Types of Criminal Charges
There are only two categories of charges you can face in New Jersey: misdemeanor and felony. A misdemeanor is a lesser of the two charges. If you are ever charged with a felony, it is in your best interest to know the charge, the penalties it brings, and how you can fight the charge. It’s always best to fight a felony charge with the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney as they know the law inside and out and understand what it takes to represent clients in a court of law.
Obtain Legal Representation Immediately
After you activate your right to remain silent, make sure you ask to call an attorney. Always speak with an attorney after being charged with a felony in New Jersey. It is never a smart idea to represent yourself in court when facing serious felony charges. You could be looking at months to years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines if you wind up being convicted of the charges.
Understand the Charges
Make sure you understand the charges levied against you. This is best done by speaking with your attorney. They will contact the police department that arrested and charged you with the felony to find out the exact charges levied against you. Your attorney can then provide you with all the information you need to understand what you are facing.
Be Honest with Your Attorney
Be completely honest with your attorney when meeting with them. Anything you tell the attorney is privileged information and cannot be released without your consent. You need to feel comfortable with the attorney you choose so you can provide them with honest accounts of what happened on the day of the purported crime. The more honest you are, the better a defense your attorney can build to the charges.
Don’t Discuss the Case with Anyone Else
Do your best to refrain from talking about the case with anyone aside from your attorney. Don’t even talk about it with your family and friends. You might say something that could come back to haunt you in court. You also need to avoid posting anything about the case on social media. Doing so could wind up putting you in a lot of hot water.
Write Down What Happened
Write an extensive explanation of what happened on the date in question and do it as soon after the incident as possible. Your memory will only fade over time. You need to write down everything you can remember about the incident as close to it as you can. This will help you provide strong testimony on your own behalf when the time comes.
Find Witnesses
If you saw other people around when the purported crime occurred, make sure you find out who they were. If there were family and friends with you during the incident, ask them to speak as witnesses on your behalf in court. You will need witnesses in order to win a case with felony charges. If there are no witnesses to testify on your behalf, you could have a tough time getting the charges reduced or dropped.
Never Skip a Court Appearance
Make sure you never skip a court appearance. Attending every single court session is vital to the success of your defense. Missing just one court date could lead to additional charges levied against you.
Contact an Experienced Hamilton Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Felony Charges in New Jersey
Were you arrested or charged with a felony in New Jersey? The consequences of a conviction could be severe, leaving you with a permanent criminal record and possibly even sending you to jail. That is why you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible about your case. The attorneys at the Davis Law Firm, LLC have successfully represented clients charged with a felony in Hamilton and throughout New Jersey. Call 609-587-9100 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have an office conveniently located at 2653 Nottingham Way in Hamilton, NJ 08619.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
Disorderly conduct consists of any improper behavior such as fighting, threats of violence, or creating a dangerous atmosphere.
