What is a disorderly persons offense and how is it different than a crime?
In New Jersey there are basically two types of criminal offenses: crimes and disorderly persons offenses. (In other states these two types of offenses are often referred to as “felonies” and “misdemeanors.”) Crimes are punishable by more than six months in jail and are prosecuted by either the County Prosecutor’s Office or the Attorney General’s Office in the Superior Court, which in Monmouth County is located in Freehold. In addition, those charged with committing crimes are entitled to have their matters reviewed by a grand jury and tried by a petit jury. Disorderly persons offenses are punishable by up to a maximum of six months in jail and are typically prosecuted either by a municipal prosecutor or citizen in a municipal court. Those charged with disorderly persons offenses are not entitled to either grand jury presentation or trial by jury.
