Criminal Defense Attorneys in Plainfield, NJ
An arrest in Plainfield for DUI, drug charges, or assault is prosecuted in Union County, and what happens early matters. A licensed New Jersey criminal defense attorney will review your case for free.
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How we match your Plainfield criminal defense case
When you submit a Plainfield criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.
Case type
A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.
Size and complexity
Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.
Jurisdiction and licensing
Your matter is decided under New Jersey law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in New Jersey who regularly appears where your case would be heard.
Capacity and fit
Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.
Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.
DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.
Criminal Defense cases in Plainfield
More about legal help in Plainfield →Plainfield sits in Union County, and how a case proceeds depends on the charge: disorderly persons offenses and motor vehicle matters are handled in Plainfield Municipal Court, while indictable felony charges go to the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Criminal Part, in Elizabeth, where the Union County Prosecutor's Office handles the case. Traffic stops on Route 28 and South Avenue, downtown disputes, and drug and weapons allegations are common local sources of charges. New Jersey's bail reform means early detention hearings arrive fast. DearLegal matches you with a New Jersey-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Plainfield, with a free review.
- Disorderly persons offenses, local ordinance violations, and traffic charges from Plainfield are heard in Plainfield Municipal Court; indictable charges move to the Superior Court, Criminal Part, in Union County.
- Indictable prosecutions are brought by the Union County Prosecutor's Office, and New Jersey's detention-hearing process means key decisions happen within days of arrest.
- Some conduct, especially firearms, drug distribution, or fraud crossing state lines, can draw federal charges in the District of New Jersey instead of state court.
New Jersey criminal defense rules at a glance
Plainfield cases run under New Jersey law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the New Jersey page.
Read the full New Jersey criminal defense guide →- Felony Statute of Limitations
No limit
No limit for murder, manslaughter, and certain sex offenses; 5 years for most crimes; 7 years for criminal sexual contact against adults (N.J.S.A. 2C:1-6)
- Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations
1 year
1 year for disorderly persons and petty disorderly offenses (N.J.S.A. 2C:1-6(b)(2))
- Sentencing Structure
85%
Crime of the First through Fourth Degree under N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6; presumption of imprisonment for First/Second Degree (§ 2C:44-1); No Early Release Act (NERA) requires 85% service for first/second-degree crimes (§ 2C:43-7.2); Graves Act firearm mandatory minimums (§ 2C:43-6c)
- Expungement / Record Sealing
10 years
N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 et seq. — Clean Slate Act (2019, P.L. 2019, c. 269) provides automatic expungement after 10 years; petition-based expungement broader; CREAMMA marijuana expungement automatic
- Bail / Pretrial Release
Bail Reform
Bail Reform (P.L. 2014, c. 31, eff. 1/1/2017) eliminated cash bail almost entirely — pretrial release based on Public Safety Assessment (PSA); preventive detention motions require clear and convincing evidence
- Typical attorney fee
Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee
Exhibit D
How much do Plainfield criminal defense attorneys cost?
Typical fee schedule
New Jersey · Criminal Defense
Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.
Criminal Defense matters in New Jersey are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.
Criminal defense attorneys in New Jersey work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under N.J. RPC 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender represents indigent defendants statewide.
A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.
Exhibit F
Plainfield criminal defense questions, answered
Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a New Jersey attorney will review it for free.
Criminal Defense attorneys by city in New Jersey
Same New Jersey rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.
