Each year, there are numerous arrests for shoplifting in Hudson Mall, located at 701 Route 440 in Jersey City, NJ. Featuring a range of stores, from shoe and clothing apparel stores like Foot Locker, Payless Shoesource, Marshall’s, Old Navy, Jenuine, Rainbow, and The Leather Company, to cellular stores like T-Mobile and AT&T and jewelry stores like the Diamond Hut, Hudson Mall is frequented by residents of Hudson County and visitors from other areas. Since the mall is so busy and easily accessible from major roadways, personnel are always on the lookout for potential shoplifters. If you were charged with shoplifting at Hudson Mall due to a mistake or lapse in judgement, it is important that you know what to expect in your case as it moves forward. You should also strongly consider hiring a criminal defense lawyer to represent you in court, as the penalties for shoplifting in New Jersey can have a very negative impact on your freedom and finances. To find out more about shoplifting charges at Hudson Mall, keep reading. If you have questions about your or a loved one’s case in particular, please contact our Hudson, NJ shoplifting defense attorneys at (201) 793-8018 for a free consultation.
Arrested for Shoplifting in Hudson Mall
After you are arrested for shoplifting in Hudson Mall, you will likely be brought to the police station in Jersey City for processing. Here, they will take your fingerprints, collect your personal information, and file charges against you. Typically, you will not be detained following a shoplifting arrest while you wait for your trial; however, in rare cases if the prosecutor believes you may be a flight risk, they can file a motion for detention.
Assuming you are released, you will be required to appear in court for your first appearance before a judge either the same day, the next morning, or on Monday morning if you are arrested on a Saturday or Sunday. This is not your trial, it is just the first time you will see a judge, who will inform you of the charges that were filed against you and that you have a right to a lawyer.
Charged With Shoplifting at Hudson Mall, Where Will My Case Be Heard?
Your case will be heard at a later date in either the Jersey City Municipal Court, if you are charged with shoplifting as a disorderly persons offense, or Hudson County Superior Court, if you are charged with fourth degree, third degree, or second degree shoplifting.
The Jersey City Municipal Court is located at 365 Summit Avenue in Jersey City, NJ. If you are charged with a disorderly persons offense, you do not have a right to be indicted by a grand jury or to a jury trial. Instead, your case will be decided by a municipal court judge.
Indictable (felony) charges for shoplifting are heard in Hudson County Superior Court, is located at 595 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, NJ. At a hearing for an indictable offense, including fourth, third, and second degree shoplifting charges, you have the right to a trial by jury. This means the prosecutor must present the evidence to a jury of your peers, who will choose whether or not to indict you. Once indicted, your case will proceed to trial or be resolved through negotiation with the prosecutor, or your successful admission into a diversionary program like Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI).
How Do I Know the Punishments I’m Facing for a Hudson Mall Shoplifting Offense?
In any place within the state of New Jersey, the penalties for shoplifting are more severe the greater the value of merchandise you are accused of shoplifting. According to the law on shoplifting in NJ (NJSA 2C:20-11), it is a disorderly persons offense to shoplift merchandise valued at less than $200. If convicted, you may be ordered to pay fines up to $1,000 and serve up to 6 months in prison. If you shoplift merchandise with a value of at least $200 but not more than $500, it is a fourth degree indictable offense, punishable by up to 18 months in jail and fines of up to $10,000. Third degree shoplifting charges can be filed if the value of the merchandise you shoplifting was more than $500 but less than $75,000. Finally, it is a second degree offense to shoplift more than $75,000. As you can see, the sentencing for shoplifting in New Jersey gets significantly harsher as the monetary value of the stolen goods increases.
Lawyer Needed for Hudson Mall Shoplifting Charges in Jersey City, NJ
If you have been charged with shoplifting at Hudson Mall in Jersey City, NJ, do not face these charges alone. An experienced criminal defense lawyer may be able to negotiate your case with the prosecutor and, depending on the facts of your case, have the charges downgraded or dismissed. If your rights were violated in the course of your arrest or the retrieval of evidence, a skilled attorney may also be able to get your charges dismissed. Contact our local offices in Jersey City to speak with a knowledgeable NJ shoplifting lawyer and get a free review of your case.
