1. Tell The Police Officer or Detective that you
wish to talk to your Lawyer. Repeat this request to every officer who speaks to
you.
2. Identify yourself, if asked. If the incident is related to a motor
vehicle, produce your license, registration, and insurance card.
3. Beyond
identifying yourself, give no other information. Answer NO other questions.
SIGN NOTHING. If you are asked any other questions, reply politely, "I
would rather not discuss it.
NOTE: If you are arrested for Drunk Driving in
New Jersey, you must give breath samples before you call your Lawyer. You are
not required to do field sobriety tests such as walking a straight line.
Remember:
Even a fish would not get caught if they kept their mouth closed. [Copyright
Alan Marain] OJ remained silent and is playing golf today.
4. Call your lawyer at the first opportunity.
5. Make bail. Borrow money from relatives and
friends. You may need money to hire investigators and experts.
6. Bring to your attorney the Complaint and Arrest
report if provided.
7. Obtain names, addresses, phone number of your
witnesses.
8. Take Photos of arrest location, if applicable.
Ex- DWI location of walking straight line.
9. Call Court and confirm location and time of
initial appearance. Sometimes courts change date of appearance without telling
you. You don't want to waste a trip to the courthouse.
10. Stop taking any illegal drugs. You will be
required to take several drug tests.
Consequences of a Criminal Guilty Plea in Superior
Court
1. If you plead guilty you will have a criminal
record.
2. Before the judge can accept your guilty plea,
you will have to stand up in open court and tell the judge what you did that
makes you guilty of the particular offense in front of all persons in the
courtroom.
3. You can go to jail, pay thousands of dollars in
fines, and may be barred from future employment
4. You may not be able to get a job as a teacher,
public employee, banking industry, real estate or other state regulated field.
5. On employment applications, you will have to answer
yes that you were convicted of a crime.
6. You must pay a $75 Safe Neighborhood Services
Fund assessment for each conviction. You must pay a minimum Violent Crimes
Compensation Board assessment of $50 ($100 minimum if you are convicted of a
crime of violence) for each count to which you plead guilty.
7. If you are being sentenced to probation, you
must pay a fee of up to $25 per month for the term of probation.
8. In all drug cases, the statute requires
mandatory driver's license suspension. New Jersey does not have a special
license to go to work or school.
9. In indictable matters, you will be required to
provide a DNA sample, which could be used by law enforcement for the
investigation of criminal activity, and pay for the cost of testing.
10. You must pay restitution if the court finds
there is a victim who has suffered a loss.
11. If you are a public office holder or employee,
you can be required to forfeit your office or job by virtue of your plea of
guilty.
12. If you are not a United States citizen or
national, you may be deported by virtue of your plea of guilty.
13. You must wait 5-10 years to expunge a first
offense. 2C:52-3
14. You lose the presumption against incarceration in future cases.
2C:44-1
KENNETH VERCAMMEN & ASSOCIATES, PC
2053 Woodbridge Ave.
Edison, NJ
08817
(Phone) 732-572-0500
(Fax) 732-572-0030
www.BeNotGuilty.Com
