Middlesex County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in Middlesex County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in Middlesex County.
Burden of Proof
The burden of proof is always on the prosecution in a criminal trial. In other words, the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime. The defense must only prove that there is a reasonable possibility that the defendant did NOT commit the crime. If the prosecution cannot prove that the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury will be instructed to find the defendant not-guilty.
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.
Middlesex County Criminal Court
Middlesex County Criminal Court hearings
Criminal hearings in Middlesex County will take place at the Middlesex County Criminal Courts. Please see here for a list of the Middlesex County Criminal Court Locations.
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.
Middlesex County Arraignments
An arraignment is a court hearing. In Middlesex County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in Middlesex 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 Middlesex 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.
Middlesex County Required Court Appearances
In Middlesex County, there are both required and non-required court appearances for the defendant. At a required or mandatory appearance hearing, the defendant is required to appear in person before the court. Failing to appear at your required hearing may result in a bench warrant being issued for your arrest by the judge.
Where can I get help for my Middlesex County criminal case?
The 6th amendment of the United States Constitution provides a criminal defendant with the right to an attorney. As read in the miranda rights, this means that if a defendant cannot afford to hire a private attorney a legal attorney will be appointed to the defendant to represent him at no cost to the defendant. This is often a public defender. In addition, the court clerk for Middlesex County will also be able to provide general information about a specific criminal case. The clerk can only provide information and is not an attorney so they cannot provide legal advice, only a licensed attorney can provide legal advice about what the best options for are for your particular case.
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.
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.
Middlesex County Prosecutor
For criminal cases in Middlesex County, the prosecutor will be a representative of Middlesex County. The Middlesex 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.
The Right to Counsel
The Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the U.s. Constitution give defendants in criminal cases the right to counsel/attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed to represent you. Like other rights a defendant has, this one can be waived as well and alternatively you can choose to represent yourself.
Middlesex County Criminal Court Locations
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Middlesex County Superior Court
Address: 56 Paterson Street, PO Box 964, New Brunswick, NJ 08903
Phone: 732-519-3200 -
Middlesex County Superior Court – Civil Division
Address: 56 Paterson Street, PO Box 2633, New Brunswick, NJ 08903
Phone: 732-519-3677 Fax: 732-519-3691 -
Middlesex County Superior Court – Criminal Division
Address: 56 Paterson Street, PO Box 964, New Brunswick, NJ 08903
Phone: 732-519-3837 Fax: 732-519-3849 -
Middlesex County Superior Court – Family Division
Address: 120 New Street, PO Box 2691, New Brunswick, NJ 08903
Phone: 732-519-3205 Fax: 732-519-3361 -
Middlesex County Surrogate’s Office
Address: 75 Bayard Street, PO Box 790, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-745-3055 Fax: 732-745-4125 -
Middlesex County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – East Brunswick Township
Address: Jean Walling Civic Center Drive, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Phone: 732-745-3055 -
Middlesex County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – Edison Township
Address: 100 Municipal Boulevard, Edison Township, NJ 08817
Phone: 732-745-3055 -
Middlesex County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – Metuchen
Address: 500 Main Street, Room 231, Metuchen, NJ 08840
Phone: 732-745-3055 -
Middlesex County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – Monroe Township
Address: 12 Halsey Reed Road, Monroe Township, NJ 08831
Phone: 732-745-3055 -
Middlesex County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – North Brunswick
Address: 710 Hermann Road, North Brunswick, NJ 08902
Phone: 732-745-3055 -
Middlesex County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – Old Bridge Township
Address: 1 Old Bridge Plaza, Old Bridge, NJ 08857
Phone: 732-745-3055 -
Middlesex County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – Perth Amboy
Address: 1 Olive Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Phone: 732-745-3055 -
Middlesex County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – Piscataway Township
Address: 700 Buena Vista Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Phone: 732-745-3055 -
Middlesex County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – South Brunswick Township
Address: 540 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852
Phone: 732-745-3055 -
Middlesex County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – Spotswood
Address: 1 Arlington Avenue, Spotswood, NJ 08884
Phone: 732-745-3055 -
Middlesex County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – Woodbridge Township
Address: George Frederick Plaza, Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Phone: 732-745-3055 -
Carteret Municipal Court
Address: 230 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, NJ 07008
Phone: 732-541-3900 Fax: 732-541-0581 -
Cranbury Township Municipal Court
Address: 641 Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro, NJ 08536
Phone: 609-799-0863 Fax: 609-936-1441 -
Dunellen Municipal Court
Address: 355 North Avenue, Dunellen, NJ 08812
Phone: 732-968-3400 Fax: 732-968-3576 -
East Brunswick Municipal Court
Address: 1 Jean Walling Civic Center Drive, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Phone: 732-390-6915 Fax: 732-390-6913 -
Edison Township Municipal Court
Address: 100 Municipal Blvd, Edison, NJ 08817
Phone: 732-248-7334 Fax: 732-287-0743 -
Helmetta Municipal Court
Address: 51 Main Street, Helmetta, NJ 08828
Phone: 732-521-4946 Ext. 104 Fax: 732-521-2379 -
Highland Park Municipal Court
Address: 221 South 5th Avenue, Highland Park, NJ 08904
Phone: 732-777-6010 Fax: 732-777-6007 -
Jamesburg Municipal Court
Address: 131 Perrineville Road, Jamesburg, NJ 08831
Phone: 732-521-0614 Ext. 104 Fax: 732-521-3626 -
Metuchen Municipal Court
Address: 500 Main Street, Metuchen, NJ 08840
Phone: 732-632-8505 Fax: 732-632-8112 -
Middlesex Borough Municipal Court
Address: 1200 Mountain Avenue, Middlesex, NJ 08846
Phone: 732-356-4644 Ext. 245 Fax: 732-356-5053 -
Milltown Municipal Court
Address: 39 Washington Avenue, Milltown, NJ 08850
Phone: 732-247-3936 Fax: 732-828-6318 -
Monroe Township Municipal Court
Address: 1630 Perrineville Road, Monroe Township, NJ 08831
Phone: 732-521-4020 Fax: 732-521-2607 -
New Brunswick Municipal Court
Address: 25 Kirkpatrick Street, PO Box 265, New Brunswick, NJ 08903
Phone: 732-745-5089 Fax: 732-745-5180 -
North Brunswick Municipal Court
Address: 710 Hermann Road, North Brunswick, NJ 08902
Phone: 732-247-0922 Ext. 425 Fax: 732-247-1796 -
Old Bridge Township Municipal Court
Address: 1 Old Bridge Plaza, Old Bridge, NJ 08857
Phone: 732-721-5600 Fax: 732-607-7946 -
Perth Amboy Municipal Court
Address: 361 New Brunswick Avenue, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Phone: 732-442-6011 Fax: 732-442-0774 -
Piscataway Township Municipal Court
Address: 555 Sidney Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Phone: 732-562-2330 -
Plainsboro Township Municipal Court
Address: 641 Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro, NJ 08536
Phone: 609-799-0863 Fax: 609-936-1441 -
Sayreville Municipal Court
Address: 1000 Main Street, Sayreville, NJ 08872
Phone: 732-525-5446 -
South Amboy Municipal Court
Address: 140 North Broadway, South Amboy, NJ 08879
Phone: 732-525-5929 Fax: 732-525-3626 -
South Brunswick Municpal Court
Address: 540 Ridge Road, PO Box 190, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852
Phone: 732-823-3963 Fax: 732-274-1523 -
South Plainfield Municipal Court
Address: 2480 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080
Phone: 908-226-7651 Fax: 908-754-5628 -
South River Municipal Court
Address: 61 Main Street, South River, NJ 08882
Phone: 732-257-1233 Ext. 128 Fax: 732-613-6100 -
Spotswood Municipal Court
Address: 77 Summerhill Road, Spotswood. NJ 08884
Phone: 732-416-1842 Fax: 732-723-1924 -
Woodbridge Municipal Court
Address: 1 Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ  07095
Phone: 732-636-6430 Fax: 732-855-7991