Carteret Police and New Jersey State Police actively investigate all drug crimes committed in the Borough. Typical drug arrests are made in Carteret for Possession of CDS, Marijuana, Oxycontin and other pills, Cocaine and Heroin. A surprising amount of Carteret DUI arrests for alcohol and drugs are also made. Carteret is located in Middlesex County, New Jersey.
A charge of possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, loitering to obtain CDS, or failure to turn over CDS to law enforcement authorities is considered a Disorderly Persons Offense. Most other CDS charges in New Jersey are categorized as "crimes" (felonies in other states) of the first, second, third or fourth degree. A conditional discharge may be available for a first-time offender, but only for a single charge for possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana.
That is one reason why it is crucial to speak with a New Jersey drug charge lawyer before going to court on a drug charge. Your attorney may be able to convince the prosecutor to dismiss or amend remaining charges. It is important to note however that Municipal Court Prosecutors in New Jersey have limited discretion in amending and dismissing drug charges.
The first step in defending against a drug charge is to attend your first appearance and plead not-guilty. Many people ask, "but what if I'm guilty?" You should still almost always plead not-guilty and allow your attorney to explore whether you are actually guilty under the law and whether the State can prove its case against you beyond a reasonable doubt.
