Freehold Criminal Attorneys With The Experience You Need

Whether you are facing an indictable crime at the Superior Court in Freehold New Jersey or a criminal offense in municipal court, we have a talented Freehold NJ criminal attorney that will help you achieve the best result in your case. Several members of our team were previously served at the highest levels at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, building relationships and gaining invaluable insight that allows them to effectively defend first-degree, second-degree, third-degree and fourth-degree crimes like:

Retaining a Freehold criminal attorney with exceptional qualifications is precisely what you need in order to ensure your charges are handled successfully. This is crucial given the serious penalties that apply when a defendant charged and convicted for a felony at the county courthouse. A first-degree crime carries a minimum of 10-20 years in prison and a fine that can reach $200,000. A second-degree crime triggers 5-10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $150,000. The penalties for a third-degree crime include up to a $15,000 fine and up to 5 years in prison. The least severe criminal offense you can face at the criminal division in Freehold is a fourth-degree crime. When the stakes are as high as these, along with leaving you with a felony criminal record, it is important to hire the best defense lawyer to defend your charge.

Criminal Charges In Freehold Township Municipal Court or Freehold Borough Municipal Court

When someone is charged with a disorderly persons offense such as simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct or shoplifting (less than $200), their case is heard in municipal court. There are two such courts in Freehold. Our Freehold municipal court criminal lawyers have been appearing in both these jurisdictions for decades with success. This is extremely important to someone like you since a conviction will leave you with a criminal record, fines, probation, a license suspension and/or county jail time. The attorneys at our firm have decades of experience appearing in the municipal courts in Freehold and successfully achieving the result needed by our clients.

Highly Accomplished Criminal Lawyers in Freehold New Jersey

At the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, we truly believe in every person has a right to be presumed innocent. Unfortunately, for many people who have been arrested and charged with a crime, it can feel like the opposite. County prosecutors often make it seem like they have an airtight case against you, when in fact, there are many weaknesses that a skilled defense attorney can quickly uncover.

Our Freehold criminal defense lawyers conduct their own independent investigation into your case to identify weaknesses in the state’s evidence and situations where proper procedure and protocol was not followed. Armed with these defenses, we are frequently able to push for the charges against you to be reduced or even dropped. If your case cannot be resolved favorably, our firm has highly skilled trial attorneys who will present a strong and persuasive case before the judge and jury.

To get the answers you need and learn how we can help you, call our Freehold Office at 732-462-1197. The consultation is free so do not hesitate to contact us.

Helpful Freehold Informational Links To Further Assist You

Monmouth County Superior Court
Monmouth County Courthouse
71 Monument Park
Freehold NJ 07728
(732) 677-4300

Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office
2500 Kozloski Road
Freehold NJ 07728
Non-emergency: (732) 431-6400
Emergency: 911

Monmouth County Probation
30 Mechanic St
Freehold, NJ 07728
Non-emergency: (732) 358-8700

Freehold Township Municipal Court
1 Municipal Plaza
Freehold NJ 07728
(732) 294-2150

Freehold Police Department
1 Municipal Plaza
Freehold NJ 07728
Non-emergency: (732) 462-7908
Emergency: 911

Frequently Asked Questions in Freehold Criminal Cases

1. Can Bail Be Posted To Secure Release From Monmouth County Jail?  Money bail and bonds have largely been eliminated as a result of New Jersey Bail Reform. When an individual is arrested on a warrant complaint as opposed to a summons, they are processed by the local police department and taken to the county jail. They cannot be released from jail until they appear before a Monmouth County Superior Court judge who sets the terms and conditions for Pretrial Release. The prosecutor has an opportunity to object to release by filing a Motion to Detain. The result of this motion is scheduling a formal hearing to determine whether or not the accused will be afforded release prior to the resolution of the case. This proceeding takes place approximately 3 days later and is referred to as a Detention Hearing. For more information on this subject refer to our Monmouth County Detention Hearings page.
2. Can My Freehold Criminal Charge Get Dismissed If I Wasn’t Read My Rights? The chance of dismissal based purely on failure to read a Miranda Warning is limited. The reason for this statement stems from the fact that a Miranda violation simply precludes the use by police of statements or other incriminating evidence discovered after someone is in custody and a Miranda warnings are triggered. For example, the police cannot use a statement that you provided wherein you admitted to something if the interrogation was conducted without first reading your rights. If the case against you is destroyed once that admission is suppressed then failure to provide the Miranda warning will result in a dismissal. If the state has a case without a violative admission then failure to read your rights will not trigger a dismissal.
3. Are The Police Required To Have A Search Warrant Before They Conduct A Search? The general rule is that a search of your home or other property cannot be conducted without a valid search warrant. There are exceptions, however, to the warrant requirement such as evidence observed in plain view, consent to the search, search incident to arrest, hot pursuit, the “automobile exception”, and exigent circumstances.
4. Will I Have To Go To Trial And Win In Order To Avoid A Record? There are numerous ways to avoid a criminal conviction short of an acquittal at the conclusion of a trial. For example, there are diversion programs like Pretrial Intervention (“PTI”) that allow an individual to avoid prosecution and penalties that would otherwise apply by completing a period of probation. Another method for averting a criminal record is for your Freehold criminal defense attorney to secure a dismissal of the charge as the result of a pretrial motion or no bill by the Grand Jury.
5. When Should I Hire A Defense Lawyer? It is always advisable to consult an attorney the moment you discover that you may be targeted by law enforcement; they can make sure your side of the story is heard and, more importantly, protect you against interrogation, arrest or other coercive action by police.
6. Why Should I Spend The Money For A Private Attorney When I Qualify For A Public Defender? There are many highly accomplished public defenders but it is an unfortunate reality that many of these individuals are required to handle an unreasonable caseload. This can create situations where there simply isn’t sufficient time to invest in your case. You obviously have not only the ability to choose the lawyer to defend you but also avoid the case overloading that can come into play with public defenders.