New Jersey offers several programs to help eligible defendants avoid jail time, particularly first-time offenders or those charged with non-violent crimes. Pretrial Intervention (PTI) Available for first-time offenders facing certain felony charges. Requires completing probation-like conditions (e.g., community service, counseling). Successful completion results in dismissed charges. Drug Court Program Designed for defendants facing drug-related charges. [...]

Once an offense is expunged: It does not appear in most background checks. Employers and landlords cannot consider it. The individual can legally say they were not convicted of the offense.

Expungement is a legal process that removes certain offenses from a person’s criminal record. Eligibility depends on factors like the offense type and the time since conviction. Generally, the following may be expunged: Certain misdemeanors (disorderly persons offenses) after 5 years Some felony convictions (indictable offenses) after 6 years Arrests that did not result in [...]

The defense must file a Notice of Appeal within a set timeframe. The case is reviewed by an appellate court, which decides whether to uphold, reverse, or modify the conviction. In rare cases, an appeal can lead to a new trial.

If convicted, a defendant still has legal options to challenge the outcome or seek a reduced sentence. A conviction can be appealed if legal errors affected the trial’s fairness. Grounds for appeal may include: Improper evidence admission – If the court allowed evidence that should have been excluded. Ineffective assistance of counsel – If the [...]