Harrison Disorderly Persons Attorney

Disorderly Persons Offense Lawyer in Harrison, New Jersey

Harrison, a suburb of Newark, is just 7 miles from Manhattan and conveniently situated along the Passaic River in Hudson County, New Jersey. The home of industry, Daisy Fuentes, and Red Bull Stadium, Harrison is also a frequent location for disorderly persons offenses. In fact, disorderly persons offenses accounted for 443 of the 934 criminal cases that arose in Harrison between July 2019 and May 2020. Whether Harrison is your home, you were just passing through, or you were enjoying an event at the stadium, having a run in with police can lead to serious legal issues with the potential to damage various parts of your life. Not only will you be inconvenienced by multiple court appearances, you can find yourself in jail if convicted of a disorderly persons offense in Harrison. If you wind up charged with a disorderly persons offense, protect your interests by talking to a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney. We invite you to call (201) 793-8018 for answers and advisement in a free consultation with one of our Harrison criminal lawyers today.

Harrison Disorderly Persons Offenses

When you are accused of a disorderly persons offense (DP), it will be listed on the complaint-summons that you receive from police. This is basically the classification of the offense on the spectrum of severity. In other words, a disorderly persons offense can refer to any number of specific offenses listed in the New Jersey Criminal Statutes. They range from theft, to drugs, to assault related crimes.

For instance, possessing less than 50 grams of marijuana is a disorderly persons offense, as is failure to turn a controlled dangerous substance over to the police, and possession of drug paraphernalia. You may be charged with a single disorderly persons offense or several, which often happens in cases where the person is arrested for marijuana and a bong, pipe, or rolling papers. Being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance is also a DP drug crime.

Simple assault is yet another common disorderly persons offense for which you may be arrested in Harrison. Still more, shoplifting charges may be graded as disorderly persons offenses if the defendant is accused of stealing from a retailer and the items involved are worth under $200.

Other charges for which you may be summoned to Harrison Municipal Court for a disorderly persons offense include petty theft, criminal mischief with property damage under $200, criminal trespass, possession of a fake ID, underage drinking (unless you are a juvenile), and resisting arrest. Of note, there are other DP offenses, but these are some of the most frequently filed criminal charges.

The Harrison Municipal Court bears the responsibility for handling traffic offenses, and lower level criminal offenses, such as disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly offenses, that occur within their jurisdiction. Once charged with a DP, you will be given a summons that contains a specified court date. If you fail to attend on the required date, a bench warrant for your arrest will be issued. In domestic violence cases, frequently those involving simple assault, you must be held in jail until your case is reviewed by a judge within 24-48 hours of your arrest. If you are deemed a safety or flight risk, the judge can order you back to detention until your case is resolved or finished.

As a criminal defendant, you have the opportunity to review all of the state’s evidence, negotiate a deal, file motions, and have a trial. You may also be eligible for enrollment in a diversionary program such as conditional discharge or conditional dismissal.

What Happens if I’m Convicted of a Disorderly Persons Offense in Harrison NJ?

While charges for a disorderly persons offense are not as serious as felonies, they can put a damper on your future professional plans and cause other negative changes in your quality of life if convicted. The court may fine you any amount up to $1,000, send you to Hudson County Jail for up to 180 days, order you to serve probation, require that you undergo anger management or mental health counseling, and impose other sentences such as community service for shoplifting or criminal mischief. There are mandatory fines and penalties, as well as suspension of your driving privileges in some cases.

Harrison Nj Criminal Attorneys Defending You Against a Disorderly Persons Offense

Disorderly persons charges can derail you temporarily or permanently, depending on how the case is handled and ultimately resolved. Our seasoned Harrison, New Jersey criminal defense lawyers know how to review the facts, apply the law, and navigate the system. We will protect you every step of the way and help you put this behind you. If you would like a free consultation or you have questions about an upcoming case in Harrison, contact us by phone at (201) 793-8018 or start a chat today.