Garber Law, P.C.

Call Us Today | 856-804-1639

  • Home
  • About
    • Garber, Joel Wayne
    • Garber, Emilie Anne
    • Garber, Evan Samuel
  • Services
    • Personal Injury
    • Defective Products
    • Insurance Bad Faith
    • Motor Vehicle Accidents
    • Workplace Accidents
    • Construction Accidents
    • Premises Liability
    • Catastrophic Injuries
    • Wrongful Death
  • Reviews
  • Results
  • Blog
  • Contact
Garber Law, P.C.
  • Home
  • About
    • Garber, Joel Wayne
    • Garber, Emilie Anne
    • Garber, Evan Samuel
  • Services
    • Personal Injury
    • Defective Products
    • Insurance Bad Faith
    • Motor Vehicle Accidents
    • Workplace Accidents
    • Construction Accidents
    • Premises Liability
    • Catastrophic Injuries
    • Wrongful Death
  • Reviews
  • Results
  • Blog
  • Contact
Email

CALL

Never backing down from your fight

  1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Criminal Defense
  4.  » 
  5. What to Expect in Municipal Court in New Jersey

What to Expect in Municipal Court in New Jersey

On Behalf of Garber Law, P.C. | Sep 27, 2020 | Criminal Defense

If you are arrested for a minor criminal offense in New Jersey (often called a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense), you will receive a summons, which notifies you of your obligation to appear in municipal court on a certain date. The municipal court will be located in the city or township where you were arrested.

When you are facing criminal charges in municipal court in New Jersey, it is important to know what to expect when going to municipal court and what the process is like for facing charges in municipal court.

Types of Offense That Are Heard in Municipal Court

Municipal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction that hear minor criminal and statutory violations. Examples of offenses that are heard in municipal court include:

  • Disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses (e,g, simple assault, disorderly conduct, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, shoplifting, DUI)
  • Violations of municipal ordinances
  • Traffic citations
  • Fishing and gaming vioations

More serious crimes, known as felonies or indictable offenses, are not heard in municipal court but are instead tried in the criminal division of the superior court; if a person is charged with at least one indictable offense from a criminal episode, all of his or her charges will be heard in superior court. Sometimes, a case that is initially brought in superior court may be transferred to municipal court when the prosecutor agrees to reduce the charges to a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense.

Possible Penalties for a Municipal Court Conviction

If you are charged with a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense and are convicted, you could be facing potential sentences of:

  • Disorderly persons conviction: Up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1000
  • Petty disorderly persons conviction: Up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $500

Certain crimes may impose higher fines, particularly those crimes where the offender received a financial gain at the expense of the victim.

Disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses have a presumption of non-incarceration, which means the municipal court will likely not impose jail time for a conviction unless it deems it necessary for public safety or to deter you from future criminal conduct

What Happens in a Municipal Court Proceeding

The date listed on your summons is your first appearance in municipal court. At this appearance, the judge will list the charges against you, explain the procedure for your case, advise you of your rights (such as your right to an attorney), and detail the potential sentences in the event of your conviction. You will also be asked to plead either guilty (in which case the court will ensure you are doing so knowingly and voluntarily and will likely then sentence you on the spot) or not guilty (in which case you may either immediately proceed to trial or the court will schedule a trial date). If you need time to hire an attorney, you can also request an adjournment.

If you choose to plead not guilty, there may be several more hearing dates before your trial. When your trial date finally does arrive, your case will be heard by the municipal court judge rather than a jury, who at the end of the trial will either find you guilty if the prosecutor proves each element of your charges beyond a reasonable doubt, or otherwise will find you not guilty. Both the prosecutor and you will have the opportunity to present witnesses and evidence in support of your respective cases and to cross-examine the other side’s witnesses and evidence. You have the right, but are not required, to testify in your own defense.

Contact an Experienced Voorhees Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Municipal Court Charges in New Jersey

Were you arrested or charged with municipal court charges in New Jersey? The consequences of a conviction could be severe, leaving you with a permanent criminal record and possibly even sending you to jail. That is why you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible about your case. The attorneys at Joel Wayne Garber Law, P.C. Offices have successfully represented clients charged with municipal court charges in Pennsauken, Haddon Township, Collingswood, Haddonfield, and throughout New Jersey. Call 856-804-1639 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have an office conveniently located at 1200 Laurel Oak Rd., Voorhees Township, NJ 08043, as well as offices located in Philadelphia, PA.

Recent Posts

  • Justice After a Loved One’s Wrongful Death in NJ
  • The Hidden Costs of Personal Injuries: How to Account for Emotional and Financial Losses in Your Claim
  • Catastrophic Injuries in New Jersey: How to Seek Justice for Life-Altering Accidents
  • Steps to Take if Insurance Denies Your Car Accident Claim
  • Long – Term Effects of Traumatic Injuries: The True Costs of Brain and Spine Injuries

Archives

  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • May 2015

Categories

  • Car Accident
  • Child Injury
  • Construction Accidents
  • Criminal Defense
  • Drug Crime
  • DUI / DWI
  • Firm News
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Motor Vehicle Accident
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
  • Personal Injury
  • Police Brutality Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Sex Crime
  • Slip & Fall Accident
  • Traffic Offense
  • Train Accident
  • Truck Accident
  • Workers' Compensation
  • Wrongful Death

RSS Feed

Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed

What Can We Help You With?

Garber Law, P.C.

Contact Us

Review Funnel
Voorhees Office

The Greens of Laurel Oak
1200 Laurel Oak Road, Suite 104
Voorhees, NJ 08043

  Voorhees Law Office
Philadelphia Office

Jefferson Tower
1101 Market Street, Suite 2820
Philadelphia, PA 19107

  Philadelphia Law Office
Connect With Us

Phone: 856-804-1639
Fax: 856-435-7676

  • Follow

© 2025 Garber Law, P.C. • All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw