Atlantic County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in Atlantic County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in Atlantic County.
Atlantic County Arraignments
An arraignment is a court hearing. In Atlantic County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in Atlantic County Criminal Court and the judge will read the charges that were filed against the defendant. The judge will also read the rights the defendant has and ask the defendant if they understand both the charges filed against them and their rights as a defendant in the case. In Atlantic County a plea of Guilty, Not Guilty or No Contest may be entered. In a guilty or no contest plea the sentencing of the defendant may take place at the same arraignment hearing or a later date may be scheduled for sentencing. For a not guilty plea, a date will be set for a trial.
If guilty, who sentences the defendant?
If the defendant is found guilty after the trial, the defendent will be sentenced. In some cases, this can occur at the same hearing the defendant is found guilty in court, in other cases a separate hearing will be required. Often the prosecution will request a particular sentence for the defendant and the judge will determine whether to enforce this sentence or impose a different sentence for the defendant.
Atlantic County Criminal Court
Atlantic County Prosecutor
For criminal cases in Atlantic County, the prosecutor will be a representative of Atlantic County. The Atlantic County prosecutor reviews all evidence and ultimately decides whether to file or dismiss charges in the case. Most of the time, the prosecutor has leeway in plea negotiations and determines how the case will be prosecuted.
What is a Plea Agreement?
A plea agreement is a deal made between the prosecution and the defendant in a case, where the defendant agrees to plea guilty to a particular charge in exchange for some concession from the prosecutor. In practice, more than 90% of criminal cases end with a plea agreement.
Appealing a guilty verdict
A defendant may appeal a guilty verdict to an appellate court. This is not a request to have another trial, but a request for an appellate court to review the case and determine that it was handled in a correct legal manner. There are a number of outcomes in an appeal including an upholding of the conviction, a finding that errors were made resulting in a retrial or resentencing or possibly a complete disimissal of all charges.
Required Court Appearances in Atlantic County
Any required court appearances in Atlantic County Criminal Court must be attended by the defendant. Failure to appear in court at your required date and time may result in the judge issuing an arrest warrant.
What is Jury Deliberation?
After both the prosecution and defense have presented their cases, the judge in the case will provide instructions to the jury about what they must decide. The jury will be dismissed to the jury room where they will deliberate about the guilt or innocence of the defendant. After reaching a unaminous decision, they return their decision to the court where it is read aloud in the courtroom. If the jury is unable to reach a unaminous decision, the jury is deadlocked, also known as a hung jury, in which a mistrial will be declared.
Right to Jury Trial
For “Serious Crimes”, those that can have a potential penalty of 6 months in jail OR a minimum $500 penalty, the US Constitution guarantees a right to trial by jury. This is guaranteed by Article III of the Constitution and the 6th Amendment. The accused has the ability to waive their right to trial by jury.
I need help for my Atlantic County criminal case
The best place to get information about your criminal case is from an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one to represent you which will assist in your case. For general information about your case the Atlantic County court clerk is able to provide general information about your specific case (e.g. date/time hearings, mandatory appearance, what will take place and what you will be required to do). The court clerk for Atlantic County will NOT be able to provide legal advice for your case, only an attorney can provide legal advice. The court clerk can provide legal information (like the information found on this website) about your case but cannot provide advice about what you should do in your legal manner.
What is the Burden of Proof?
The term “Burden of Proof” means that the prosecutor is required to prove the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. If the prosecutor cannot provide proof of the defendants guilt, then the judge or jury in a trial must find the defendant not guilty. In the United States the principle innocent until proven guilty derives from this that the defendant is assumed innocent and the prosecution has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty.
Right to an attorney
The US Constitution’s Sixth Amendment ensures the right to an attorney regardless of whether or not you can afford one. In Atlantic County a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.
Where will Atlantic County criminal case hearings take place?
Criminal cases will take place at the criminal courts of Atlantic County. See here for the location of the criminal courts in Atlantic County.
Atlantic County Criminal Court Locations
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Atlantic County Superior Court
Address: 1201 Bacharach Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Phone: 609-345-6700 -
Atlantic County Superior Court – Civil Division
Address: 1201 Bacharach Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Phone: 609-594-3579 -
Atlantic County Superior Court – Criminal Division
Address: 4997 Unami Blvd, Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Phone: 609-909-8154 Fax: 609-909-8219 *Please call before faxing -
Atlantic County Superior Court – Family Division
Address: 1201 Bacharach Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Phone: 609-594-3446 -
Atlantic County Surrogate’s Court
Address: 1201 Bacharach Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Phone: 609-343-2341 Fax: 609-343-2197 -
Atlantic County Surrogate’s Court
Address: 5911 Main Street, Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Phone: 609-645-5800 Fax: 609-645-5805 -
Absecon Municipal Court
Address: 500 Mill Road, Absecon, NJ 08201
Phone: 609-641-0663 Ext. 775 Fax: 609-641-8456 -
Atlantic City Municipal Court
Address: 2715 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Phone: 609-347-5567 -
Brigantine Municipal Court
Address: 1417 West Brigantine Avenue, Brigantine, NJ 08203
Phone: 609-266-0440 Fax: 609-266-6376 -
Buena Vista Regional Municipal Court
Address: 890 Harding Highway, PO Box 605, Buena, NJ 08310
Phone: 856-697-3859 Fax: 856-697-9450 -
Corbin City Municipal Court
Address: Mailing: PO Box 414, Tuckahoe, NJ 08250
Phone: 609-628-2015 Fax: 609-628-2091 -
Egg Harbor City Municipal Court
Address: 500 London Avenue, Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215
Phone: 609-965-0700 Fax: 609-965-2708 -
Egg Harbor Township Municipal Court
Address: 3515 Bargaintown Road, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
Phone: 609-926-4195 Fax: 609-926-4001 -
Estell Manor Municipal Court
Address: 148 Cumberland Avenue, Estell Manor, NJ 08319
Phone: 609-476-4338 Fax: 609-476-2289 -
Folsom Municipal Court
Address: 1700 12th Street, Folsom, NJ 08037
Phone: 609-561-0711 Fax: 609-561-3559 -
Galloway Township Municipal Court
Address: 300 East Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway, NJ 08205
Phone: 609-652-3700 Ext. 270 Fax: 609-652-2029 -
Hamilton Township Municipal Court
Address: 6101 13th Street, Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Phone: 609-625-6621 Fax: 609-625-5618 -
Hammonton Municipal Court
Address: 100 Central Avenue, Hammonton, NJ 08037
Phone: 609-567-4300 Ext. 3 Fax: 609-567-5090 -
Linwood Municipal Court
Address: 400 Poplar Avenue, PO Box 316, Linwood, NJ 08221
Phone: 609-641-2832 -
Longport Municipal Court
Address: 2305 Atlantic Avenue, Longport, NJ 08403
Phone: 609-823-2731 Ext. 112 -
Margate Municipal Court
Address: 9001 Winchester Avenue, Margate, NJ 08402
Phone: 609-822-2147 (Longport) Fax: 609-822-3249 -
Mullica Township Municipal Court
Address: 4528 White Horse Pike, Elwood, NJ 08217
Phone: 609-561-6696 Ext. 12 Fax: 609-561-3031 -
Northfield Municipal Court
Address: 1600 Shore Road, Northfield, NJ 08225
Phone: 609-641-2832 Ext. 125 Fax: 609-646-7175 -
Pleasantville Municipal Court
Address: 18 North 1st Street, Pleasantville, NJ 08232
Phone: 609-484-3661 Fax: 609-484-8641 -
Port Republic Municipal Court
Address: 143 Main Street, Port Republic, NJ 08241
Phone: 609-652-9321 Fax: 609-652-1877 -
Somers Point Municipal Court
Address: 1 West New Jersey Avenue, Somers Point, NJ 08244
Phone: 609-927-9088 Ext. 119 Fax: 609-927-9741 -
Ventnor City Municipal Court
Address: 6201 Atlantic Avenue, Ventnor, NJ 08406
Phone: 609-823-7906 Fax: 609-487-3021