HACKENSACK, NJ – Individuals facing charges in Bergen County Municipal Court often underestimate the lasting impact of a conviction, even when the offense is classified as less serious than a felony. Bergen County municipal court attorney Adam M. Lustberg of Lustberg Law Offices, LLC (https://www.lustberglaw.com/blog/bergen-county-municipal-court-criminal-charges/) has released a detailed guide explaining what charges are handled in municipal court, what defendants can expect after being charged, the penalties involved, and how cases may be reduced or dismissed.

According to Bergen County municipal court attorney Adam M. Lustberg, New Jersey municipal courts handle two categories of criminal offenses under N.J.S.A. 2B:12-17: disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses, along with local ordinance violations, motor vehicle matters, and driving while intoxicated cases. “Many people assume a municipal charge is minor until they see what follows a conviction,” Lustberg explains. “Employers run background checks, licensing boards ask about criminal history, and consequences can attach even to offenses that carry no jail time.”

 

Bergen County municipal court attorney Adam M. Lustberg notes that disorderly persons offenses commonly include simple assault, shoplifting where the merchandise is worth less than $200, criminal trespass, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Petty disorderly persons offenses, the lowest level of criminal charge in New Jersey, typically involve harassment, disorderly conduct, and minor altercations. Indictable crimes such as robbery, aggravated assault, weapons offenses, and narcotics distribution are heard in the Superior Court of New Jersey rather than municipal court.

 

The penalties can be significant. Lustberg points out that a disorderly persons offense can carry up to six months in county jail under N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 and a maximum fine of $1,000 under N.J.S.A. 2C:43-3, while petty disorderly persons offenses carry up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. Every conviction also brings mandatory court costs and statutory assessments, and a judge may impose probation for up to five years or order restitution in property-related and shoplifting cases.

 

Most municipal court matters begin with a complaint-summons rather than an arrest, Lustberg explains. The summons lists the charge, the court, and the first appearance date, which is the arraignment. “Discovery is often the stage where a case is won, weakened, or narrowed,” Lustberg says. “Reviewing police reports, witness statements, body camera footage, and surveillance video reveals what evidence the State actually has and where the proof may fall short.”

 

Attorney Lustberg emphasizes that municipal court charges do not always end in a conviction. Weak evidence can result in an outright dismissal, some cases may be negotiated down to a lesser offense or a local ordinance violation, and eligible first-time defendants may qualify for diversionary programs. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:43-13.1, a conditional dismissal is available to eligible first-time defendants charged with certain non-drug offenses, while a conditional discharge under N.J.S.A. 2C:36A-1 applies to eligible first-time offenders facing certain controlled substance charges. Defendants in these programs are typically placed on supervisory probation for up to one year, and the complaint is dismissed if completed without new arrests.

 

Lustberg advises that missing a scheduled court date carries serious consequences. A judge may issue a bench warrant that does not expire on its own, and in motor vehicle matters the failure to appear can be reported to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, potentially resulting in a suspension of driving privileges. “A bench warrant remains active until it is addressed,” Lustberg observes. “A routine traffic stop months later can still lead to an arrest, which is why reaching out to the court promptly matters.”

 

The firm handles cases at local municipal courts and the Central Municipal Court at 71 Hudson Street in Hackensack, as well as indictable matters at the Bergen County Justice Center. Lustberg notes that most municipal court cases resolve within one to four months, though delays in discovery, motions to suppress evidence, and matters that proceed to trial can extend the timeline. He adds that speed is not always the goal, since pushing for a fast plea can mean giving up a diversionary program or dismissal that might have been available with additional preparation.

 

For those facing municipal court charges in Bergen County, contacting an experienced criminal defense attorney may help protect their record and identify options such as dismissals, downgrades, or diversionary programs before the court date arrives.

 

About Lustberg Law Offices, LLC:

 

Lustberg Law Offices, LLC is a Hackensack-based criminal defense firm led by attorney Adam M. Lustberg, who is admitted in both New Jersey and New York. The firm represents individuals at every stage of the criminal justice system, from municipal court complaints through indictable charges in Superior Court, serving clients across Bergen County and northern New Jersey. The office is located at 1 University Plaza Dr #212 in Hackensack. For consultations, call (201) 880-5311.
 

Email: alustberg@lustberglaw.com

 

 

Media Contact

Name
Lustberg Law Offices, LLC
Contact name
Adam M. Lustberg
Contact phone
(201) 880-5311
Contact address
1 University Plaza Dr #212
City
Hackensack
State
NJ
Zip
07601
Country
United States
Url
https://www.lustberglaw.com/

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