Bergen County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Bergen County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Bergen County.
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.
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.
Bergen County Criminal Court
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.
Bergen County Prosecutor
For criminal cases in Bergen County, the prosecutor will be a representative of Bergen County. The Bergen 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.
Required Court Appearances in Bergen County
Any required court appearances in Bergen 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.
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.
Who can help me in Bergen County?
For general information about your case the Bergen County court clerk will be able to provide legal information about your specific criminal case. Legal information is not legal advice though, the court clerk will only be able to provide information about your case, like date/time of hearings what will occur at the hearing and what you may be required to do in the hearing. They cannot provide advice about what you should do or what the best legal options may be for your particular case. Only an attorney can provide legal advice and this is your best place for information about your specific criminal proceeding. If you cannot afford to hire a private attorney to represent you, a judge will appoint an attorney to represent you, this is most often a public defender.
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 an attorney
The US Constitution’s Sixth Amendment ensures the right to an attorney regardless of whether or not you can afford one. In Bergen County a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.
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.
Bergen County Criminal Court hearings
Criminal hearings in Bergen County will take place at the Bergen County Criminal Courts. Please see here for a list of the Bergen County Criminal Court Locations.
What happens in Bergen County at an arraignment?
In Bergen County the defendant is brought into court and informed by the judge of the charges that have been filed against them along with informing them of their rights. At this time, the defendant can plead guilty, not guilty or no contest. If the defendant pleads guilty or no contest, there will be no trial and the defendant may be sentenced immediately or at a later date. If the defendant pleads not guilty a trial date is set.
Bergen County Criminal Court Locations
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Bergen County Superior Court
Address: 10 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: 201-527-2700 -
Bergen County Superior Court – Civil Division
Address: 10 Main Street, Room 115, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: 201-527-2600 -
Bergen County Superior Court – Criminal Division
Address: 10 Main Street, Room 116, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: 201-527-2400 -
Bergen County Superior Court – Family Division
Address: 10 Main Street, Room 163, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: 201-527-2300 -
Bergen County Surrogate’s Court
Address: 10 Main Street, Room 211, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: 201-646-2252 -
Allendale Municipal Court
Address: 500 West Crescent Avenue, Allendale, NJ 07401
Phone: 201-652-0699 Fax: 201-652-2681 -
Alpine Municipal Court
Address: 100 Church Street, PO Box 0271, Alpine, NJ 07620
Phone: 201-768-6866 Fax: 201-784-1407 -
Bergenfield Municipal Court
Address: 198 North Washington Avenue, Bergenfield, NJ 07621
Phone: 201-387-4055 Ext. 2 Fax: 201-387-7373 -
Bogota Municipal Court
Address: 215 Liberty Street, Little Ferry, NJ 07643
Phone: 201-440-2111 -
Carlstadt Municipal Court
Address: 500 Madison Street, Carlstadt, NJ 07072
Phone: 201-531-8701 Fax: 201-939-4648 -
Central Municipal Court of Bergen County
Address: 71 Hudson Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: 201-336-6222 Fax: 201-336-6212 -
Cliffside Park Municipal Court
Address: 525 Palisade Avenue, Room 321, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
Phone: 201-313-2018 Fax: 201-945-8972 -
Closter Municipal Court
Address: 295 Closter Dock Road, Closter, NJ 07624
Phone: 201-784-0600 Ext. 490 Fax: 201-905-7777 -
Cresskill Municipal Court
Address: 67 Union Avenue, Cresskill, NJ 07626
Phone: 201-569-7636 Fax: 201-569-4201 -
Demarest Municipal Court
Address: 118 Serpentine Road, Demarest, NJ 07627
Phone: 201-768-1160 Fax: 201-768-2581 -
Dumont Municipal Court
Address: 50 Washington Avenue, Dumont, NJ 07628
Phone: 201-387-5032 Fax: 201-387-5061 -
East Rutherford Municipal Court
Address: 117 Stanley Street, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Phone: 201-438-0169 Fax: 201-438-8214 -
Edgewater Municipal Court
Address: 55 River Road, Edgewater, NJ 07020
Phone: 201-943-1700 Ext. 3123 Fax: 201-943-2906 -
Elmwood Park Municipal Court
Address: 182 Market Street, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
Phone: 201-797-1457 Ext. 603 Fax: 201-796-8132 -
Emerson Municipal Court
Address: 146 Linwood Avenue, Emerson, NJ 07630
Phone: 201-262-6058 Fax: 201-262-1256 -
Englewood Cliffs Municipal Court
Address: 10 Kahn Terrace, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
Phone: 201-568-7860 Fax: 201-568-3639 -
Englewood Municipal Court
Address: 73 South Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
Phone: 201-569-0255 Fax: 201-567-7083 -
Fairview Municipal Court
Address: 59 Anderson Avenue, Fairview, NJ 07022
Phone: 201-943-3300 Fax: 201-943-3534 -
Fort Lee Municipal Court
Address: 309 Main Street, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
Phone: 201-592-3500 Ext. 1509 Fax: 201-585-1232 -
Franklin Lakes Municipal Court
Address: 480 DeKorte Drive, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
Phone: 201-891-5840 Fax: 201-891-2472 -
Garfield Municipal Court
Address: 111 Outwater Lane, Garfield, NJ 07026
Phone: 973-478-6288 Fax: 973-253-0546 -
Glen Rock Municipal Court
Address: 1 Harding Plaza, Glen Rock, NJ 07452
Phone: 201-670-3950 Fax: 201-670-3959 -
Hackensack Municipal Court
Address: 215 State Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: 201-646-3971 Fax: 201-646.0202 -
Harrington Park Municipal Court
Address: 85 Harriot Avenue, Harrington Park, NJ 07640
Phone: 201-768-0500 Fax: 201-768-3038 -
Hasbrouck Heights Municipal Court
Address: 248 Hamilton Avenue, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604
Phone: 201-288-3117 Fax: 201-288-0939 -
Haworth Municipal Court
Address: 300 Haworth Avenue, Haworth, NJ 07641
Phone: 201-384-4883 Fax: 201-384-1607 -
Hillsdale Municipal Court
Address: 380 Hillsdale Avenue, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
Phone: 201-666-4800 Ext. 1511 Fax: 201-358-5067 -
Ho-Ho-Kus Municipal Court
Address: 333 Warren Avenue, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423
Phone: 201-652-0699 Fax: 201-652-2681 -
Leonia Municipal Court
Address: 312 Broad Avenue, Leonia, NJ 07605
Phone: 201-592-5780 Ext. 258 Fax: 201-592-5767 -
Little Ferry Municipal Court
Address: 215-217 Liberty Street, Little Ferry, NJ 07643
Phone: 201-641-9234 Ext. 652 -
Lodi Municipal Court
Address: 1 Memorial Drive, Room 102, Lodi, NJ 07644
Phone: 973-859-7450 -
Lyndhurst Township Municipal Court
Address: 367 Valley Brook Avenue, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
Phone: 201-804-2457 Fax: 201-933-4635 -
Mahwah Township Municipal Court
Address: 475 Corporate Drive, Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 201-529-2862 Fax: 201-529-2054 -
Maywood Municipal Court
Address: 1 Jockish Square, Paramus, NJ 07652
Phone: 201-265-2100 Fax: 201-265-6428 -
Midland Park Municipal Court
Address: 280 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432
Phone: 201-445-3838 Fax: 201-445-9716 -
Moonachie Municipal Court
Address: 70 Moonachie Road, Moonachie, NJ 07074
Phone: 201-641-5589 Fax: 201-641-6089 -
New Milford Municipal Court
Address: 930 River Road, New Milford, NJ 07646
Phone: 201-967-5646 Ext. 8482 Fax: 201-967-5766 -
North Arlington Municipal Court
Address: 214 Ridge Road, North Arlington, NJ 07031
Phone: 201- 955-5658 Fax: 201-991-7028 -
Northvale Municipal Court
Address: 116 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ 07647
Phone: 201-767-6673 Fax: 201-767-6621 -
Norwood Municipal Court
Address: 455 Broadway, Norwood, NJ 07648
Phone: 201-767-7207 Fax: 201-784-2963 -
Oakland Municipal Court
Address: 10 Lawlor Drive, Oakland, NJ 07436
Phone: 201-337-8140 Fax: 201-337-4662 -
Old Tappan Municipal Court
Address: 227 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, NJ 07675
Phone: 201-664-1849 Ext. 23 Fax: 201-664-0331 -
Oradell Municipal Court
Address: 355 Kinderkamack Road, Oradell, NJ 07649
Phone: 201-261-8601 Fax: 201-261-4850 -
Palisades Interstate Court
Address: Alpine Approach Road, Alpine, NJ 07620
Phone: 201-768-8702 Fax: 201-767-2165 -
Palisades Park Municipal Court
Address: 275 Broad Avenue, Palisades Park, NJ 07650
Phone: 201-585-4115 Fax: 201-944-6129 -
Paramus Municipal Court
Address: 1 Jockish Square, Paramus, NJ 07652
Phone: 201-265-2100 Ext. 653 Fax: 201-265-6428 -
Pascak Joint Municipal Court
Address: 12 Mercedes Drive, Montvale, NJ 07645
Phone: 201-391-5701 Fax: 201-391-6239 -
Ramsey Municipal Court
Address: 33 North Central Avenue, Ramsey, NJ 07446
Phone: 201-825-0988 Fax: 201-818-1848 -
Ridgefield Municipal Court
Address: 604 Broad Avenue, Ridgefield, NJ 07657
Phone: 201-943-7155 Fax: 201-943-8932 -
Ridgefield Park Municipal Court
Address: 234 Main Street, Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660
Phone: 201-641-4950 Ext. 502 Fax: 201-440-3309 -
Ridgewood Municipal Court
Address: 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07451
Phone: 201-670-5544 Fax: 201-670-5569 -
River Edge Municipal Court
Address: 705A Kinderkamack Road, River Edge, NJ 07661
Phone: 201-262-1935 Fax: 201-262-1935 -
River Vale Township Municipal Court
Address: 406 Rivervale Road, River Vale, NJ 07675
Phone: 201-664-2346 Ext. 1013 Fax: 201-358-7757 -
Rochelle Park Municipal Court
Address: 151 West Passaic Street, Rochelle Park, NJ 07662
Phone: 201-556-1053 Fax: 201-556-0759 -
Rockleigh Municipal Court
Address: 116 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ 07647
Phone: 201-767-6673 Fax: 207-767-6621 -
Rutherford Municipal Court
Address: 176 Park Avenue, Rutherford, NJ 07070
Phone: 201-460-3030 Fax: 201-460-3032 -
Saddle Brook Township Municipal Court
Address: 93 Market Street, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
Phone: 201-843-7642 Fax: 201-909-2392 -
Saddle River Municipal Court
Address: 100 East Allendale Road, Saddle River, NJ 07458
Phone: 201-327-2132 Ext. 294 -
South Hackensack Municipal Court
Address: 227 Phillips Avenue, South Hackensack, NJ 07606
Phone: 201-440-1844 Fax: 201-440-6017 -
Teaneck Township Municipal Court
Address: 818 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Phone: 201-837-4850 Fax: 201-833-8047 -
Tenafly Municipal Court
Address: 100 Riveredge Road, Tenafly, NJ 07670
Phone: 201-568-6100 Fax: 201-541-6412 -
Teterboro Municipal Court
Address: 510 Route 46 West, Teterboro, NJ 07608
Phone: 201-288-6215 Fax: 201-288-6205 -
Upper Saddle River Municipal Court
Address: 376 West Saddle River Road, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
Phone: 201-934-3972 Fax: 201-934-0235 -
Waldwick Municipal Court
Address: 63 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick, NJ 07463
Phone: 201-652-5300 Ext. 221 Fax: 201-652-4657 -
Wallington Municipal Court
Address: Phone: 973-777-0318, Ext. 6 Fax: 973-777-2571
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Washington Township Municipal Court
Address: 350 Hudson Avenue, Washington Township, NJ 07676
Phone: 201-664-2488 Fax: 201-664-7194 -
Westwood Municipal Court
Address: 101 Washington Avenue, Westwood, NJ 07675
Phone: 201-666-8510 Fax: 201-666-8561 -
Wood-Ridge Municipal Court
Address: 85 Humboldt Street, Wood-Ridge, NJ 07075
Phone: 201-933-1414 -
Wyckoff Township Municipal Court
Address: 340 Franklin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481
Phone: 201-891-7000 Fax: 201-891-9359