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Attorney
Joseph A. Lombardo

If you have been arrested in Atlantic City, NJ, you need legal representation from a trusted and knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer like Joseph Lombardo.

Most states divide criminal offenses into misdemeanors and felonies. New Jersey uses slightly different language, calling misdemeanors “disorderly persons offenses” and felonies “indictable crimes.” While the wording may be different, the potential penalties are the same: debilitating fines, years or decades of incarceration, and a host of assorted consequences such as driver’s license suspension, mandatory community service, substance abuse counseling, and probation. In addition to facing these court-ordered penalties, you will also receive a criminal record, which can haunt your loan, housing, and job searches for years to come.

Regardless of your age, criminal history, or the type of offense you are being charged with, misdemeanor and felony allegations are extremely serious matters which can negatively impact every aspect of your life. If you have been arrested in Atlantic City, you need legal representation from a trusted and knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer like Joseph Lombardo. Joseph has over 20 years of experience handling a wide array of felony and misdemeanor charges on behalf of adults and juveniles alike throughout Atlantic City including the following:

  • Assault
  • Criminal Record Expungements
  • Domestic Violence Charges
  • Drug Possession and Narcotics Charges
  • Vandalism and Property Crimes
  • Weapons Possession

From the moment of arrest through the trial itself, Joseph will put his extensive dual experience as a municipal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney toward building a tactical defense strategy. When you need a dedicated defense attorney who will aggressively fight your charges, protect your legal rights, and guide you through every step of your case as it develops, you can call on Atlantic City criminal defense lawyer Joseph Lombardo. In case of an emergency, Joseph is on-call 24 hours a day to make jail or detention center visits. Call (609) 445-4300 for a free and private case evaluation.

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Fines And Sentences: Criminal Penalties in Atlantic City, NJ

The fines, sentences, and other criminal penalties you face depend on the way your charges are categorized. Some crimes are always categorized a certain way, while others can become more or less severe depending on the presence of mitigating or aggravating factors.

While each charge must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, some typical mitigating factors include lack of intent to cause harm, acting in self-defense, acting negligently or carelessly, and being a first-time offender. By comparison, common aggravating factors include causing extremely serious injury, using a dangerous weapon, acting intentionally or recklessly, having a record of prior offenses, committing the offense in a designated school zone, and/or endangering a child during the commission of the alleged crime (such as having a child passenger in an alleged DUI).

Some states use alphabetic labels to distinguish criminal categories, such as “Class A,” “Class B,” and so forth. When you commit a crime in Atlantic City, numeric degrees are used. The lower the degree, the more serious the crime (and potential consequences). For example, a first degree crime is considered more serious than a third degree crime.

The New Jersey criminal courts may impose the following maximum penalties for your Atlantic City criminal offense, depending on the way the underlying offense is graded:

 

Petty DP Offense

Fine — $500

Incarceration — 30 days

DP Offense

Fine — $1,000

Incarceration — 6 months

Offenses which are more serious than DP offenses are considered to be indictable crimes, subject to the following maximum penalties:

 

Fourth Degree Crime

Fine — $10,000

Incarceration — 18 months

Third Degree Crime

Fine — $15,000

Incarceration — 5 years

Second Degree Crime

Fine — $150,000

Incarceration — 10 years

First Degree Crime

Fine — $200,000

Incarceration — 20 years

As you can see, New Jersey unfortunately imposes some of the highest felony fines in the country. While many states hold fines for similar offense classes to the tens of thousands at most, the maximum criminal fines for your criminal charges in Atlantic City can easily reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars — in addition to decades of incarceration in prison.

While the fines and incarceration are often the greatest cause for concern, they are far from the only penalties which may be imposed. Depending on the type of crime involved in the charges, you may be subject to offense-specific penalties as well. For example, many sex crime convictions require placement on the state’s Sex Offender Registry. Likewise, a DWI conviction can result in the temporary suspension of your driver’s license. Drug possession charges may lead to mandatory counseling for substance abuse, while crimes involving graffiti and vandalism often involve community service and volunteer work requirements.

What to expect if you’re arrested in Atlantic City, NJ

What To Expect if Youre Arrestedin New Jersey - Criminal Defense in Atlantic City, NJ

If you’ve been charged with a crime in Atlantic CIty, or if one of your loved ones has been arrested, you need dedicated legal representation on your side in court. Don’t go up against the prosecutor alone: get trusted legal guidance from an aggressive defense lawyer who can fight to have your charges reduced or dismissed altogether. To start exploring some of your potential options in a free and completely confidential legal consultation, call Joseph Lombardo right away at (609) 445-4300.

Why Choose Joseph Lombardo?

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Experienced

Mr. Lombardo is a trial-seasoned attorney with over 28 years of legal experience representing clients and their family members in the local courts of Atlantic City and Southern New Jersey.

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Responsive

Our promise to current and prospective clients is to be responsive within 24 hours of any inquiry.

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Successful

Mr. Lombardo has successfully handled thousands of cases related to personal injury, criminal defense and other legal matters across Atlantic City and Southern New Jersey.

A Client Testimonial

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“Joe is a top-notch attorney who zealously represents his clients with intelligence, compassion and integrity. A great resource and team player, I wholeheartedly recommend Joe Lombardo.”
– Joseph U.

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ABOUT JOSEPH A. LOMBARDO

Atlantic City criminal defense attorney Joseph A. Lombardo, creator of the Lombardo Law Group, is known for his successful representation provided to clients throughout Southern New Jersey since 1993.

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four convenient locations

  • Hammonton Office (Main Office)
    104 Bellevue Ave.
    Hammonton, NJ 08037
  • Atlantic City Office
    1014 Atlantic Ave.
    Atlantic City, NJ 08401
  • Northfield Offce
    1015 New Road, Ste C
    Northfield, NJ 08225
  • Linwood Office
    222 New Road, Ste 106
    Linwood, NJ 08221

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