If you have been arrested in New Jersey, is it worthwhile to hire a criminal defense attorney to represent you? Are your chances of avoiding a conviction just as good if you represent yourself? Or should you simply accept the consequences that are coming your way? While these are all valid questions to ask, there are lots of reasons why it makes sense to put an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney on your side.
7 Reasons Why It Is Worth Hiring a New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney
Here are just some of the reasons why it is worth hiring a New Jersey criminal defense attorney if you have been arrested in New Jersey:
1. Navigating the Criminal Justice Process is Complicated
Navigating the criminal justice process is complicated. The specific procedures involved in criminal cases vary between the municipal and superior courts, and without in-depth knowledge of these procedures, you will risk making mistakes that prevent you from defending yourself effectively.
The prosecutors handling your case will be intimately familiar with the relevant procedures, and they will know how to use these procedures to their advantage. To level the playing field, you will need a New Jersey criminal defense attorney who can help preserve your ability to fight your case by all means available.
2. You Could Be Facing Serious (and Potentially Life-Altering) Penalties
All criminal charges carry serious penalties under New Jersey law. At a minimum, these include fines and possible jail time (although the judge may have the discretion to impose alternative sentencing instead). Other penalties apply to certain types of offenses as well; and, in some cases, mandatory minimum sentences apply—meaning that you will face jail or prison time if you get convicted or plead guilty.
The specific penalties you are facing depend on both the nature and the “degree” of the charge (or charges) against you. In New Jersey, crimes are classified as either ordinances, petty disorderly persons offenses, disorderly persons offenses, or indictable offenses. Within both of these classifications, there are multiple “degrees;” and, broadly speaking, potential sentences can range from a $500 fine and 30 days in jail to a six-figure fine and life behind bars.
3. A Serious Conviction Can Negatively Impact Your Life for Years (or Decades) to Come
Along with the penalties you are facing in court, a serious conviction can negatively impact your life in other ways as well. These negative impacts can last for years—or even decades.
For example, with a serious conviction on your record, you will likely face challenges in finding employment, securing financing, and obtaining housing. If you are a licensed professional or a member of the military, a conviction can have other career-related consequences as well. If you are a non-U.S. citizen, a conviction (and even an arrest) could potentially trigger removal proceedings that threaten your ability to remain in the United States.
4. Identifying and Successfully Asserting Your Defenses Requires In-Depth Knowledge of the Law
Regardless of the criminal charges you are facing, you may have a variety of defenses available. But, not all defenses apply in all cases; and, to have any chance of fighting your case successfully, you need to know which defenses apply under the specific facts and circumstances at hand.
Identifying the defenses you have available requires in-depth knowledge of the law. This includes not only the statute (or statutes) under which you are being charged but also the constitutional protections that apply. Successfully asserting your defenses requires in-depth knowledge of the law as well.
5. You May Have Other Options (Besides Going to Court) to Avoid a Life-Altering Conviction
Regardless of the facts of your case, you have the right to take your case to court and force prosecutors to try to meet their burden of proof. However, going to court may not be your only—or best—option. Depending on the facts and circumstances of your case, you may also have options such as:
- Negotiating a plea deal that minimizes the consequences of your arrest; or,
- Entering into a pre-trial diversion program—which can ultimately lead to your case being dismissed.
An experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney will be able to help you determine if pursuing either of these options makes sense in your case. If it does, your attorney can either negotiate for a favorable plea deal on your behalf or help you gain entry into a pre-trial diversionary program and advise you regarding what you need to do in order to complete the program successfully.
6. Some Mistakes Are Irreversible, and Even Seemingly Minor Mistakes Can Prove Very Costly
When you are facing criminal charges in New Jersey, some mistakes are irreversible. Additionally, even seemingly minor mistakes can significantly reduce your chances of successfully asserting a defense. If you aren’t aware of all of the mistakes that you can make and that you need to avoid, you will be putting yourself at risk unnecessarily if you decide not to hire an attorney.
7. You Owe It to Yourself and Your Family to Fight Your Criminal Case By All Means Available
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you owe it to yourself and your family to fight your criminal case by all means available. You should not assume that all hope is lost (because it isn’t), and you should not take unnecessary chances (because they can lead to irreversible consequences). Regardless of the circumstances that led to your arrest, you have clear legal rights, and an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney can help you effectively assert them.
Discuss Your Case with a New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney at Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A.
If you are wondering whether hiring an attorney for your criminal case in New Jersey is worth it, we strongly encourage you to contact us before making any decisions. To discuss your case with an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney at Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A. in confidence, call us at 877-435-6371 or tell us how we can reach you online today.
