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Grading of Offenses Monmouth County First Degree, Second Degree, Third Degree & Fourth Degree Crimes
Felony offenses are referred to as indictable crimes under the New Jersey Criminal Code. These types of charges fall within a grading system that defines crimes in terms of First Degree, Second Degree, Third Degree and Fourth Degree. Whenever someone is arrested and charged with an indictable crime, they are entitled to presentment of their case to a grand jury absent execution of a voluntary waiver. The grand jury must return a true bill, commonly referred to as an indictment, or the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office cannot prosecute the case. Grand jury proceedings only take place at the Superior Court in Freehold NJ. The result is that while you can be arrested for an indictable charge in a municipality like Keansburg, Atlantic Highlands, Brielle, Colts Neck, Aberdeen or Eatontown, the case must ultimately go to Freehold for handling. If you were indicted in Freehold, the lawyers at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, include multiple former prosecutors in Monmouth County and a team with over 100 years of collective experience, to utilize on your behalf. We have defended just about every felony/indictable charge that you can imagine and are prepared to discuss the specifics of your case in a free initial consultation. Call our Freehold Office or Red Bank Office for immediate assistance.
Grading of Offenses
In terms of seriousness, a First Degree Crime is the most severe. Next comes a Second Degree Crime. Most of the felony offense cases litigated in the Monmouth County Superior Court fall within the next grade, that is, a Third Degree Crime. The least serious variety of crime that you can be indicted on is a Fourth Degree Crime. The only court with jurisdiction to adjudicate cases fall within these grades is the Superior Court in Freehold New Jersey.
Penalties If Convicted of an Indictable Offense
- Prison and/or Jail Term. In terms of jail exposure, a First Degree carries a term of imprisonment of between 10 and 20 years. A Second Degree involves exposure of between 5 years and 10 years. Third Degree crimes have a jail range of 0 to 5 years and Fourth Degree cases give rise to 0 to 18 months of jail. How much time an individual receives within these ranges hinges on how the sentencing guidelines are applied to the defendant and his case.
- Fines & Other Monetary Penalties. The maximum fine is $200,000, $150,000, $15,000, and $10,000 for First Degree, Second Degree, Third Degree, and Fourth Degree crimes, respectively. The amount of the fines imposed in a particular case rests in the discretion of the Court.
Freehold Indictable Crime Defense Lawyers
We defend all Monmouth County indictable charges and have been for literally decades. Our defense firm represents individuals arrested on suspicion of first, second, third and fourth degree crimes throughout the county, including Union Beach, Shrewsbury, Spring Lake, Ocean, Wall, Tinton Falls. The attorneys at our firm are ready to put their century plus of combined experience to work for you, so don’t hesitate to give us a call. An attorney is available 24/7 in both our Red Bank Office and Freehold Office.
