Burlington County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Burlington County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Burlington County.
Who is the prosecutor for Burlington County?
Depending upon the case, the prosecutor for Burlington County criminal cases will either be a representative of Burlington County or a representative from New Jersey. After reviewing evidence it is the prosecutor’s decision whether to file charges or drop a case. Most prosecutors have the ability to negotiate plea bargains, and determine how the case will be prosecuted.
Can I request a Plea Agreement?
In Burlington County you may be able to enter into a plea agreement depending upon the severity of the charges. It is also dependant upon the prosecution willing to accept a plea agreement. You can ask your attorney to attempt to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecution to avoid having a jury trial along with the potential for a more serious sentence. Approximately 9 out of 10 criminal cases usually end in a plea agreement.
Burlington County Criminal Court
The Right to Trial by Jury
The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the right to a trial by a jury. This is applicable for when the crime can carry a sentence of 6 months in jail OR a $500 fine, these are known as “Serious Crimes”. The defendant can also waive their right to a speedy and public trial.
What happens in Burlington County at an arraignment?
In Burlington 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.
Defendant Sentencing
At a sentence hearing the judge will inform the defendant of the sentence that will be imposed. This sometimes occurs at the same hearing in which the defendant is found guilty (either by trial or plea agreement). In can also occur at a later date, most often this is due to the complexity of the case where more time is needed to determine the appropriate sentence.
Appealing a Criminal Conviciton
A defendant may appeal a criminal conviction to an appellate court. In an appeal, the actual trial is not redone, but the appellate court hears arguments that the criminal case was not handled in a legal manner at the original criminal court. The appellate court can either uphold the conviction, or determine that errors were made and may request a retrial, a resentencing of the defendant or that the charges be dismissed.
Mandatory Appearances in Burlington County Criminal Court
At a mandatory or required court appearance in Burlington County, the defendant must appear before the court. In the event of a “Failure to Appear” the judge may issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant. Note: not all criminal hearings are mandatory, in a non-mandatory hearing an attorney may appear on your behalf without you being in court.
Jury Deliberations in Burlington County
In Burlington County, jury deliberations will take place in a jury trial after the prosecution and defense have presented their cases and rested. At this point, the judge will provide a list of instructions to the jury about what they are allowed and not allowed to do and what verdict options are available for them to decide. The jury will be sent to a private room to discuss the evidence presented in the case and attempt to reach a unaminous decision. When a unaminous decision is reached, the jury will inform the judge that they have reached a verdict and will return to the courtroom for the verdict to be read allowed. In the event that the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict, the jury results in a deadlock and a mistrial is 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 Burlington County a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.
Who can help me in Burlington County?
For general information about your case the Burlington 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.
Where will Burlington County criminal case hearings take place?
Criminal cases will take place at the criminal courts of Burlington County. See here for the location of the criminal courts in Burlington County.
Burden of Proof Requirement
In a criminal case in the United States, the burden of proof always requires the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. This is a high threshold that must be met by the prosecution when presenting evidence in a case. If the prosecution fails in it’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt the judge must find the defendant not guilty. In a jury trial, the judge will inform the jury what this burden is and their obligation to find the defendant not guilty if they feel the prosecution did prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Burlington County Criminal Court Locations
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Burlington County Superior Court
Address: 49 Rancocas Road, PO Box 6555, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: 609-518-2600 -
Burlington County Superior Court – Civil Division
Address: 49 Rancocas Road, Suite 354, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: 609-518-2815 -
Burlington County Superior Court – Criminal Division
Address: 50 Rancocas Road, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: 609-518-2565 Fax: 609-518-2569 -
Burlington County Superior Court – Family Division
Address: 49 Rancocas Road, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: 609-518-2645 -
Burlington County Surrogate’s Office
Address: 49 Rancocas Road, Room 102, Mount Holly NJ 08060
Phone: 609-265-5005 Fax: 609-261-4511 -
Bass River Municipal Court
Address: 3 North Maple Avenue, PO Box 214, New Gretna, NJ 08224
Phone: 609-296-1410 Fax: 609-296-0193 -
Beverly City Municipal Court
Address: 446 Broad Street, Beverly, NJ 08010
Phone: 609-387-1881 Fax: 609-386-1351 -
Bordentown City Municipal Court
Address: 1 Municipal Drive, Bordentown, NJ 08505
Phone: 609-298-2802 Fax: 609-291-9324 -
Bordentown Township Municipal Court
Address: 1 Municipal Drive, Bordentown, NJ 08505
Phone: 609-298-2802 Fax: 609-291-9324 -
Burlington City Municipal Court
Address: 851 Old York Road, Burlington Township, NJ 08016
Phone: 609-239-5825 Fax: 609-609-239-2191 -
Burlington Township Municipal Court
Address: 851 Old York Road, Burlington, NJ 08016
Phone: 609-239-5825 Fax: 609-609-239-2191 -
Chesterfield Township Municipal Court
Address: 41 Schoolhouse Road, Jacobstown, NJ 08562
Phone: 609-758-2522 Fax: 609-758-6720 -
Cinnaminson Municipal Court
Address: 1621 Riverton Road, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077
Phone: 856-829-4027 Fax: 856-829-2893 -
Delanco Township Municipal Court
Address: 770 Coopertown Road, Delanco, NJ 08075
Phone: 856-461-0561 Ext. 229 Fax: 856-461-0685 -
Delran Municipal Court
Address: 900 Chester Avenue, Delran, NJ 08075
Phone: 856-461-3888 Fax: 856-461-7357 -
Eastampton Township Municipal Court
Address: 710 Rancocas Road, Westampton, NJ 08060
Phone: 609-267-1895 Fax: 609-267-1898 -
Edgewater Park Municipal Court
Address: 400 Delanco Road, Edgewater Park, NJ 08010
Phone: 609-877-7645 Fax: 609-877-0448 -
Evesham Township Municipal Court
Address: 984 Tuckerton Road, Marlton, NJ 08053
Phone: 856-983-2929 Fax: 856-985-6007 -
Fieldsboro Municipal Court
Address: 204 Washinton Street, Fieldsboro, NJ 08505
Phone: 609-298-1616 Fax: 609-298-1552 -
Florence Township Municipal Court
Address: 711 Broad Street, Florence, NJ 08518
Phone: 609-499-2222 Fax: 609-499-1779 -
Hainesport Township Municipal Court
Address: 710 Rancocas Road, Westampton, NJ 08060
Phone: 609-267-1895 Fax: 609-267-1898 -
Lumberton Township Municipal Court
Address: 35 Municipal Drive, Lumberton, NJ 08048
Phone: 609-267-3389 Fax: 609-267-8066 -
Mansfield Township Municipal Court
Address: 3135 Route 206 South, Suite 2, Columbus, NJ 08022
Phone: 609-298-0649 Ext. 1023 Fax: 609-298-3926 -
Maple Shade Township Municipal Court
Address: 200 Stiles Avenue, Maple Shade, NJ 08052
Phone: 856-779-9610 Ext. 167 or 168 Fax: 856-755-1612 -
Medford Lakes Municipal Court
Address: 1 Cabin Circle Drive, Medford Lakes, NJ 08055
Phone: 609-654-7589 Fax: 609-654-7432 -
Medford Township Municipal Court
Address: 91 Union Street, Medford, NJ 08055
Phone: 609-654-8813 Fax: 609-654-6132 -
Moorestown Township Municipal Court
Address: 1245 North Church Street, Moorestown, New Jersey 08057
Phone: 856-235-0922 Fax: 856-914-3067 -
Mount Holly Township Municipal Court
Address: 23 Washington Street, Mount Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: 609-845-1120 Fax: 609-267-1805 -
Mount Laurel Municipal Court
Address: 100 Mount Laurel Road, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
Phone: 856-234-2003 Fax: 856-234-1172 -
New Hanover Township Municipal Court
Address: 2 Hockamick Road, Cookstown, NJ 08511
Phone: 609-758-7172 Fax: 609-758-2160 -
North Hanover Municipal Court
Address: 41 Schoolhouse Road, Jacobstown, NJ 08562
Phone: 609-758-2522 Fax: 609-758-6720 -
Palmyra Municipal Court
Address: 20 West Broad Street, Palmyra, NJ 08065
Phone: 609-894-9363 -
Pemberton Borough Municipal Court
Address: 500 Pemberton Browns Mills Road, Pemberton, NJ 08068
Phone: 609-894-3337 Fax: 609-894-2378 -
Pemberton Township Municipal Court
Address: 500 Pemberton-Browns Mills Road, Pemberton, NJ 08068
Phone: 609-894-3337 Fax: 609-894-2378 -
Riverside Township Municipal Court
Address: 1 West Scott Street, Riverside, NJ 08075
Phone: 856-461-8820 Ext. 2 -
Riverton Municipal Court
Address: 1621 Riverton Road, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077
Phone: 856-829-4027 Fax: 856-829-2893 -
Shamong Township Municipal Court
Address: 5 Retreat Road, Southampton, NJ 08088
Phone: 609-859-2747 Fax: 609-859-3998 -
Southampton Municipal Court
Address: 5 Retreat Road, Southampton, NJ 08088
Phone: 609-859-2747 Fax: 609-859-3998 -
Springfield Township Municipal Court
Address: 100 Mountain Avenue, 2nd floor, Springfield, NJ 07081
Phone: 973-912-2213 Fax: 973-912-2287 -
Tabernacle Township Municipal Court
Address: 163 Carranza Road, Tabernacle, NJ 08088
Phone: 609-268-0363 Fax: 609-268-7198 -
Washington Township Municipal Court
Address: 3 North Maple Avenue, PO Box 214, New Gretna, NJ 08224
Phone: 609-296-1410 Fax: 609-296-0193 -
Westampton Township Municipal Court
Address: 710 Rancocas Road, Westampton, NJ 08060
Phone: 609-267-1895 Fax: 609-267-1898 -
Willingboro Township Municipal Court
Address: 1 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Willingboro, NJ 08046
Phone: 609-877-2200 Fax: 609-835-2385 -
Woodland Township Municipal Court
Address: PO Box 409, Chatsworth, NJ?08019
Phone: 609-726-9049 Fax: 609-726-9252 -
Wrightstown Municipal Court
Address: 41 Schoolhouse Road, Jacobstown, NJ 08562
Phone: 609-758-2522 Fax: 609-758-6720