When an individual is charged with a crime in New Jersey, they are faced with a number of different consequences depending on the severity of the crime. In New Jersey, law enforcement and the criminal court system has different names for crimes than other states throughout the country do. For example, what most places refer to as a felony, New Jersey refers to as an indictable offense. Instead of calling a lesser crime a “misdemeanor,” New Jersey calls it a disorderly person offense or a petty disorderly person offense. These are exactly the same thing as a misdemeanor.

Indictable crimes, what many refer to as a felony, have varying degrees based on how severe the crime is. First-degree crimes are the most serious and in New Jersey, they include murder, rape, or manslaughter. Second-degree crimes include sexual assault, aggravated arson, kidnapping, drug offenses, white collar crimes, and more. Third-degree felony offenses may consist of certain robberies, drug possession, and some DUI offenses. Fourth-degree felony offenses can include stalking, some DUI offenses, forgery, and certain robberies.

Of course, if you have been charged with either an indictable offense or a disorderly person offense in New Jersey, it is important to retain the services of an experienced attorney that is prepared to defend your case.

If you are in need of experienced legal counsel for matters of personal injury, medical malpractice, medical device injuries, unsafe drug injuries, consumer protection, bankruptcy, SSD, or criminal law in New Jersey, please contact Tomes Law Firm, PC and we will be happy to assist you.