Jackson Township, along with New Jersey State Police, make a substantial amount of arrests in Jackson Township for marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. The overwhelming majority of these arrests are made as a result of automobile searches. Some marijuana arrests are also made at Six Flags Great Adventure, which park is in the Jurisdiction of the Jackson Township Municipal Court.
If you have been arrested in Jackson, New Jersey for possession of marijuana, you will likely be processed and released with a complaint and summons to appear in the Jackson court within a week or so. This first court appearance is called an arraignment. At the arraignment, Judge Sahin will read you the charges as outlined by the complaint issued by the arresting officer. Judge Sahin is also the judge in Manchester Twp and Plumstead Twp courts as well. The judge will advise you of the potential consequences of the charges and tell you what your rights are.
Chief among these rights are your right to remain silent and your right to an attorney. The judge will then take your plea, either guilty or not-guilty. It is almost never advisable to plead guilty at your first appearance, and most judges will not allow you to do so. If you retain a criminal defense attorney before the arraignment, your appearance may be waived - meaning you will not have to attend.
Your attorney will then request all "discovery" (evidence) from the Jackson Township Police (or the New Jersey State Police). After reviewing the evidence with you, a good attorney will explain the various search and seizure issues that may exist in your case, explain your best options, and then fight to achieve the result you desire.
