Disorderly Persons Offenses

Common Disorderly Persons Offenses

Although there are many charges that fall within this category, the more common ones are the following:

Fines Upon Conviction. The court may impose a fine of up to $1,000 and $500 for a Petty Disorderly Persons Offense. Court costs of $33 and assessments of $75 for the Safe Neighborhood Fund and $50 for the Victims of Crime Compensation Board also apply.

Jail Time. Individuals convicted of a DP are subject to up to six (6) months in jail. Petty disorderly persons offenses carry thirty (30) days in jail. A period of probation may also be imposed.

License Suspension. The court possesses broad latitude in imposition of penalties including, in many cases, the ability to suspend an individual’s drivers license.

Suspended Sentence. A municipal court judge is permitted to suspended anything other than a mandatory penalty. What this means is that the defendant has no obligation to comply with the portion of the sentence that is “suspended” absent his/her violating any condition(s) placed on the relaxation.

Conditional Dismissal. New Jersey has a diversionary program that allows for the conditional dismissal of a disorderly persons offense for certain first time offenders. The are strict eligibility requirements and, in addition, an individual must enter to a guilty plea to the underlying charge before they may be admitted into the program. The related judgment of conviction and result criminal record is never entered, however, if the defendant complies with the conditions of the dismissal imposed by the court. Our attorneys have an excellent success rate in gaining admission into conditional dismissal.

Conditional Discharge. This program is intended to allow individuals facing their first drug related disorderly persons offense (e.g. N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10 or 2C:36-2) to avoid a conviction by agreeing to a period of probation. Provided the accused complies with any and all conditions imposed during the supervisory period, the offense is dismissed. There are many limitations in terms of admission into this program but our lawyers have decades of experience successfully obtaining admission into conditional discharge.

Expungement. An individual may apply to have a conviction for a disorderly persons offense removed from his/her record after waiting five (5) years from the date of payment of all fines and other conditions of sentencing (e.g. completion of probation, community service, etc.). There are eligibility restrictions prohibit certain repeat offenders from securing this relief.

Middletown NJ Disorderly Persons Offense Lawyers

As you will see from the statistics below, Middletown ranks at the extreme in terms of disorderly persons offenses written each year. Given the population, square miles, and major highways Middletown Township, it probably should not be a shocker that it ranked third is this grade of charges in the 2013-14 period. If you were arrested for possession of marijuana, simple assault of another in Middletown, Wall Township or another municipality in the county, call our law firm for an immediate consultation with one of our experienced lawyers. An attorney is ready to assist you.

Monmouth County Ranking By Town of Disorderly Persons Offenses Filed

Published By New Jersey Courts for the Period July 2013-2014.