The William H. Buckman Law Firm, located in Moorestown, New Jersey, serves clients throughout South Jersey, Marlton, Newark, Trenton, Camden City, Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Mount Holly, Woodbury, Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Winslow, Toms River, Glouster Township, Burlington County, Camden County, Glouster County, Mercer County, Atlantic County, Ocean County, and surrounding areas.

Criminal Defense - An Overview

Since 1992, the likelihood of an arrest leading to a conviction has generally risen. Although some defendants think that they can "beat the system" on their own, having an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side is the best way to prevent becoming another statistic. Call us now at 856-608-9797 or click here for email.

Criminal law is the body of law that relates to so-called "public wrongs." Criminal law does not concern itself with disputes between individuals but also to offenses against the public order. The federal government, along with cities and states, define and prosecute people who commit crimes that range from minor traffic violations to serious, violent offenses, like rape or murder. People who are charged with a crime are called defendants, and they are represented by criminal defense attorneys. The governmental body that pursues the charges against the defendant is represented by a lawyer called a prosecutor. If you find yourself charged with a crime, you should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney, to protect your rights now and in the future.

The United States Constitution prohibits taking a person's life, liberty, or property without the due process of law. In order to meet this standard, a criminal statute must clearly set out the conduct that will be considered criminal. The statute must be more than a vague description that leaves a person without notice of exactly what conduct is prohibited. A criminal statute must set out the state of mind of a guilty person, called the mens rea, as well as the unlawful action, or actus reus. If you accidentally step on someone's toes when you enter a crowded elevator, that is not a crime because there was no guilty mind. Fantasizing about stomping on your boss's toes is not a crime because there is no guilty act. Crimes of attempt, like attempted murder, are not an exception to this rule. Attempt crimes require doing something toward the commission of the crime. A criminal defense attorney will be able to explain these terms to you and to take away some of the mystery of an unfamiliar situation.

The Defense Process

A: A grand jury is a group of people called together by the prosecutor to gather information about suspected criminal activity by listening to testimony from witnesses and examining documents and other evidence. The prosecutor acts as legal advisor to the grand jury and directs the flow of witnesses and evidence. At the end of the proceeding, the grand jury decides whether there is enough evidence to put the defendant on trial for the crime.