Legal landscape note: This article was originally published in 2018 and describes the law as it stood at that time. New Jersey law changes frequently.
You drove into New Jersey with a firearm that was perfectly legal where you bought it, and now you are holding a weapons charge. It happens more often than you might think, and the stakes are real: New Jersey's penalties for firearm and weapon violations are harsher than those of many other states, and a conviction can follow you into every job application, school admission, and housing search.
In many of these circumstances, you’ll either be charged with a third-degree crime or a fourth-degree criminal act. Although if it’s combined with other criminal acts as an armed robbery, the degree can be lower and carry far greater consequences.
What To Do
You might think that trying to work it out with the prosecutor is the right thing to do, when in fact, it’s the worst option.
Hiring a Public Defender
Hiring a public defender may also sound good since it’s at no cost to you. While that factor is beneficial, public defenders often resort to plea deals which leave you with a lengthy criminal record.