Monmouth County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in Monmouth County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in Monmouth County.
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 is the prosecutor for Monmouth County?
Depending upon the case, the prosecutor for Monmouth County criminal cases will either be a representative of Monmouth 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.
Monmouth County Criminal Court
Jury by Trial Right
The US Constitution (Article 3 along with the 6th Amendment) ensures an accused defendant the right to a jury trial. This applies to crimes that have a $500 fine or a potential sentence of six months in jail (aka Serious Crimes). This right to trial by jury can also be waived by a defendant.
Monmouth County Required Court Appearances
In Monmouth 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.
Jury Deliberation
In a jury trial in Monmouth County, after both the prosecution and defense have rested, the judge will give instructions to the jury and jury deliberations will begin. The jury will convence in a private room to discuss and deliberate the innocence or guilt of the defendant. Once the jury arrives at a unimanous decision, they will inform the judge that they have reached a decision. They will return to the court and the verdict will be read aloud. If the jury cannot reach a unaminous decision, the jury is said to be deadlocked and a mistrial will be declared in the case.
I need help for my Monmouth 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 Monmouth 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 Monmouth 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.
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.
Can I appeal a guilty verdict?
If found guilty, a defendant may decide to appeal his case to an appelate court. The appellate court will not retry the case, they will examine the proceedings in the lower court to make sure they were done in a legal manner. The appellate court can either uphold the original conviction, or determine that due to errors made in the original trial, that there must be a retrial, resentencing or a complete dismissal of the charges.
Where will Monmouth County criminal case hearings take place?
Criminal cases will take place at the criminal courts of Monmouth County. See here for the location of the criminal courts in Monmouth County.
Plea Agreements
A Plea Agreement, sometimes known as a Plea Bargain is an agreement between the prosecution and the defendant, where the defendant pleads guilty or no contest often in exchange for a lesser charge or lighter recommended sentence. A large majority of criminal cases end in a plea agreement. In Monmouth County you can inform your attorney to negotiate with the prosecution to attempt to come to a plea agreement, but this is dependent upon the charge severity and also the prosecutors willingness to accept a plea deal.
Monmouth County Arraignments
An arraignment is a court hearing. In Monmouth County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in Monmouth 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 Monmouth 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.
Monmouth County Criminal Court Locations
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Monmouth County Superior Court
Address: 71 Monument Park, Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: 732-677-4300 -
Monmouth County Superior Court – Civil Division
Address: 71 Monument Park, Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: 732-677-4240 -
Monmouth County Superior Court – Civil Division – General Equity
Address: 1 East Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: 732-431-7135 -
Monmouth County Superior Court – Criminal Division
Address: 71 Monument Park, Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: 732-677-4500 -
Monmouth County Superior Court – Family Division
Address: 71 Monument Park, Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: 732-677-4304 -
Monmouth County Surrogate’s Office
Address: 1 East Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: 732-431-7330 Fax: 732-303-7656 -
Monmouth County Surrogate’s Office
Address: 701 Deal Road, Ocean, NJ 07712
Phone: 732-431-7330 Ext. 7335 -
Monmouth County Surrogate’s Office
Address: 2700 Allaire Road, Wall Township, NJ 07719
Phone: 732-431-7330 Ext. 7336 -
Monmouth County Surrogate’s Office
Address: 55 New Monmouth Road, Middletown, NJ 07748
Phone: Call 732-431-7330 Ext. 7334 -
Aberdeen Township Municipal Court
Address: 1 Aberdeen Square, Aberdeen, NJ 07747
Phone: 732-583-4200 Ext. 105 Fax:732-566-5912 -
Allenhurst Municipal Court
Address: 125 Corlies Avenue, Allenhurst, NJ 07711
Phone: 732-531-3217 Fax: 732-531-8694 -
Allentown Municipal Court
Address: 8 North Main Street, PO Box 487, Allentown, NJ 08501
Phone: 609-259-9206 Fax: 609-259-1296 -
Asbury Park Municipal Court
Address: 1 Municipal Plaza, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Phone: 732-775-1765 Fax: 732-988-6935 -
Atlantic Highlands Municipal Court
Address: 100 1st Avenue, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
Phone: 732-291-3225 Fax: 732-291-3100 -
Avon-by-the-Sea Municipal Court
Address: 106 West Sylvania Avenue, Neptune City, NJ 07753
Phone: 732-775-1690 Fax: 732-776-7842 -
Belmar Municipal Court
Address: 601 Main Street, Belmar, NJ 07719
Phone: 732-681-3700 Fax: 732-681-4728 -
Bradley Beach Municipal Court
Address: 106 West Sylvania Avenue, Neptune City, NJ 07753
Phone: 732-775-1690 Fax: 732-776-7842 -
Brielle Municipal Court
Address: 201 East Main Street, Manasquan, NJ 08730
Phone: 732-223-0600 Fax: 732-223-6298 -
Colts Neck Township Municipal Court
Address: 124 Cedar Drive, Colts Neck, NJ 07722
Phone: 732-431-1799 Fax: 732-409-6438 -
Deal Municipal Court
Address: 190 Norwood Avenue, PO Box 56, Deal, NJ 07723
Phone: 732-531-1343 Fax: 732-531-3980 -
Eatontown Municipal Court
Address: 556 Tinton Avenue, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Phone: 732-389-7612 Fax: 732-389-4414 -
Englishtown Municipal Court
Address: 15 Main Street, Englishtown, NJ 07726
Phone: 732-446-4457 Fax: 732-446-4979 -
Fair Haven Municipal Court
Address: 748 River Road, Fair Haven, NJ 07704
Phone: 732-747-0241 Ext. 224 Fax: 732-747-6962 -
Farmingdale Municipal Court
Address: 11 Asbury Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ 07727
Phone: 732-938-4080 Fax: 732-938-2023 -
Freehold Borough Municipal Court
Address: 38 Jackson Street, Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: 732-462-2444 Fax: 732-294-1520 -
Freehold Township Municipal Court
Address: 1 Municipal Plaza, Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: 732-294-2150 Fax: 732-866-4058 -
Hazlet Township Municipal Court
Address: 255 Middle Road, Hazlet, NJ 07730
Phone: 732-264-2231 Fax: 732-264-7375 -
Highlands Municipal Court
Address: 100 1st Avenue, Highlands, NJ 07716
Phone: 732-291-1444 Ext. 3305 Fax: 732-291-8909 -
Holmdel Township Municipal Court
Address: 4 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
Phone: 732-946-2820 Fax: 732-946-9505 -
Howell Township Municipal Court
Address: 300 Old Tavern Road, Howell, NJ 07731
Phone: 732-938-4848 Ext. 4106 Fax: 732-938-7054 -
Interlaken Municipal Court
Address: 100 Grasmere Avenue, Interlaken, NJ 07712
Phone: 732-531-3689 Fax: 732-531-7099 -
Keansburg Municipal Court
Address: 29 Church Street, Keansburg, NJ 07734
Phone: 732-787-0215 Fax: 732-787-0197 -
Keyport Municipal Court
Address: 255 Middle Road, Hazlet, NJ 07730
Phone: 732-264-2231 Fax: 732-264-7375 -
Lake Como Municipal Court
Address: 601 Main Street, PO Box 569, Belmar, NJ 07719
Phone: 732-681-8864 Fax: 732-681-4728 -
Little Silver Municipal Court
Address: 480 Prospect Avenue, Little Silver, NJ 07739
Phone: 732-842-3881 Fax: 732-842-9271 -
Loch Arbor Municipal Court
Address: 190 Norwood Avenue, PO Box 56, Deal, NJ 07723
Phone: 732-531-1343 Fax: 732-531-3980 -
Long Branch Municipal Court
Address: 279 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740
Phone: 732-571-6500 Fax: 732-571-0106 -
Manalapan Township Municipal Court
Address: 120 Route 522 & Taylor’s Mill Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726
Phone: 732-446-6656 Fax: 732-446-2504 -
Manasquan Municipal Court
Address: 201 East Main Street, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Phone: 732-223-0600 Fax: 732-223-6298 -
Marlboro Township Municipal Court
Address: 1979 Township Drive, Marlboro, NJ 07746
Phone: 732-536-0300 Fax: 732-591-0608 -
Matawan Borough Municipal Court
Address: 255 Middle Road, Hazlet, NJ 07730
Phone: 732-264-2231 Fax: 732-264-7375 -
Middletown Township Municipal Court
Address: 1 Kings Highway, Middletown, NJ 07748
Phone: 732-615-2036 Fax: 732-615-2122 -
Millstone Township Municipal Court
Address: 215 Millstone Road, Millstone Township, NJ 08535
Phone: 732-446-6219 Fax: 732-446-4853 -
Monmouth Beach Municipal Court
Address: 556 Tinton Avenue, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Phone: 732-542-3400 Ext. 206 Fax: 732-542-1289 -
Neptune City Municipal Court
Address: 106 West Sylvania Avenue, Neptune City, NJ 07753
Phone: 732-775-1690 Fax: 732-776-7842 -
Neptune Township Municipal Court
Address: 25 Neptune Blvd, Neptune, NJ 07753
Phone: 732-988-5200 Ext. 280 Fax: 732-988-3128 -
Ocean Township Municipal Court
Address: 399 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, NJ 07755
Phone: 732-531-5005 Fax: 732-531-5420 -
Oceanport Municipal Court
Address: 315 East Main Street, PO Box 370, Oceanport, NJ 07757
Phone: 732-222-8222 Fax: 732-222-0904 -
Red Bank Municipal Court
Address: 90 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-530-2716 Fax: 732-530-7186 -
Roosevelt Municipal Court
Address: 215 Millstone Road, Millstone Township, NJ 08535
Phone: 732-446-6219 Fax: 732-446-4853 -
Rumson Municipal Court
Address: 80 East River Road, Rumson, NJ 07760
Phone: 732-530-7131 Fax: 732-530-7150 -
Sea Bright Municipal Court
Address: 315 East Main Street, PO Box 370, Oceanport, NJ 07757
Phone: 732-222-6517 Fax: 732-222-0904 -
Sea Girt Municipal Court
Address: 2700 Allaire Road, Wall, NJ 07719
Phone: 732-449-4666 Fax: 732-974-0762 -
Shrewsbury Borough Municipal Court
Address: 419 Sycamore Avenue, PO Box 7420, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
Phone: 732-741-4200 Ext. 100 Fax: 732-842-3208 -
Shrewsbury Township Municipal Court
Address: 90 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-530-2716 Fax: 732-530-7186 -
Spring Lake Heights Municipal Court
Address: 2700 Allaire Road, Wall, NJ 07719
Phone: 732-449-4666 Fax: 732-974-0762 -
Spring Lake Municipal Court
Address: 601 Main Street, Belmar, NJ 07719
Phone: 732-681-3700 Fax: 732-681-4728 -
Tinton Falls Municipal Court
Address: 556 Tinton Avenue, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Phone: 732-542-3400 Ext. 201 Fax: 732-542-1289 -
Union Beach Municipal Court
Address: 650 Poole Avenue, Union Beach, NJ 07735
Phone: 732-264-9098 Fax: 732-264-5098 -
Upper Freehold Municipal Court
Address: 314 Route 539, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514
Phone: 609-758-0262 Fax: 609-758-1140 -
Wall Township Municipal Court
Address: 2700 Allaire Road, Wall, NJ 07719
Phone: 732-449-4666 Fax: 732-974-0762 -
West Long Branch Municipal Court
Address: 399 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, NJ 07755
Phone: 732-531-0291 Fax: 732-531-0302