In the state of New Jersey, any individual under the age of 18 is considered a juvenile and will most likely have their case held under the juvenile justice system. Unlike the court system for adults, juvenile courts look for means of rehabilitation, instead of punishment. This means an emphasis on reform and change, rather [...]

While any kind of theft can lead to loads of trouble, when it comes to stealing a motor vehicle, the consequences can be even more substantial. Since the state of New Jersey doesn’t have separate statutes for stealing a car, any defendant involved in such a crime will face punishments related to theft. However, there [...]

Tasteful spray paint art is a sight to behold. In the skillful hands of visionaries who see entire cities as canvases, simple spray cans can breathe life and color into barren buildings, creating unlikely masterpieces out of brick and mortar. Sadly, there is a darker, criminal side to this unique, transformational form of art. When [...]

As we wrap up our series of posts on the differences between adult court and juvenile court, today we'll look at the ways the defendant can get deferred adjudication in New Jersey. Adult cases have fewer ways to prevent conviction than juvenile cases have to prevent adjudication. Today, we're going to identify some of the [...]

We're over halfway through our series on the differences between adult and juvenile cases. To review, we've covered the differences between adjudication and conviction, the differences in the expungement process, and why juries aren't typically involved. If you need more information about the juvenile court process, stay tuned in upcoming weeks! For now, we'll take [...]

As we continue with our series on the differences between juvenile court and adult court, we come to perhaps the biggest difference: no trial by jury. Now, you might wonder, 'You just finished a series on the Sixth Amendment, and doesn't that talk about our right to a trial by jury?' Indeed, it does! So [...]

Last week, we began a series on the differences between adult trials and juvenile cases. In particular, we explained the difference between a "conviction" and an "adjudication." Continuing this series, today we'll be looking at juvenile expungements—especially juvenile expungements in New Jersey. The process for expungement works differently in every state. This holds true also [...]

Here at The Law Offices of Mark Catanzaro, we defend all sorts of cases. This includes juvenile cases. Today, we're beginning a new series of blogs on juvenile cases, and how they differ from adult cases. In New Jersey, any individual under the age of eighteen is considered a juvenile. Therefore, they're subject to exceptions [...]

A juvenile adjudication can have serious ramifications. It's often a mistake to assume it's "no big deal." It can affect the juveniles’ college opportunities, travel, and otherwise restrict his freedom through incarceration or curfews. Here’s some information you need to know about juvenile adjudication and its collateral consequences. The Juvenile Law Center defines “juvenile adjudication” [...]