NJ Criminal Law
Attorneys at the Law Offices of Santiago & Associates, P.C. offer experienced criminal defense to those charged with crime in New Jersey. Criminal law addresses crime committed by individuals who are considered a danger to society at large. Therefore, punishment is often severe and can include:
- Imprisonment
- Parole
- Probation
- Community service
- Fines and fees
Unlike civil law, criminal law operates on five objectives to bring about enforcement:
- Retribution. Society believes criminal offenders should suffer for their actions and is an attempt by society to right a wrong or balance the scales.
- Deterrence involves imposing sufficient penalty to discourage offenders from repeating a crime and would be offenders from committing the crime.
- Incapacitation is the act of cutting offenders off from society, such as imprisonment, to protect the public from the offender.
- Rehabilitation seeks to change or transform the offender into a contributing member of society and to prevent further offenses and violations.
- Restitution is the righting of a wrong against a victim and generally is monetary. However, sometimes public apologies in open court fall into this category.
NJ criminal laws provide for certain rights
The law presumes you are innocent until proven guilty. Without proving intent, a defendant cannot not be found guilty in many crimes. For example, first degree murder requires premeditation as a provable element of the crime.
As a criminal defendant in NJ, you have the following rights:
- Speedy and public trial
- Not guilty verdict if the state does not prove each and every element of the crime charged
- To confront and cross-examine witnesses against you in person
- To present evidence and testify on your own behalf if you so choose
- The right against self incrimination and declining to testify may not be used as evidence of your guilt
- Protection from unreasonable search and seizure of your person, home, possessions, papers, and automobile
- The right to legal representation
Contact a NJ criminal law firm for a consultation
At the Law Offices of Santiago & Associates, P.C., we can advise on the most effective approach for your legal situation and any pending charges against you. Whether you need us to fight for you in court or negotiate a plea bargain, our skilled NJ criminal law defense lawyers offer you skilled professional legal advice. Contact us today and arrange a consultation to discuss your criminal case.