Anthony J. Vecchio, Esq.

"If your child has been taken into police custody, charged with a criminal offense, or adjudicated delinquent in New Jersey, I can help. Call now to speak with a New Jersey juvenile lawyer to ensure that your child’s rights are protected and that they are properly defended."

NJ Juvenile Drug Charge Lawyer – NJSA 2C:35-10

New Jersey Juvenile Drug Arrests

Police in New Jersey file thousands of delinquency complaints every year against juveniles.  An adjudication for possession of drugs (CDS) can have serious consequences for a juvenile.  These including probation, community service, and license suspension.  If your child has been accused of drug possession in New Jersey, call to speak with a NJ Juvenile Lawyer.

A juvenile is anyone under the age of 18.  If a juvenile is charged with a drug offense in New Jersey, they will be processed by local police. After processing, they will either be released on a summons or taken to a detention center.  These days, juveniles are rarely taken into detention unless they are deemed to be a danger to the community or are in contempt of court.  Missing a court date can result in a bench warrant.  If your son or daughter is picked up on a bench warrant, they will likely be taken to the detention center until seen by a judge.  Bail is not posted for juveniles.

New Jersey Juvenile Drug Charges

The most common drug charge that juveniles are accused of in New Jersey is possession of marijuana.  Usually, juveniles are caught with less than 50 grams.  The statute that governs this charge is NJSA 2C:10(a)4.  For an adults, there is a program called a Conditional Discharge available to first offenders for this charge.  This program is not available for juveniles.

Possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana is a disorderly persons offense in New Jersey.  For both an an adult and a juvenile, a disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to 6 months of confinement.  This charge also carries a minimum 6 moths driver’s license suspension.

Possession of heroin, cocaine, oxycontin and other pills are crimes of the third degree in New Jersey.  For an adult, a third-degree conviction carries between 3-5 years in prison.  However, for a juvenile, the term of confinement can be no longer than 2 years.  For a fourth-degree drug charge, an adult would be subject to up to 18 months in prison.  However, a juvenile would be subject to confinement of no more than 1 year.

If a juvenile is caught with CDS in a motor vehicle, they will also receive a traffic ticket for violating NJSA 39:49.1.  This is a very serious traffic ticket.  If convicted of having CDS in a motor vehicle, a juvenile must lose their license for 2 years.  Any other traffic ticket, if not accompanied by delinquency charges, will be heard in the local municipal court.

New Jersey Juvenile Drug Court

If a juvenile is charged with possession of CDS (drugs) in New Jersey, their case will be sent from the local police department to the county prosecutor’s office in the county you reside in.  The prosecutor’s office will handle the case from then on.  Court appearances will be held in the county Superior Court where you live.  The Family Part of the Superior Court will schedule the juvenile for a plea hearing.  Other hearings include status conferences, motion hearings, trials, and sentencing hearings.

I have represented juveniles in throughout New Jersey.  If your child has been accused of a drug charge, call now for a consultation with a New Jersey juvenile drug charge lawyer.