What you don't know CAN hurt you!

Knowing and exercising your rights can make a difference. We will aggressively represent your interests in New Jersey Municipal and State Court matters, as well as Federal criminal matters. Call today for a free consultation to learn how to safeguard your Constitutional rights and avoid or minimize costly fines and, possibly, jail or prison sentences.

• Driving While Intoxicated (DWI/DUI)
• Uninsured Vehicle
• Reckless Driving
• Speeding
• Other Criminal Offenses

Motor Vehicle Offenses
Convictions for motor vehicle offenses can have serious consequences such as high fines or revocation of driving privileges, and will often cause your insurance premiums to rise. Although these may seem like common legal matters, the assistance of an attorney can help ensure you receive the best possible outcome.

Drunk Driving Violations
New Jersey Courts treat DWI charges very seriously, and a conviction means a mandatory loss of your driving privileges. In addition, there are substantial fines, related surcharges and, in some circumstances, jail time. Moreover, there are enhanced penalties if you are caught within a school zone, no matter what time of day you are stopped.

There is a common misperception that DWI charges are "unwinnable." However, an attorney will subpoena critical information about the traffic stop, the field sobriety tests, the administration and maintenance of the breathalyzer, and, in most cases, allow an expert to review the scientific data inherent in DWI prosecutions. Moreover, our investigators visit and photograph the scene of the DWI arrest to ensure that the field sobriety tests were administered under proper conditions, and to bolster our motions to dismiss the DWI.

Before "pleading out" and asking the Court for mercy, consult an attorney to protect your interests. We will aggressively put the prosecution to its proofs and ensure that you are treated fairly.

Indictable Offenses
Before you subject yourself to the penalties of the criminal justice system, call us for help. We will candidly guide you through the process, and give you a straightforward opinion about your case and the best way to get through the situation.

Indictable offenses are crimes that are punishable by more than one year in prison (often called "felonies" in other States. If you are arrested for an indictable offense you should immediately contact an attorney to help you negotiate through the system. The process of an indictable offense is complex, but generally occurs in the following order:

• After the arrest, the charges are submitted to the County Prosecutor. The County Prosecutor reviews the evidence, and can either remand the case to the municipal court of the jurisdiction where the offense occurred, or bring the evidence before the Grand Jury. At this point the Prosecutor's Office will generally offer a pre-indictment plea offer. If the Grand Jury finds that there is probable cause the offense was committed, the person will be indicted. Of course, the pre-indictment plea offer is now off the table.
  
  
• Once the person has been indicted, the person will most likely have to attend an arraignment where the charges are formally ready to him. Shortly thereafter, the Prosecutor's Office usually provides discovery, or the evidence they plan to use against the person.
  
  
• After the arraignment, a status conference is scheduled where dates for motions and other legal proceedings are set. At this point, the case may be dismissed or result in entry into the Pretrial Intervention program (PTI). The Prosecutor's Office usually offers another plea, and the Judge sets a plea cutoff date.
  
  
• If the case proceeds beyond the status conference, the defense attorney usually prepares certain motions, if applicable, to dismiss the indictment, suppress evidence, or address any Constitutional violations the police officers may have perpetrated in the course of their investigation and arrest. Depending on the specific motion, the case may be dismissed at this point.
  
  
• If the motions are unsuccessful, there may be additional status conferences and, ultimately, a pretrial conference to try to resolve the matter. If the matter cannot be resolved, a trial date is set.

Post-Judgment Applications
Koufos & Norgaard, LLC, is also experienced in post-conviction relief applications that can correct trial errors, modify sentences, retract guilty pleas, or allow for a completely new trial. These applications typically come in three forms:

• Appeals: Appeals are governed by New Jersey Court Rule 2:1 et seq. and generally must be filed within forty-five days of a Superior Court judgment. There are provisions for filing an appeal out-of-time and it is a highly technical procedure with many court-mandated requirements.
  
  
• Applications for Post-Conviction Relief (PCR): Post-Conviction Relief Applications for judgments rendered in the New Jersey Superior Court are governed by Rule 3:22-1 et seq. Post-Conviction Relief Applications for judgments rendered in the New Jersey Municipal Courts are governed by Rule 7:10-2. In either case, a PCR Application typically must be filed within five years of the date of conviction. Of course, there are provisions for filing out of time. Koufos & Norgaard, LLC, handle PCR Applications for all indictable crimes and have experience in PCR Applications for murder, sexual assault, robbery (armed and unarmed), forgery, uttering, conspiracy, possession of CDS, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS in a school zone, possession of CDS with intent to distribute in a school zone, employing a minor in drug trafficking/distribution, felony murder, driving while intoxicated (DWI/DUI), refusal to submit to a breathalyzer, and many other indictable offenses and non-indictable offenses.
  
  
• Municipal Appeals: Municipal Appeals are appeals to the Superior Court from the judgment of a Municipal Court. Municipal Appeals are particularly useful in challenging convictions for driving while intoxicated (DWI/DUI). During a Municipal Appeal, a New Jersey Superior Court Judge will review the record of the Municipal Court, and either uphold or overrule the decision of the Municipal Court in whole or in part. Municipal Appeals are particularly helpful in amending or converting sentences.