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William Proetta Criminal Law

242 10th Street

Suite 103

Jersey City, NJ 07302

Phone: (201) 793-8018

Hudson County Criminal Defense Attorney

Have you been accused of a crime in Hudson County, N.J.? If so, the most important thing you can do is to find a criminal defense attorney you can trust. An experienced lawyer is someone who understands the local justice system and knows how to defend your rights when your freedom and future are on the line.

At William Proetta Criminal Law, our Hudson County criminal defense lawyers have a long track record of successfully defending our clients against all type of charges. We take a personalized approach to every case we handle, providing an aggressive defense and outstanding service. Contact us today to learn how our attorneys can help you in a free and confidential initial consultation.

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Common Types of Criminal Defense Cases We Handle in Hudson County

Here are some of the most common types of criminal defense cases we handle for clients in Hudson County and surrounding communities in New Jersey:

  • Assault and threat crimesAssault and threat crimes occur when someone commits physically violent acts or threatens physical violence against another. This includes charges such as simple assault, aggravated assault, harassment, terroristic threats, and stalking.
  • Domestic violenceDomestic violence offenses are distinct from other types of violent crimes because they involve violence between people in shared households or intimate relationships, such as married couples, dating couples, ex-couples, and couples with children in common.
  • Drug offensesSimple possession of up to 6 ounces of marijuana is legal in Hudson County and throughout New Jersey. However, the purchase, possession, distribution, or trafficking of other controlled substances is unlawful, as is possession of certain drug paraphernalia.
  • Weapons offensesNew Jersey has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Common types of weapons offenses include unlawful possession, possession of a weapon while committing a crime, and brandishing a firearm.
  • Sex crimesSex crimes typically involve unlawful or coerced sexual activity. Examples include indecent exposure, solicitation, sexual assault, and possession or distribution of child pornography.
  • Theft and fraudCommon types of theft and fraud offenses in Hudson County include identity theft, credit card fraud, insurance fraud, forgery, extortion, shoplifting, petty theft, and grand theft.
  • Juvenile criminal chargesWe can handle all types of juvenile criminal cases, including those involving disorderly persons offenses, assault crimes, drug crimes, alcohol-related crimes, theft, sex crimes, and weapons charges.
  • DWI and DUI chargesDWI and DUI offenses occur when someone operates a motor vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. There are many defenses available to people charged with these crimes, and we fight fiercely on our clients’ behalf.
  • Traffic violationsOur attorneys can help with any type of traffic violation or ticket in Hudson County. Common examples of New Jersey traffic offenses include speeding, improper passing, reckless driving, failure to yield, and running red lights.
  • ExpungementsExpungement involves removing or sealing court records related to arrests, convictions, criminal case proceedings, and sentences. Our attorneys can help you seek expungement for many types of criminal records to make it easier to apply for jobs, housing, and more.

Our Hudson County Criminal Defense Attorneys Can Make a Difference for You

If you have been charged with a criminal offense in New Jersey, the Hudson County criminal defense attorneys of William Proetta Criminal Law can protect your rights by:

  • Investigating the charges and evidence against you – We can conduct an independent investigation to determine the nature of the case against you and identify evidence we can use in your defense.
  • Developing a strong defense on your behalf – As we investigate your case, we can establish a strategic defense based on the evidence we uncover and our in-depth knowledge of the local justice system.
  • Seeking a dismissal or reduction of your charges – If we can identify issues in the case or in the evidence against you, we can argue for the charges to be reduced or even dismissed entirely.
  • Recommending alternatives to traditional sentencing – In some cases, we can recommend several alternatives to traditional sentences. Examples include pretrial intervention (PTI) programs, Veterans Diversion Programs, and conditional dismissal programs for nonviolent first-time offenders.
  • Seeking a suspended sentence or probation instead of jail time – If you do not qualify for an intervention or dismissal program, we can still ask the court to consider probation, rehabilitation, or educational programs in exchange for suspending all or part of your sentence.
  • Determining whether you qualify for record expungement – We can help you petition for the expungement of certain arrests, convictions, and other details included in a criminal record to wipe your slate clean.

Our Practice Areas

Penalties for Criminal Convictions in Hudson County

Instead of felonies or misdemeanors, New Jersey classifies crimes as either indictable crimes or disorderly persons offenses. New Jersey’s indictable crimes are roughly equivalent to felonies in other states, while disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses are roughly equivalent to misdemeanors in other states.

When it comes to penalizing indictable crimes or disorderly persons offenses, New Jersey courts consider aggravating and mitigating circumstances to determine whether punishments should be harsher or less severe. An aggravating circumstance is a factor that increases the severity of a crime and supports a harsher penalty. A mitigating circumstance is a factor that lessens the severity of a crime and supports a lesser penalty.

Typical penalties for disorderly persons offenses in Hudson County include:

  • Petty disorderly persons offenses – Up to 30 days’ jail time and $500 in fines
  • Disorderly persons offenses – Up to six months’ jail time and $1,000 in fines

For indictable crimes, judges are required to order mandatory minimum or “presumptive” sentences, unless mitigating or aggravating circumstances apply. Typical penalties for indictable crimes in New Jersey include:

  • Fourth-degree indictable crimes – Up to 18 months’ imprisonment, with a nine-month presumptive sentence, and up to $10,000 in fines
  • Third-degree indictable crimes – Up to five years’ imprisonment, with a four-year presumptive sentence, and up to $15,000 in fines
  • Second-degree indictable crimes – Up to 10 years’ imprisonment, with a seven-year presumptive sentence, and up to $150,000 in fines
  • First-degree indictable crimes – Up to 20 years’ imprisonment, with a 15-year presumptive sentence, and up to $200,000 in fines

In some cases, individuals who are classified as repeat offenders, professional criminals, or hired criminals can face extended prison sentences. The length of a prison sentence for a repeat offender is based on the severity of the crime and any aggravating factors the court considers relevant.

Criminal Records Can Haunt a Person Beyond the Sentence Itself

If you are convicted of a crime in Hudson County, the conviction will be included in your criminal record. This is one of the many reasons it’s important to get in touch with William Proetta Criminal Law to learn about your options after being charged with an offense in Hudson County. In addition to fines and possible jail time, a conviction on your criminal record can have several long-term consequences, which may impact your:

  • Future sentencing – If you are convicted of another indictable crime in the future, having a criminal record could result in harsher penalties than usual.
  • Employment – Having a criminal record could harm your chances of being selected for interviews or even exclude you from certain professions entirely.
  • Housing – Landlords may refuse to rent to prospective tenants with criminal records, and a conviction may interfere with your ability to get a mortgage.
  • Finances – Many lenders consider borrowers with criminal records to be credit risks, so you could have difficulty qualifying for certain types of loans.
  • Legal privileges – Certain convictions can result in loss of voting rights, driving privileges, firearm privileges, or the ability to hold public office.
  • Travel – Any type of conviction on a criminal record could limit your ability to travel abroad.
  • Security clearance – If you need a certain level of security clearance to do your job, your clearance may be revoked or denied in light of a criminal conviction.
  • Child custody – A criminal record could cause a family law judge to question your ability to look out for a child’s best interests in a custody dispute.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Rights During and After an Arrest in Hudson County?

If you have been arrested or detained by Hudson County law enforcement, you can defend your legal rights by:

  • Remaining calm and not resisting – Never attempt to run, resist, or obstruct police officers. Keep your hands visible at all times, and never lie to the police or provide them with fake documents.
  • Refusing to consent to search requests – If the police ask to search you, chances are they don’t have a warrant. Even if they insist on searching you anyway, you can politely make it clear that you do not consent to the search. Any evidence obtained through illegal searches will likely be inadmissible in court.
  • Expressing your wish to remain silent – Let the police know that you wish to remain silent. Do not provide explanations, excuses, or “harmless” details that could jeopardize your case.
  • Asking for a lawyer immediately – In addition to exercising your Fifth Amendment rights, tell the police that you want to speak with a lawyer immediately. If the police continue to try to get you to talk, simply repeat your intention to remain silent and your request to speak to a lawyer.
  • Remembering the details of the arrest – If you believe your rights were violated at any point, focus on remembering as many details as you can. This includes things like officers’ names, badge numbers, and patrol car numbers.

Talk to a Hudson County Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

When you need a dependable criminal defense attorney in south Jersey, trust your case to the hometown lawyers at William Proetta Criminal Law. We can answer your questions and discuss clear, realistic solutions when you contact us for a free initial case review. Get in touch with us today.

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Better Call Will!

He is by far the best legal representation I have ever dealt with. Kept me informed every step of the way, and killed it when it came down too court. I could tell how much he really did care about my case when we exited the courtroom and he was more excited then I was with the outcome ( I hadn’t realized how good it was at the time ) but he explained how much worse it could have been and showed me what could have happened. All I can say is that I’m sure glad he was on my side.

Kyle
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Caring, Attentive and Professional

Mr. Proetta is a caring and attentive attorney who represented me in court to resolve a traffic violation, which I strongly felt I was wrongly accused of. He thoroughly explained how it would be unlikely to win the case against me and better to have him work with the prosecutor to have the offense reduced to a lessor fine with no points, which he did achieve. I would highly recommend Mr. Proetta.

Thank you Will for making an unfortunate situation more acceptable.

Steve
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Couldn’t Be Happier!

Finding myself in need of council for the first time, his name was the first to pop up in online search. A late night phone call was swiftly returned and for the better part of an hour, we spoke about the case and best options for me. Immediately, and with display of confidence, Mr. Proetta offered me a flat rate and an optimistic outcome. He was also very articulate in describing the system. For the following months I received nothing but the best guidance and support from Mr. P, as well as the entire office staff. My issue was promptly, and painlessly resolved In my favor. I do not see myself in need of future service from Mr. Protetta, however he will be the first and only name I’ll recommend to anyone.

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