Central Judicial Processing Court
Central Judicial Processing Court is the first court process in the criminal proceeding. It can also be the most important hearing for the defendant. CJP court determines where the case is going and where the defendant will go as the proceeding moves on.
What happens in Central Judicial Processing Court?
A multitude of factors can happen. Mainly, CJP will determine if the case will bump down to municipal court, or it will go to a grand jury in superior court. Certain cases can be resolved in CJP, and a defendant’s attorney can provide information that can possibly get the case dismissed. Bail can also be set or modified, but that usually takes place at another hearing. A defendant’s constitutional rights would be reviewed, and the judge would remind the defendant of all the charges pressed against the person. It is important to have a good attorney to prevent the case going to superior court – as the penalties in superior court are much more severe than in municipal court. Corey Morano and his staff will provide the best defense possible to make sure your liberty isn’t jeopardized.
Who goes to CJP?
Criminal defendants indicted in the:
-First Degree
-Second Degree
-Third Degree
-Fourth Degree
What to do if I’m indicted or charged with an indictable offense?
The first thing you should do is call a lawyer. It is New Jersey Law to see a judge writhing 72 hours after the initial arrest. That appearance is usually covered by CJP if the defendant is incarcerated or was charged with an indictable offense. First degree, second degree, third degree and fourth degree charges all come with the possibility of 6 months or more in prison or $15,000.00 or more in fines. Under the United States Constitution those cases entitle you to a trial by jury. These potential criminal jury trials are handled in the Superior Court of the County in which the arrest took place. To produce an indictment the County Prosecutor’s Office must present your case to a Grand Jury. There is a very old saying that you can indict a ham sandwich because obtaining a grand jury indictment is relatively easy. The Grand Jury is provided very basic information about the alleged offense at which time they decide whether to grant the indictment.
Once CJP Court is scheduled there are several places your case may be headed and it is important to understand the difference. If the County prosecutor’s office decides to not pursue a Grand Jury Indictment on your criminal matter, then your case may be downgraded back to Municipal Court. Prior to presenting your case to the Grand Jury, your case may be scheduled for a Pre-Indictment Conference (PIC) or an Early Disposition Conference (EDC). This hearing provides you and your attorney an opportunity to potentially resolve your case with quick deal prior to a Grand Jury Indictment. Often times this is an opportunity to resolve your matter quickly with the least amount of stress and possibly for the lightest fines and penalties.
If you’ve been arrested, incarcerated, and or indicted, call The Morano Law Firm LLC Today: 201-598-5019 for a no cost, no obligation meeting to discuss your individual case. We will make sure you receive the best defense possible for your case. Remember! CJP can be the most important hearing of your process, and it is not to be taken for granted. The Morano Law Firm has extensive experience in handling CJP Court, Indictable Offenses, Pre-Indictment Conferences (PIC) and Early Disposition Conferences (EDC). Understanding the difference between all these types of hearings can be confusing to anyone who does not deal with them on a daily basis. Call Corey Morano at The Morano Law Firm today at 201-598-5019 or email [email protected] to learn more about your case and to which Court it is headed.