Northern New Jersey Criminal & Municipal Court Defense Attorneys
Protecting your freedom, your clean record, and your driving privileges with aggressive, honest, and experienced trial advocacy.
When you or a loved one is arrested, facing criminal charges, or served with a municipal court summons, your entire life is thrown into chaos. Your freedom, your employment, your ability to drive to work, and your reputation in the community are suddenly in severe jeopardy. In New Jersey, even a seemingly minor misdemeanor-level charge in a local municipal court can result in up to 6 months in jail, thousands of dollars in surcharges, and a permanent criminal record.
At Raff & Raff, LLP, we have defended residents of Paterson, Passaic County, and throughout Northern New Jersey for over 100 years. We do not engage in slick, dramatic marketing promises, and we will never tell you what you want to hear just to secure your retainer.
Instead, our advocacy is defined by absolute honesty and strategic trial preparation. We analyze the state’s evidence with forensic precision, identify constitutional violations in how the police conducted your arrest, and outline your options clearly. If the prosecution has a weak case, we work tirelessly to secure a dismissal or a favorable plea; if a trial is necessary to protect your freedom, we are seasoned trial litigators fully prepared to defend you aggressively before a judge or jury.
“Whether you are facing serious indictable charges in County Superior Court or a local municipal summons, there is no such thing as an ‘informal’ court appearance. In New Jersey, the State is represented by experienced, seasoned prosecutors whose job is to secure a conviction. Walking into court without an aggressive trial lawyer who understands constitutional defenses, police procedures, and the rules of evidence is a massive gamble with your record, your livelihood, and your personal freedom.” — Daniel A. Levy, Esq.
Our Criminal & Municipal Defense Focus Areas
Choose a practice area below to learn your rights, understand the legal process, and discover how we protect your future:
Superior Court Indictable Crimes
If you are facing indictable charges (felony-level offenses of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th degree) in New Jersey Superior Court, you are facing substantial state prison time. We represent individuals accused of serious crimes, including drug distribution, aggravated assault, grand theft, and fraud. We aggressively represent you at detention hearings to prevent pretrial jail time.
Gun & Weapons Charges (The Graves Act)
New Jersey has some of the strictest gun laws in the United States. Under the Graves Act, unlawful possession of a handgun carries mandatory prison sentences with no eligibility for parole. We are experienced in obtaining Graves Act Waivers, challenging unlawful searches, and fighting to keep our clients out of prison. If you are facing charges for an unlicensed firearm or an unlawful carry, we will build an aggressive defense to protect your freedom.
DWI, DUI & Refusal Charges
A conviction for driving while intoxicated or refusing an Alcotest breathalyzer carries severe consequences, including mandatory ignition interlock requirements, thousands of dollars in MVC surcharges, and potential jail time. We thoroughly review the police calibration records and testing protocols to build a powerful defense. We pour over BWC footage to see what the police saw. And our goal is always to identify procedural errors and constitutional violations to protect your driver’s license and keep your record clean.
Municipal Court Criminal Defense
Disorderly Persons (DP) and Petty DP offenses are misdemeanor-level charges handled in local New Jersey municipal courts. We defend individuals facing charges for simple assault, harassment, shoplifting, drug paraphernalia, and disorderly conduct, working to protect you from jail time and a permanent criminal record.
Domestic Violence & Contempt Defense
If you are facing criminal simple assault, harassment, or a charge of criminal contempt for allegedly violating a Temporary or Final Restraining Order, your parental rights and freedom are on the line. We provide aggressive defense against concurrent criminal and civil family court charges.
High-Stakes Traffic & License Defense
Do not simply pay your ticket online and plead guilty. Driving while suspended, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and high-point moving violations carry severe insurance spikes and active license suspension risks. We represent commercial drivers (CDL holders) and commuters to protect their livelihoods.
Meet Us Safely and Conveniently via Zoom
We understand that facing a criminal charge or municipal court summons is incredibly stressful, and finding the time to travel to an attorney’s physical office can be difficult.
To make your defense as seamless as possible, Raff & Raff, LLP offers fast, convenient Zoom consultations in addition to an in-person consultation.
- Face-to-Face Trust: Speak directly with an experienced trial attorney from the comfort and privacy of your home or office.
- Immediate Review: We can share screens to review your summons, police reports, and tickets in real-time, outlining a clear defense strategy.
- Zero Commute Friction: Bypassing traffic and physical office scheduling ensures we can analyze your case immediately, protecting your rights from day one.
Why Choose Raff & Raff, LLP for Your Defense?
- Over a Century of Trusted Service: Our firm has served Northern New Jersey communities since 1922. We have stood the test of time because we treat our clients with honesty, respect, and absolute professionalism.
- Honest, Direct Counsel: We will never make false promises of “dismissals” just to get your money. We provide a realistic, expert analysis of the prosecution’s case and outline the exact costs and risks associated with each strategy.
- Seasoned Courtroom Trial Experience: We are trial lawyers, not just plea-bargainers. The prosecutors and judges in local municipal and county superior courts know that we are fully prepared to go to trial if the state refuses to offer a fair resolution.
- Deep Local Familiarity: We do not just practice in New Jersey; our offices are historically rooted in Paterson, giving us deep, practical familiarity with the local procedures, administrators, and judges of the Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Morris, and Hudson county courts.
Centrally Located in Paterson and Ridgewood to Serve Northern New Jersey
Criminal matters in New Jersey are handled depending on the severity of the charge. Serious indictable offenses are filed at the county level (Superior Court), while misdemeanor DP offenses and traffic issues are handled in local Municipal Courts.
Our central office on Church Street in Paterson is located less than a 5-minute walk from the Passaic County Superior Court and Courthouse Complex and a short drive to the surrounding county courthouses. This makes us uniquely positioned to handle emergency detention hearings, file time-sensitive motions, and represent clients seamlessly in:
- County Superior Courts: Passaic County (Paterson), Bergen County (Hackensack), Essex County (Newark), Morris County (Morristown), and Hudson County (Jersey City).
- Local Municipal Courts: Paterson, Clifton, Wayne, Passaic, Little Falls, Totowa, Woodland Park, Hackensack, Paramus, and surrounding towns.
Frequently Asked Questions About NJ Criminal & Municipal Law
In New Jersey, indictable crimes are felony-level offenses (classified from 1st to 4th degree). They are prosecuted by the County Prosecutor’s Office and handled in the county Superior Court. A conviction carries mandatory or presumptive state prison time. Disorderly Persons (DP) and Petty DP offenses are misdemeanor-level offenses handled in local municipal courts. While they carry up to 6 months in county jail, they are not considered indictable crimes.
While paying a ticket online is convenient, it is a formal legal admission of guilt. In New Jersey, moving violations carry motor vehicle points, insurance eligibility points, and MVC surcharges. If you accumulate too many points, or are convicted of driving while suspended or reckless driving, your license will be suspended automatically. Before you plead guilty, let our attorneys review the ticket to negotiate point reductions or dismissals in municipal court.
The Graves Act is a strict New Jersey statute (N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6) that applies to most firearm and weapons charges. It mandates that anyone convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm must serve a mandatory state prison sentence with a period of parole ineligibility (usually 3.5 years). Defending against these charges requires an experienced attorney who can apply for a Graves Act Waiver or file a motion to suppress evidence based on an illegal police search.
Yes. Many people treat municipal court offenses (like simple assault, shoplifting, or drug paraphernalia possession) casually because they aren’t in “big” county court. However, a conviction results in a permanent criminal record that will show up on background checks for employment, housing, and loans, along with up to 180 days in jail. Our attorneys regularly negotiate for conditional discharges, ordinance downgrades, or complete dismissals to keep your record clean.
Protect Your Future. Schedule Your Complimentary Strategy Session Today.
Do not allow a criminal charge, a DWI, or a municipal court summons to control your future. Speak face-to-face with an experienced, honest, and pragmatic Northern New Jersey trial attorney via a secure Zoom meeting. We will analyze your summons, review the charges, and outline a clear, aggressive defense strategy.
Schedule Your Complimentary Strategy Session Today!
Fill out this form or call us directly at 973-742-1917 to schedule a complimentary strategy session