mandatory appearances in municipal court so that you do not hurt your case. Furthermore, if you have been convicted of a disorderly persons offense in the past, we could help you apply for expungement to get those charges erased from your record.
Call the Lombardo Law Group, LLC at (609) 418-4537 to get a free case assessment from our Pennsauken attorneys for a case in municipal court.
Cases Heard by the Pennsauken Municipal Court
Municipal courts hear cases regarding certain minor offenses, traffic offenses, disorderly persons offenses, and local ordinance violations committed within a municipality’s borders.
Municipal courts primarily handle cases related to traffic violations. These can range from illegal parking and speeding to more serious offenses like driving under the influence. In addition to traffic offenses and tickets, municipal courts also have jurisdiction over minor criminal acts, such as trespassing or shoplifting, and other disorderly persons cases in Pennsauken. Other cases heard in municipal courts include ordinance violations. These vary, depending on the municipality in question.
Some cases might start in municipal court and then get transferred to the Camden County Superior Court. These might include cases involving crimes like robbery or assault. If there is a motion or hearing to transfer your case to the Camden County Superior Court, our lawyers can assess the likelihood of that happening based on the charges against you and help you plan accordingly.
Preparing for a Case in Municipal Court in Pennsauken
While cases heard in municipal courts might seem lower stakes than others, that is not necessarily true. You should not approach your claim with any less attention or determination, regardless of how serious the charges you face appear.
Disorderly persons offenses, which are some of the most common cases brought in municipal court along with traffic violations, can still come with serious consequences for those convicted in Pennsauken.
For example, a conviction for a disorderly persons offense could result in a maximum of six months in jail, while a conviction for a petty disorderly persons offense could result in a maximum of 30 days in jail, according to N.J.S.A. § 2C:43-8. Furthermore, those convicted of such offenses could get fines of up to $1,000 or $500, respectively.
Because of this, our lawyers will start preparing your defense against charges brought in municipal court right away. Depending on the prosecution’s case and the evidence we have in our corner, we might be able to negotiate a lower charge to mitigate the consequences you experience. If this is your first arrest, you could likely avoid jail time for a disorderly persons conviction from the Pennsauken Municipal Court.
Tell us everything you remember about the arrest to help our lawyers prepare your case. If police officers violated your rights when arresting you, we might be able to get the case thrown out. Furthermore, if you have an alibi or explanation that undermines the charges against you, we could possibly get them dismissed.
Staying Updated on Your Case in the Pennsauken Municipal Court
If you were arrested for a minor criminal offense in Pennsauken, you likely would not await your trial in jail. Instead, you will be sent information from the Pennsauken Municipal Court explaining when your presence will be needed in court.
At your first appearance in court, the judge will explain the charges against you and ask you to enter a plea. Before this appearance, our criminal defense attorneys might meet with the prosecution to see if we can negotiate a preferable outcome without the need for a trial. Depending on what happens during your first court appearance, you might have to appear at several more hearings before the trial starts.
Keeping all of these dates straight can be difficult, especially if you have other responsibilities you need to attend to, like your job and your family. Our attorneys for a case in municipal court can ensure that you are present at all necessary court appearances and actively involved in your case and defense. Missing any mandatory court appearances could result in unnecessary complications with your case and trial.
Getting Convictions from the Pennsauken Municipal Court Expunged
If you were convicted of a disorderly persons offense in municipal court, our attorneys could help you get that charge expunged, provided enough time has passed since the conviction in Pennsauken.
First of all, you may have to wait five years to get a disorderly persons conviction expunged in New Jersey, according to N.J.S.A. § 2C:52-3(b). You must also pay all fines and penalties and satisfy any requirements of a plea to apply for expungement.
Furthermore, suppose you have multiple disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons convictions or have been convicted of a crime in addition to disorderly persons offenses. In that case, you might not be eligible for expungement in Pennsauken.
The longer disorderly persons convictions or convictions from municipal court remain on your record, the longer they can impact your life. By applying for expungement, you can erase previous convictions from your record and prevent future employers, landlords, or other interested parties from learning about your past.
Call Our Criminal Defense Attorneys in Pennsauken Now
Call the Lombardo Law Group, LLC at (609) 418-4537 to get a free case review from our attorneys for a case in municipal court.
