Pollack Law Offices FAQs

Being accused of a drug offense in New Jersey is certainly no joke. The state of New Jersey and its prosecutors are tough on drug crimes and do their best to place people facing drug charges behind bars. If you have been charged with a drug offense in New Jersey, the penalties can be stiff, so it is of vital importance to seek the services of a criminal attorney as soon as possible following your arrest.

The penalties that come along with drug possession in New Jersey can be hefty, hinging largely on the amount of the drug discovered in the defendant's possession and any prior drug offenses. For example, possession of marijuana (less than 50 grams) is punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $15,000 fine. Possession of dangerous controlled substances such as meth, acid, heroin, or cocaine can result in up to five years in jail and fines of up to $25,000.

If authorities believe someone is manufacturing, distributing, or trafficking drugs, penalties can be even stiffer. Depending on the drug and the degree of the crime, decades of jail time, tens of thousands of dollars in exorbitant fines, loss of property and assets, lifelong parole requirements, and other penalties are often on the table.

In New Jersey, drivers found guilty of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) face a very serious offense. A first-time DUID charge carries a jail sentence of up to 30 days, a fine of $500, mandatory participation requirement for New Jerseys Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) Program, and loss of driving privileges for seven months to a year. Subsequent DUID offenses pack enhanced penalties, including a maximum of six months in jail, steeper fines, and a 10-year license revocation. Penalties are heightened for drivers convicted of a DUID with a child in the car or while traveling through a school zone.

Remember, the burden of proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is on the prosecution when it comes to New Jersey drug charges. Don't risk representation by an overworked public defender if you're facing a drug charge. Reach out for help from the Law Offices of Jason C. Pollack, a trusted drug and DUI attorney in Camden County.

A white-collar crime is a financially motivated violation committed to gain a personal or business advantage or to obtain or prevent the loss of money or property. Deceit, violation of trust, and concealment are characteristics of white-collar crime. This type of crime does not depend on the threat or application of violence or force.

White-collar crimes in New Jersey fall under N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1, a statute prohibiting deceitful conduct and fraud. The belief that white-collar crimes have no victims is a false narrative. The truth is that just one fraudulent scheme (recall the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme of the early 2000s and prior, for example) can destroy lives (and wipe out the life savings of thousands of hard-working investors, in the case of Madoff).

Because of the potential fallout from white-collar criminal activity, the state of New Jersey (and sometimes, the federal government through the SEC, IRS, U.S. Postal Service, and the Department of Labor) take these crimes seriously and pull out all the stops in seeking convictions.

What are some white-collar crimes? Many different crimes fall under the white-collar classification in New Jersey and require the help of a criminal lawyer. Some examples: Money laundering, counterfeiting, copyright infringement, racketeering, embezzlement, tax evasion, cybercrimes, insider trading, extortion, bribery, forgery, falsification of financial information, evasion of regulatory oversight, and self-dealing by corporate insiders.

Shoplifting is a common crime, but that doesn't make it any less serious. If you get caught shoplifting in New Jersey, you can face significant penalties, including jail time. Having a criminal defense and traffic violation lawyer in Camden County, like the attorneys at The Law Offices of Jason C. Pollack, can help you get the best outcome possible.

What is shoplifting in New Jersey? Most people understand that taking something without paying for it is shoplifting. However, the definition in New Jersey is a little broader than that. You may have committed the crime of shoplifting if you remove any merchandise from a store without paying, hide or conceal items in your clothing or bag, even if you haven't left the premises yet, or alter or change a price tag or other marking to reduce the price of an item.

What are the Penalties for shoplifting? Penalties for shoplifting depend on a variety of factors, including the value of the item and whether you have a record of shoplifting. First-time offenders who shoplift less than $200 worth of items can face up to six months in jail, but they are often just sentenced to probation and fines. However, as the value increases, so do the penalties. If you shoplift something worth over $500, you can face between three and five years in prison. You may also face additional charges and penalties if you commit organized retail theft.

Shoplifting can also be expensive. In addition to your own fines and court fees, New Jersey law allows the retailer to pursue you for the full value of the stolen items, as well as any court fees or expenses they have to pay related to the case.

What should you do if you get caught shoplifting? Due to the serious penalties you can face, defending yourself from a shoplifting charge is not a do-it-yourself situation. If you're facing a shoplifting charge, it's a good idea to contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

When you speak to your attorney, be completely honest. Remember, your conversations with your attorney are confidential. At The Law Offices of Jason C. Pollack, P.C., we have a criminal defense and traffic lawyer in Camden County ready to help with shoplifting charges or other legal problems. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.

It's understandable to feel worried if you've been caught driving with a suspended license in New Jersey. How much is this going to cost me? Am I going to lose my license for even longer? How can I fight this charge? Fortunately, you can turn to the Law Offices of Jason C. Pollack, P.C. to find a traffic lawyer in Camden County with the best solution to your dilemma. We understand what you're going through and how important your driving privileges are to you, and we will fight to minimize the penalties associated with your case.

There are some things to know about being caught driving with a suspended license in New Jersey. First and foremost, you're going to have to pay a fine of at least $500. That fine goes up to $750 for a second offense and $1,000 for a third offense. Additionally, your license may be suspended for another six months in addition to the current suspension. If this is a second or third offense, you could also face the possibility of five to ten days of jail time.

As you can see, these are not penalties you want to face on your own. It's crucial to have experienced traffic violation attorneys in your corner to help avoid conviction and to mitigate any penalties. Depending on the facts of your unique case, we may be able to persuade the court to reduce the charges against you and to speed up the process of getting your driver's license restored.

One of the key issues we'll dive into when discussing your case is why your driver's license was suspended in the first place. There are a lot of reasons for license suspension, and while some are linked to serious causes, such as reckless driving, DUI, or being at fault in a fatal accident, many times, driver's licenses are suspended for purely administrative reasons. For instance, your license may have been suspended for failure to provide proof of insurance, failure to pay surcharges, or failure to appear in court.

We draw on our vast experience as leading traffic violation lawyers in Camden County to negotiate the charge down and to avoid serious penalties. Contact us today if you need help fighting the charge of driving with a suspended license.

It's never good to be charged with a DUI. In New Jersey specifically, you must speak with a DUI attorney in or around Camden County because the law carries heavier penalties in NJ than it typically does in other states. However, despite how strict NJ's rules can be, getting charged federally with a DUI adds a whole new level of complexity to the legal assistance you might need.

It's perfectly understandable if you believe that every DUI charge is the same as the laws in your home state. Very few people want to run afoul of those laws, and even fewer may realize that the federal government has penalties of its own. Heres are some things you need to know about a federal DUI charge:

Where can you be charged federally? A federal DUI charge can be brought on anyone who is caught driving under the influence on federal property, such as Fort Dix. In NJ, this can mean that if you're driving drunk in a national park, on a military installation, or other federal grounds, you can face charges from the federal government as well as the state. While this may feel like a concept that would run against the idea of double jeopardy or being charged for the same crime twice it's possible because both the federal and state governments have jurisdiction over the space you were driving in. Due to this concurrent jurisdiction, you're liable for charges from both authorities.

How does it change the charge? Being charged federally changes the DUI charge in a couple of ways. First and foremost, a federal DUI charge carries stiffer penalties, including higher fines, longer license suspension, and longer jail time for each occurrence. Second, and perhaps more notably, it changes the DUI charge from a traffic violation to a criminal one. In the state of NJ, DUIs are severe, but they don't carry criminal penalties, as they are seen as an issue that can be resolved in traffic court. The federal government, by contrast, views a DUI charge as a criminal offense, which usually carries some degree of jail time at a federal facility.

What can be done about a conviction? If you've been convicted of a federal DUI, that doesn't mean that you're out of options. In some circumstances, an appeal might be possible, which will offer another opportunity to prove your case, though the criteria are different at the federal level than at the traffic court level.

However, if an appeal isn't possible, then the only thing that can be done about your conviction is to receive a presidential pardon. Barring such a pardon, you'll carry the federal DUI charge on your record for the rest of your life. To find out more about getting charged with a DUI on federal property, or to speak with a DUI defense attorney serving Burlington County, call The Law Offices of Jason C. Pollack, P.C. today!