A criminal charge in New Jersey is frightening, but it’s also the beginning of a process with many decision points — and many opportunities to fight, reduce, or divert it. This guide indexes everything we’ve written about New Jersey criminal charges, organized by type, plus the procedure and diversion options that can keep a conviction off your record. For representation, start with our main NJ criminal defense page.
The first question is always the grade: New Jersey splits offenses into indictable crimes (felony-level, Superior Court) and disorderly persons offenses (municipal court). The grade drives everything — prison exposure, record, and eligibility for diversion. Start with disorderly persons vs. indictable offenses to understand where your charge falls.
Assault, threats & violent crimes
- Self-defense & the duty to retreat (2C:3-4)
- Simple assault (2C:12-1a)
- Aggravated assault (2C:12-1b)
- Terroristic threats (2C:12-3)
- Burglary vs. robbery (2C:18-2 & 2C:15-1)
- Kidnapping & criminal restraint (2C:13-1/2)
- Criminal coercion (2C:13-5)
- Arson (2C:17-1)
- Criminal mischief (2C:17-3)
Theft, fraud & financial crimes
- Theft (2C:20-3)
- Theft by deception (2C:20-4)
- Theft of services (2C:20-8)
- Receiving stolen property (2C:20-7)
- Joyriding / unlawful taking (2C:20-10)
- Shoplifting (2C:20-11)
- Detained for shoplifting: the merchant’s privilege
- The shoplifting “civil demand” letter
- Credit card fraud (2C:21-6)
- Forgery (2C:21-1)
- Fake ID (2C:21-2.1)
- Bad checks (2C:21-5)
- Money laundering (2C:21-25)
- Bribery (2C:27-2)
- Official misconduct (2C:30-2)
Drug offenses
- Drug possession (2C:35-10)
- Possession with intent to distribute (2C:35-5)
- Drug paraphernalia (2C:36-2)
- Prescription fraud (2C:35-13)
- Strict liability for a drug-induced death (2C:35-9)
- Loitering to obtain drugs (2C:33-2.1)
- Marijuana possession after legalization
- Cannabis over the legal limit
Weapons & domestic violence
- Unlawful possession of a weapon (2C:39-5)
- The Graves Act waiver
- Appealing a firearms ID/permit denial (2C:58-3)
- Domestic-violence weapons forfeiture
- The Lautenberg Amendment
- Restraining order vs. criminal charge
- Defending a final restraining order
- Falsely accused of domestic violence
- Violating a restraining order (2C:29-9)
Disorderly conduct, obstruction & speech-related
- Disorderly conduct (2C:33-2)
- Harassment (2C:33-4)
- Cyber-harassment (2C:33-4.1)
- Stalking (2C:12-10)
- Invasion of privacy (2C:14-9)
- False public alarm (2C:33-3)
- Riot & failure to disperse (2C:33-1)
- Resisting arrest & obstruction (2C:29-1/2)
- Hindering apprehension (2C:29-3)
- Witness tampering (2C:28-5)
- Tampering with evidence (2C:28-6)
- False police reports (2C:28-4)
- Perjury & false swearing (2C:28-1/2)
- Contempt of court (2C:29-9)
- Conspiracy (2C:5-2)
- Criminal trespass (2C:18-3)
- Possession of burglary tools (2C:5-5)
- Bias intimidation (2C:16-1)
Process, sentencing & clearing your record
- Do I need a criminal lawyer?
- Public defender vs. private attorney
- Alternatives to jail (probation, ISP, treatment)
- Can’t pay your court fines? Your options
- What to do if you’re arrested
- Miranda rights: when they apply
- Criminal statute of limitations (2C:1-6)
- Entrapment (2C:2-12)
- The grand jury & indictment process
- Bail reform & pretrial detention
- How a record affects jobs & background checks
- Violation of probation (2C:45-3)
- The No Early Release Act (85%)
- Sentencing downgrades (2C:44-1f)
- Juvenile charges
- Pretrial Intervention (PTI)
- Conditional dismissal
- Conditional discharge (drug cases)
- Recovery Court (drug court)
- Expungement & Clean Slate
- The expungement process, step by step
- Expungement after conditional dismissal
Charged with a crime? Don’t talk to anyone first — talk to us
Every charge above has elements the State must prove and avenues to fight or divert it. The decisions made early shape everything. If you’re facing any criminal charge anywhere in New Jersey, it’s worth a free, confidential call. See our full NJ criminal defense page to start.