Criminal Defense Lawyers in Hackensack, NJ
If you have been charged with a criminal complaint, indictment, or accusation, we can help. A criminal charge can have lifelong consequences — affecting your employment, your professional licenses, your immigration status, and your future. Don't gamble with your future by going it alone. The experienced attorneys at Russo Petrullo Law Group, LLC, including a former municipal prosecutor, go with you into the courtroom and give you the edge you need.
Our Approach: Dismissal First
A dismissal of the charges against you is always our primary goal. Where dismissal is not possible, we pursue diversionary programs that can keep a conviction off your record, negotiate the best plea agreement obtainable, or try your case when trial is your best course of action. At every stage, we take whatever steps are necessary to obtain your best result.
Understanding Criminal Charges in New Jersey
New Jersey divides offenses into indictable crimes and disorderly persons offenses. Indictable crimes — the equivalent of felonies — are graded from fourth degree (up to 18 months in prison) through third degree (3 to 5 years), second degree (5 to 10 years), and first degree (10 to 20 years or more), and are prosecuted in Superior Court. Disorderly persons offenses are heard in municipal court and carry up to six months in jail. Even 'minor' municipal charges can mean jail time, fines, and a permanent record that follows you through every background check.
The Criminal Process — and Where We Fight
A case typically begins with a complaint and a first appearance. Under New Jersey's bail reform system, the State may seek pretrial detention — and the detention hearing in the first days of a case can matter as much as the trial itself. Indictable charges then proceed to grand jury, discovery, motion practice, and trial. At every stage there are opportunities to attack the State's case: suppressing illegally obtained evidence, challenging identifications and statements, and holding the prosecution to its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Diversionary Programs: Keeping Your Record Clean
First-time offenders may qualify for programs that result in dismissal of the charges: Pretrial Intervention (PTI) for indictable offenses, conditional discharge for certain drug offenses, and conditional dismissal in municipal court. These programs are powerful — but you generally get only one, eligibility rules are strict, and applying at the wrong time or for the wrong case can waste it. We help you make that decision strategically.
Cases We Handle
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Assault and other offenses against persons
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Drug possession and related charges
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Theft, shoplifting, and fraud offenses
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Restraining order violations and criminal contempt
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Harassment, stalking, and terroristic threats
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Municipal court offenses and disorderly persons charges
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Expungements of eligible records
Expungement: A Second Chance
New Jersey allows many convictions and arrests to be expunged after a waiting period — removing them from the background checks that employers and landlords run. If a past mistake is still holding you back, ask us whether you qualify. For matters resolved in your favor or through diversion, relief may be available much sooner.
Experience on Both Sides of the Courtroom
Founding partner Toni Ann Russo is a former prosecuting attorney and now defends municipal matters — insight that helps us anticipate the State's strategy and find the weaknesses in its case. Partner Philip Petrullo regularly and successfully handles criminal, DUI, and traffic matters throughout New Jersey.
Why the Accused Call Russo Petrullo Law Group
When your liberty and record are on the line, experience on both sides of the courtroom is the edge that matters. Founding partner Toni Ann Russo is a former prosecuting attorney; we know how the State builds its cases because we have built them. We appear in municipal courts and the Superior Court throughout Bergen County and New Jersey, we prepare every case for trial from day one, and we are available 24/7 — because arrests don't happen during business hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an indictable offense and a disorderly persons offense?
Indictable offenses are New Jersey's equivalent of felonies and are prosecuted in Superior Court. Disorderly persons offenses are less serious and heard in municipal court — but both create records and both can carry jail time.
Can I keep a first offense off my record?
Possibly. New Jersey offers diversionary programs for many first-time offenders that can lead to dismissal of the charges. Eligibility rules are strict, so speak with us before making any decisions in your case.
Will I go to jail for a first offense?
It depends on the charge, but for many first-time, non-violent offenses the realistic outcomes are diversion, probation, or a negotiated resolution — especially with counsel who knows what to ask for. The worst thing you can do is walk in unrepresented.
Should I talk to the police?
Not without a lawyer. You have the right to remain silent and the right to counsel — use them. Anything you say can be used against you, even in a case you think is a misunderstanding.
What is the difference between a complaint, an accusation, and an indictment?
A complaint is the charging document that starts a case. An indictment is a formal charge returned by a grand jury for indictable offenses; an accusation is a charge a defendant agrees to proceed on while waiving grand jury presentation, usually as part of a negotiated resolution. Which instrument you face tells us a great deal about the posture of your case.
How long will my criminal case take?
Municipal court matters often resolve in weeks to a few months. Indictable cases in Superior Court typically take longer — several months to a year or more, depending on discovery, motions, and whether the case is tried. We push every case toward the fastest resolution consistent with the best result.
Free Initial Legal Consultation — Call Now
Call (888) 332-9900 today or visit our office at 79 Main Street, Suite 2, Hackensack, NJ 07601 to schedule your free initial consultation.
