Juvenile Crime Attorney in New Jersey

Was your child charged with a crime in New Jersey? Don’t let their youthful mistake lead to life-altering consequences. Instead, contact William Fay, Esq, to get the professional, reliable legal representation your family needs to protect your child’s future.

Mr. Fay is a New Jersey juvenile defense lawyer with a unique background. He is a former Deputy Attorney General with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Mr. Fay has spent several years investigating and prosecuting criminal cases, which has given him insight into identifying weaknesses in the state’s evidence and constructing a tailored defense for each unique case.

He is a born-and-bred New Jersey attorney whose approach is result-driven and client-focused. Mr. Fay combines aggressive advocacy in court with a compassionate, approachable style for his clients.

Discover how a New Jersey juvenile defense lawyer can provide you with the aggressive advocacy you need at this critical moment. Contact us today for a free, fully confidential case review.

Why Hire William Fay for Your Juvenile Crime Matter in New Jersey?

William Fay is your choice for compassionate legal representation in New Jersey for the following reasons:

• Experience – As a former New Jersey deputy attorney general, Mr. Fay knows how the state investigates and prosecutes cases, and uses his insights to develop effective case strategies.
• Understanding — Mr. Fay knows that your family has unique circumstances, so he takes the time to evaluate your child’s situation to develop tailored legal solutions.
• Accessibility – Your family will always have a direct line to Mr. Fay via cell phone, so you’ll never have to go through a paralegal or legal assistant.
• Commitment – As a native of the Garden State, Mr. Fay is dedicated to protecting the next generation of New Jerseyans. He will personally handle every aspect of your child’s case from start to finish.

Mr. Fay focuses on delivering the best results for your child while maintaining a compassionate and approachable approach to help reduce their anxiety and stress.

Why Do You Need a Lawyer for Juvenile Crime Matters?

A juvenile crime lawyer can help your family in the following ways:

• Thoroughly investigating your child’s case to build a comprehensive defense argument
• Reviewing the facts and circumstances to identify possible legal strategies
• Explaining your child’s charges and possible outcomes to help your family decide how to proceed with the case
• Pursuing the best possible outcome to a juvenile’s charges, even if that means going to trial

What Types of Juvenile Crime Cases Does William Fay Handle?

Mr. Fay is prepared to handle a wide range of juvenile delinquency cases in New Jersey, including the following:

• Drug Charges – Juveniles can face charges for simple possession of drugs or for drug distribution if caught selling illicit substances to others.
• Juvenile Marijuana Offenses – New Jersey law requires people to be 21 or older to possess recreational marijuana or cannabis products.
• Criminal Mischief – A person engages in criminal mischief if they intentionally or knowingly damage, destroy, or tamper with another person’s property.
• Trespassing – A juvenile may face a trespassing charge if they enter a property with posted “No Trespassing” or “Private Property” signs, or if they remain in or return to the property after the owner has asked them to leave.
• Disorderly Conduct – Examples of behavior that can lead to a disorderly conduct charge include aggressive or offensive public behavior, fighting, threatening others, or creating public annoyance or alarm.
• Underage DUI – New Jersey imposes a zero-tolerance rule for drivers under 21, prohibiting juvenile motorists from having any detectable alcohol in their system.
• Underage Drinking – Juveniles may face charges if caught in possession of alcohol or found in public under the influence of alcohol.
• Possession of a Fake ID – A juvenile may face charges for possessing a fake or altered ID card to obtain tobacco products, marijuana products, alcohol, or firearms.
• Simple Assault – A person can commit simple assault if they attempt to cause or purposely, knowingly, or recklessly cause injury to another person, negligently injure another person with a deadly weapon, or attempt by physical menace to put another person in fear of imminent severe injury.
• Aggravated Assault – Aggravated assault happens when someone tries to seriously harm another person or causes injury with extreme disregard for human life. It also includes using or pointing a deadly weapon, injuring someone recklessly with a deadly weapon, or attacking a protected professional.
• Shoplifting – A juvenile can commit the offense of shoplifting when they take merchandise from a retail store without paying for it or pay less than the retail price for the merchandise.
• Robbery – Robbery occurs when a person takes money or property from its owner through the use or threat of force.
• Burglary – A juvenile may commit an offense that constitutes burglary when they enter a dwelling or building with the intent to commit a crime within.
• Weapons Offenses – New Jersey prohibits juveniles from owning or possessing firearms of any sort.
• Sexual Offenses – Allegedly engaging in sexual activity without obtaining others’ consent may lead to charges for sex offenses such as sexual assault or criminal sexual contact.

How Do Juvenile Criminal Cases Differ from Other Criminal Cases?

Juvenile cases differ from adult criminal cases in several critical aspects. Most importantly, the juvenile justice system focuses on rehabilitating juveniles who commit criminal offenses. In contrast, the adult criminal justice system also focuses on punishment, promoting respect for the law, and protecting the public from those who have committed offenses.

Juvenile criminal cases use different procedures during court proceedings compared to adult criminal cases. The sentences that courts impose on juveniles also differ significantly from those imposed on convicted adults, with juvenile sentences typically focused on education and rehabilitation. Furthermore, when a juvenile sentence does include incarceration, a juvenile will spend much less time in custody than an adult who committed the same offense.

What Charges Can the Court Try a Juvenile as an Adult in New Jersey?

Under the New Jersey juvenile justice system, prosecutors may seek to waive a juvenile’s case from family court to criminal court for trial as an adult should the juvenile’s case meet specific criteria. First, prosecutors may only seek the waiver of a juvenile aged 15 or older.

A juvenile must have committed certain acts that, if committed by an adult, would constitute an eligible crime for waiver of the juvenile’s case to adult court. These crimes include the following:

What Are Potential Legal Defenses to Juvenile Criminal Charges?

Depending on the nature of the alleged offense, a juvenile may have various defenses, including the following:

What Are New Jersey’s Juvenile Sentencing Guidelines?

New Jersey’s juvenile justice system strives to preserve family unity whenever possible, provide for the care, protection, and development of juveniles, and offer an adequate program of supervision, care, and rehabilitation, while promoting accountability, respect for the law, and public safety.

To accomplish these goals, New Jersey juvenile sentencing guidelines allow courts to consider outcomes such as the following:

• Deferred disposition, in which the court dismisses charges if the juvenile completes specific court-imposed requirements
• Community service
• Fines
• Restitution
• Probation
• Release to the custody of a parent or guardian
• Removing the juvenile from their home and placing them in the custody of a relative or qualified individual
• Support services, including assistance to the family or special education services
• Mental health or substance abuse treatment
• Placing the juvenile in the custody of the Department of Children and Families
• Work, educational, or vocational programs
• Driver’s license suspension
• Juvenile detention (incarceration)

Even when a court decides to impose juvenile detention, the law has much shorter maximum terms of incarceration for juveniles compared to the terms that adults face for the same criminal conduct. For example, a juvenile may face up to four years of detention for a first-degree crime (except murder), compared to the decade or more that an adult may face for the same offense.

What Are Examples of Juvenile Probation in New Jersey?

In many cases, courts will decide to impose New Jersey juvenile probation as a part of an adjudication of a juvenile’s charges. During juvenile probation, probation officers work with the juvenile and their family to create a plan that helps the juvenile complete their probation term.

While on probation, juveniles must abide by various conditions set by the court, including the following:

• Meeting regularly with probation officers at the probation office or in the juvenile’s home
• Submitting to drug and alcohol testing
• Attending school or obtaining employment
• Paying fines
• Not getting arrested for new offenses
• Not possessing any weapons (including paintball guns)
• Completing community service
• Attending required mental health or substance abuse treatment
• Observing a curfew

Juveniles on probation may also require permission from their probation officer or the court to travel outside of New Jersey.

New Jersey also has a Juvenile Intensive Supervision Program to which a juvenile may apply. The program, which lasts for at least 18 months, imposes various conditions for successful completion, including the following:

• Attending school or holding a job
• Performing community service
• Maintaining regular contact with probation officers
• Following curfew rules
• Attending recommended mental health or substance abuse treatment programs
• Family participation in the juvenile’s program