Juvenile Charges
Lawrence Township NJ Juvenile Criminal Lawyers
It can be extraordinarily alarming for a parent to receive a telephone call from the police advising that their son or daughter has been charged with a criminal offense. The situation is even more traumatic if the child has been arrested and is being detained. There is no doubting the fact that the most efficient way to address these concerns is to retain a lawyer who is highly skilled in defending criminal charges. The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall is a powerhouse criminal boutique that has extensive experience defending juvenile delinquency charges at the Mercer County Superior Court in Trenton New Jersey. The team of defense lawyers at our firm includes several former prosecutors and other accomplished litigators who have over a century of combined experience defending juveniles charged in Hamilton, Princeton, Trenton, West Windsor, Lawrence Township and other municipalities in Mercer County. We have the knowledge and ability to provide thorough protection of your juvenile so that the impact of the criminal charge is minimized. Contact our Lawrence Township Office at 609–683–8102 for the representation your juvenile deserves.
Juvenile Criminal Offense in Trenton New Jersey
There are a few fundamental principles that you need to know given that your child has been accused of juvenile delinquency. First, the offense must be directed to the Family Division of the Superior Court since it has exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate juvenile charges rather than a criminal court in Mercer County. The second thing you need to know is that the core objectives of the juvenile justice commission are to ensure public safety, rehabilitate the juvenile and hold the juvenile accountable for his or her actions. The third consideration you should know is that every juvenile must be represented by an attorney when they appear in court. You must either qualify for a public defender due to limited financial resources or retain a private lawyer to defend your son or daughter. There is absolutely no ability for a parent to waive the juvenile’s absolute right to counsel nor for anyone other than a licensed attorney to serve in that capacity. The final point is that the punishment that may be imposed in the juvenile court system is significantly less severe than in adult proceedings as illustrated by the maximum period of incarceration set forth in the chart below.
| Degree of Offense | Juvenile Incarceration | Adult Incarceration |
| First Degree | 4 Years (Other than Murder) | 10-20 Years |
| Second Degree | Up to 3 Years | 5-10 Years |
| Third Degree | Up to 2 Years | Up to 5 Years |
| Fourth Degree | Up to 1 Year | Up to 18 Months |
| Disorderly Persons Offense | Up to 6 Months | Up to 6 Months |
Hamilton NJ Juvenile Defense Attorney
As the most populated municipality in Mercer County with approximately 88,464 residents, there are many issues involving juvenile offenders that result in someone being arrested and charged in this township. This is certainly something we are familiar with given that we have been defending juvenile cases in this jurisdiction for several decades now. You are encouraged to take advantage of a free consultation by contacting our Hamilton Office. A defense attorney at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall will be happy to provide you with the benefit of their time and insight regarding the best course of action for defending the juvenile charge. Call us at 609–683–8102 for immediately assistance from one of our lawyers.