Martine Law · New Jersey
New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyers in Newark
Arrested, charged, or served with a restraining order? Call or message us now, not next week. Martine Law handles criminal defense across New Jersey from our office in Newark.
Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free. En español: (862) 396-3925
Tell us what happened
Newark office
3 Gateway Center, 12th Floor #1230, Newark, NJ 07102. Our only New Jersey office.
Free criminal defense consultation
With our Director of Client Engagement. If you hire us, an attorney handles your case.
Answered around the clock
Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free.
Se habla español
A Spanish-language phone line and Spanish pages for clients and families.
Charged with a crime in New Jersey?
If you or someone you love was just arrested, do not talk about the facts with police or on jail phones. Call us. We help with the first appearance, release conditions, and the first court date, then build a defense from the evidence.
DWI / DUI
Charged with DWI in New Jersey? 2026 penalties under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 by BAC level, refusal, ignition interlock, the Alcotest 9510, and what happens in municipal court. Free consultation.
Domestic Violence
Arrested for domestic violence in New Jersey? How mandatory arrest, release conditions, simple and aggravated assault, harassment and terroristic threats charges work, plus the separate restraining order case. Free consultation.
Restraining Orders (TRO / FRO)
Served with a temporary restraining order in New Jersey? How TROs and FROs work, the 10-day FRO hearing, the Silver two-part test, coercive control, contempt, and what not to do. Free consultation.
Indictable Crimes (Felonies)
Charged with an indictable crime (felony) in New Jersey? Degrees and sentences, presumptions of incarceration, NERA and Graves Act, detention hearings, grand jury, and PTI. Free consultation.
Drug Charges
Charged with a drug offense in New Jersey? Possession penalties under 2C:35-10, intent to distribute quantity thresholds, school and park zones, marijuana law after 2021, and conditional discharge or PTI. Free consultation.
Assault
Charged with simple or aggravated assault in New Jersey? Learn how N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1 grades assault, which court hears it, and common defenses. Free consultation.
Weapon Charges
Charged with unlawful possession of a handgun or another weapon in New Jersey? How N.J.S.A. 2C:39 and the Graves Act work, and what a defense looks at.
Theft & Shoplifting
How New Jersey grades theft and shoplifting by value under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-2 and 2C:20-11, mandatory community service for shoplifting, and defense options.
Disorderly Persons Offenses
Disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses are New Jersey's lower-level charges, heard in municipal court. Penalties, conditional dismissal, and appeals.
Expungement
General guide to expungement in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:52: who may be eligible, Clean Slate, the eCourts system, and what the process looks like.
What happens when you call
Call or send a message, any time.
Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free. We ask a few short questions: what happened, which town or county, and whether there is a court date.
Talk with our team.
Your free consultation is with our Director of Client Engagement, not an attorney. We explain the process and discuss fees plainly. If we are not the right fit, we tell you.
An attorney gets to work.
If you hire us, an attorney handles your case: reviewing discovery, contacting the prosecutor, filing motions, and keeping you updated.
How New Jersey classifies offenses
New Jersey does not use the words felony or misdemeanor. The type of charge decides which court hears your case.
| Level | Ordinary maximum or range | Court |
|---|---|---|
| Indictable crime, 1st degree | 10–20 years | Superior Court |
| Indictable crime, 2nd degree | 5–10 years | Superior Court |
| Indictable crime, 3rd degree | 3–5 years | Superior Court |
| Indictable crime, 4th degree | Up to 18 months | Superior Court |
| Disorderly persons offense | Up to 6 months | Municipal Court |
| Petty disorderly persons offense | Up to 30 days | Municipal Court |
Ordinary terms under N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 and 2C:43-8. Offense-specific statutes, mandatory minimums, and extended terms can change a sentence. Indictable crimes vs. disorderly persons offenses
Our New Jersey attorney
Gillian Feehan
Attorney, New Jersey criminal defense
Gillian Feehan is a criminal defense attorney at Martine Law's Newark office. She earned her J.D. at William & Mary Law School and is licensed to practice in New Jersey.
Learn more →Where we handle cases
We handle criminal cases across northern and central New Jersey from Newark. Tell us the court on your paperwork and we will confirm whether we can take your case.
Guides to New Jersey criminal courts
What to Do After an Arrest in New Jersey
Practical steps after you or a family member is arrested in New Jersey: your rights, complaint-summons vs. complaint-warrant, pretrial release, and what paperwork to keep.
New Jersey DWI Basics: Court, Penalties, and Refusal
A plain-language overview of DWI in New Jersey: why it is a traffic offense, how municipal court handles it, ignition interlock, refusal, and appeal deadlines.
Indictable Crimes vs. Disorderly Persons Offenses in New Jersey
New Jersey has no felonies or misdemeanors. Learn how indictable crimes and disorderly persons offenses differ in court, penalties, and process.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if a family member was just arrested in New Jersey?
Stay calm and do not discuss the facts on jail phones, which are usually recorded. Write down the person's full name, date of birth, where they were arrested, and the charge if you know it. Since 2017, New Jersey has used a risk-based pretrial release system instead of cash bail, and a person held on a complaint-warrant generally gets a first appearance within 48 hours.
Does New Jersey have felonies and misdemeanors?
No. New Jersey calls serious offenses indictable crimes, graded first through fourth degree and heard in Superior Court. Lesser offenses are disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses, heard in municipal court.
Is a DWI a crime in New Jersey?
No. DWI is a motor vehicle offense under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50, heard in municipal court by a judge. Penalties can still include fines, an ignition interlock, license loss, and jail for repeat offenses.
Is the consultation free?
Criminal defense consultations are free. Your consultation is with our Director of Client Engagement, not an attorney. If you hire us, an attorney handles your case.
Where is Martine Law's New Jersey office?
At 3 Gateway Center, 12th Floor #1230, Newark, NJ 07102. It is our only New Jersey office; we handle cases from other towns, such as Jersey City, Paterson, and Elizabeth, from Newark.
This page provides general information about New Jersey law. It is not legal advice, and reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different and no outcome is guaranteed.
Charged with a crime in New Jersey? Talk to us now.
Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free. Criminal defense consultations are free. Your consultation is with our Director of Client Engagement, not an attorney. If you hire us, an attorney handles your case.