NJ PTI: Everything You Need to Know in 5 Minutes!

NJ PTI Is A Quick Way To Be Done With Your Criminal Charges

NJ PTI - Overview

NJ Pretrial Intervention (PTI) is “generally” for first-time offenders. In rare cases, someone with a prior felony conviction may find a way to get into the program. If you’re facing an indictable charge, PTI is one way to avoid prison & keep your record clean. PTI is a diversionary program that imposes conditions that you must satisfy. Although the PTI program may take up to three years, it’s way better than going to prison and getting a criminal conviction.

PTI Eligibility

Now, not all crimes are eligible for PTI.
Just because you have a clean record, doesn’t mean that you’ll get into NJ PTI.
For example, if they charge you with Aggravated Assault because you put someone in a coma, chances are that you will not get admitted into the NJ PTI program.

Think of it this way:
The vast majority of first-time offenders with 3rd or 4th-degree felonies will be eligible for PTI.
If you’ve been charged with a serious 1st or 2nd-degree felony, NJ PTI is a long shot. As your criminal lawyers, we would have to work out a plea deal with the prosecutor to get your felony charges downgraded. This is not an easy thing to do but we’ve done it.

Your eligibility for NJ PTI will depend on a number of factors:

  • The nature of the offense;
  • The facts of your case;
  • Your age & motivation;
  • Whether or not the crime is of a “violent nature”

One of our Hudson county clients was facing first-degree aggravated sexual assault. The case took two years & after we finished our investigation, we were able to successfully challenge much of the evidence against our client. As a result, we got his first-degree charges downgraded to fourth-degree charges & he was admitted into PTI.

PTI - Who Should Apply?

You must wait until your criminal defense attorney has received the “Discovery” in your case.
Discovery is the (fancy) legal term for evidence.
You need to know what evidence the State of New Jersey has against you before you make any decisions.
Very simply, if the evidence against you is weak, then your lawyer may get your case dropped to a misdemeanor.
Now, if the evidence of your guilt is very strong, then you should ask your lawyer to put all of his efforts into getting you NJ PTI.

PTI - How Long Is It?

Probation under New Jersey’s pretrial intervention program can run from 6 months to 3 years.

PTI - Conditions

There are two types of conditions: Standard Conditions & Special Conditions.

Standard conditions:
  • usually involve reporting to probation, random urine monitoring and the payment of fines, court costs, and penalties.

In addition, the court expects that you will maintain employment.

Special conditions:
  • involve community service, the payment of restitution (to victims), psychological evaluations, drug & alcohol evaluations, and of course substance abuse treatment programs.

If you were drunk or high when you committed a crime, then courts find it necessary that you get help for drug and alcohol abuse.

See more below on this topic.

PTI - Violations

NJ PTI violations carry serious consequences. When you violate the terms of your probation, you’re showing the court that you’re not serious. In other words, you’ve been given a chance to avoid prison & keep your record clean but instead, you’re wasting it.

In addition, you will give the county prosecutor’s office cause to kick you out of the program.

For example, if you commit a “new crime”, or fail to report to probation, or fail to remain drug-free, the county prosecutor’s office will file an application with the court to terminate you from probation.

If you are terminated from NJ PTI, you are back to square one.
Remember how you felt the day you were arrested?
Well, that’s how you’ll feel all over again when you get terminated from Pretrial Intervention.

Your criminal charges are “reinstated” and now the county prosecutor and judge both know that you wasted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Once NJ PTI is off the table, you will only have two choices: Plead Guilty OR got to trial.

I'm Facing A Felony, Can I Apply For PTI?

Yes.

However, the New Jersey Pretrial Intervention program is only for certain felonies. Only 3rd and 4th-degree crimes are eligible for PTI.

If you are charged with a 2nd-degree felony, we will do everything we can to get the charge downgraded to a 3rd or 4th-degree crime. Here’s a quick reference chart of NJ crime degrees.

In this way, you will have a fighting chance of getting into NJ PTI.

Suggested reading:
 Dismissing Criminal Charges: Top 7 Ways To End The Nightmare

How Does the Criminal Process Work?

If you’re facing criminal charges, you should learn all about the criminal justice process. In this way, you will be better prepared to deal with the anxiety that comes from facing criminal prosecution.

Can I Get PTI If My Charges Involve Domestic Violence?

If you’ve been charged with a felony arising out of a Domestic Violence situation, NJ PTI is not an option.

If your charges were committed when you had a Temporary or Final Restraining Order entered against you, you will need to disclose this on your PTI application.

Read more about Restraining Order Violation Consequences

Is PTI Pleading Guilty?

There are two types of NJ PTI.

The first is a “no-plea” PTI where you do not have to admit or take responsibility for the underlying charge.

The second is a “guilty-plea” PTI where you do have to plead guilty.

There is no way to know which type of NJ PTI plea will be demanded of you.

Everything depends on the type of charge & the prosecutor’s position at the time of your admission to PTI.

Does PTI Show Up On A Background Check?

Your participation in PTI will not show up a background check.

However, if you have successfully completed PTI your charges will be dismissed.

It’s like they never happened.

Now, you still have to expunge the record of your arrest.

If you do not expunge your arrest record, it will show up a background check.

PTI - Standard Conditions

This is a very common question.

There are “standard” conditions that apply to all NJ PTI participants.

Standard PTI conditions:

Include the following:

  1. Remain arrest-free – you cannot pick up new charges;
  2. You must report to your probation officer;
  3. You must be honest with your probation officer;
  4. Your probation must be allowed to visit you;
  5. You must report any address change;
  6. You must seek permission to move out of state;
  7. You must maintain employment;
  8. You must cooperate with any treatment your probation officer deems necessary

We’ve included a Standard Conditions of PTI Supervision form for your review.

PTI - Drug Testing

Not every NJ PTI participant will be required to submit to drug testing.

If your criminal charges involved drugs OR if you were under the influence of drugs/alcohol, then it is highly likely that one of your PTI conditions will be to submit to drug/alcohol testing.

In addition to the Standard Conditions discussed above, you may have “Special Conditions” placed on you.

Special conditions:

Include the following:

  1. Loss of driving privileges;
  2. Drug testing;
  3. Alcohol testing;
  4. Drug Counseling;
  5. Alcohol Counseling;
  6. Psychological testing;
  7. Psychological Counseling

We’ve included a Special Conditions of PTI Supervision form for your review.

PTI Application

To best help you, we’ve gone the extra mile to provide you with New Jersey’s PTI Application.

PTI Expungement

You might be asking:
“If I complete PTI successfully, what happens to my record?” OR
“How long do I have to wait before I can expunge my PTI in New Jersey?”

The answer is you can definitely expunge the record of your “arrest” after your successful completion of PTI.

Remember, with PTI, you will not get a conviction, so there is no need to expunge a conviction.

However, you will need to wait six months AFTER you complete NJ PTI to expunge the “arrest” record. 

It is extremely important to expunge the record of your arrest because this will pop up on any & all background checks.

PTI - Community Service

Again, each case is different, but the answer is “yes”.

PTI in NJ will most likely involve community service:

Next question: 

What types of community service will I have to do if I get PTI?

If you are ordered to perform community service, here are some types of things you may be asked to do:

  • Clean up litter on the street;
  • Help out at a soup kitchen (remember, you’re helping society)
  • Wash the Sheriff’s patrol cars;

Also, if you have a special skill, you may be given a list of places where you can apply your skill. If you’re a trained chef, you may be able to perform your community service as a chef somewhere.

The truth is that there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to community service. Just be expected to help society in some way. It’s all about paying your debt to society!

When You Finish PTI, Do You Have To Go Back To Court?

Yes, but this is the one and only court appearance you will absolutely look forward to.
This is the day where your entire criminal case will be dismissed.
You will feel a giant sense of relief as this chapter will finally be closed.
Life will return back to normal and you will have learned a lot from the whole experience.

Does Municipal Court Have PTI?

Answer:
YES, but it is not called PTI in Municipal court.

It is called a Conditional Discharge for drugs and a Conditional Dismissal for everything else.

Can I Get PTI If I Live In Another State?

NJ PTI

If you are from Florida and were charged with a crime while visiting New Jersey, you may get PTI if Florida is willing to accept the “transfer” of your probation.
In other words, you will still need to meet the same PTI conditions set by a New Jersey court while you live in Florida.
If you live in a state that is not willing to supervise you during your PTI period, then things get complicated.
For example, we have successfully transferred our client’s NJ PTI supervision to their “home state”.
We recently transferred an NJ PTI participant’s supervision to Connecticut and he was very happy.
He gets along much better with his new CT probation officer!

PTI - Costs

The PTI Application is only $75.00 (seventy-five).
There is an important deadline to be aware of:
you ONLY have 28 days to apply for PTI once you’ve been “indicted”.
In very simple terms, to be indicted means that the government is serious about convicting you.
This does not include fines, penalties, and restitution.
Since every case is different, we cannot tell you how much you will have to pay when everything is done.

PTI Interview

The person conducting your NJ PTI interview is not “out to get you”.
He/she just needs some basic information about you.
Very simply, the probation officer needs to know:

  • your address;
  • who you live with (family size);
  • which phone number to reach you on;
  • where you work;
  • prior record (if any)
  • do you have any alcohol/drug problems;

Assuming that you have hired an attorney to represent you, your attorney should take a few minutes to help you prepare for your PTI interview.
They are not very lengthy interviews, nor are they difficult or complicated.
However, as with anything in life, if you become uncomfortable, you can always ask to take a break, step in the hall and contact your attorney.
We’ve never had this happen to a client, but there’s always a first.

Can I Appeal A PTI Denial?

Absolutely!

Although appeals can be expensive, it’s definitely worth the money to try.

Remember, Pretrial Intervention is your one and only get-out-of-jail-free card. If you have a strong argument for an appeal, it is definitely worth the time and money to appeal.

I highly recommend that you hire an aggressive, criminal defense attorney to represent you during your NJ PTI Appeal.
There are specific steps that must be taken to (intelligently) file an appeal.

Additional PTI Resources

New Jersey is made up of 21 counties.

Each county has a local Superior Court Criminal Division responsible for the PTI program.

This list will contain the following important information:

  • Name of County Criminal Division Manager
  • Address
  • Phone w/extension
  • Fax number

To best help you, we’ve provided the most recently updated list of each NJ PTI here.

Conclusion

NJ’s PTI program is the best and quickest way for you to avoid getting a criminal conviction and avoid prison.
But before you apply for PTI, it is absolutely necessary to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your case.
If you have a very strong defense, you may not need NJ PTI and can avoid the lengthy supervision and reporting requirements altogether.
To better understand the strengths and weaknesses of your case, we will help you for FREE
You can tell us your side of the story and ask us anything.
You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. 

We’ve helped a lot of clients get accepted into NJ PTI or avoid it altogether.
You can click on this NJ Court’s link if you would like more information.

Also, please visit the Areas We Serve & Practice Areas pages for more information.

How We Can Help

Regardless of the criminal charges you are facing, we are here to defend & protect you. Whether you are facing a restraining order, drug charge, theft charge, or aggravated assault charge, we are here to help you. Even a DWI case can really complicate your life.

If we can’t get your charges dismissed, we can either get them downgraded or place you in a diversionary program. The point is, our criminal defense lawyers will fight tirelessly to get you the best result possible. Take advantage of our free consultation to see how we can help.

Our Experience

You or a loved one have been arrested. Understandably, you are terrified & have a lot of questions. You’ve heard about plea bargains & probation, but the process is overwhelming. You want a local attorney near you to represent you.

Mr. Peyrouton is from Ridgewood & handles all types of criminal matters in New Jersey The New Jersey Law Journal recently published one of his articles on the subject of criminal law.

Our Practice Areas

Below you will find some but not all of our practice areas. Of course, if you do not see your criminal charges listed, feel free to contact us for a free consultation. We will meet with you to discuss your case & to answer all of your legal concerns. Se habla español tambien!

Areas We Serve

Get Help With Your Case

How Do Your Free Consultations Work?

There are plenty of excellent criminal lawyers in the Hackensack area. Most, if not all of them, offer free, 20-minute, consultations. However, our free consultations do not have a time limit. You will never feel rushed.

The best way for us to help you is to patiently listen to your side of the story. Your version of events will serve as the basis for your legal defense. It is during these initial meetings that your memory of the event is fresh in your mind. Why we would rush you during such an important aspect of your case.

We understand that your choice of attorney could mean the difference between your freedom and spending years behind bars. 

When you hire an attorney, you are entering a long-term relationship. For this reason, it is important that you feel comfortable with the team of Hackensack criminal lawyers that will represent you.

What our clients say about us

Peyrouton Law
5.0
Based on 180 reviews
Nwe Tun
Nwe Tun
01:06 13 May 23
I didn't have to worry a thing abt my speeding ticket. Mr. Peyrouton took care of everything. He explained and answered my questions. I am happy with his service.
J Bean
J Bean
23:31 20 Apr 23
Natalia K.
Natalia K.
02:17 20 Apr 23
Absolutely amazing!!! Great communication from him and was on top of everything from the court date to the timing. Answered any questions I had and was very professional, patient, and understanding. Couldn’t ask for anyone better! Definitely would recommend his services to everyone I know. Thank you for everything Peyrouton Law!
Danya C.
Danya C.
15:05 15 Apr 23
Alan does amazing work, very professional and very communicative with me. Highly recommend! He’s also familiar with the judges and prosecutors in the courtrooms so that’s a plus! I wanted to thank you Alan for your knowledge regarding my matter.
Ava Cabrera
Ava Cabrera
15:25 03 Apr 23
This my main man everything he say be factz when he step in court room lawyers and judge already know who he is he don't be thirsty for money he be genuinely trying help people out all good vibes ......and I had other lawyers and I can't say the same for them
jemsley canela
jemsley canela
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Lauren Serrano
Lauren Serrano
19:45 04 Mar 23
Extremely professional, on time, and responds immediately with any questions or concerns I had. Exceptional lawyer!
John B.
John B.
01:36 10 Feb 23
I met Alan and right off the bat I knew he was a straight shooter........I was facing alot of time and he didn't sugar coat my worst outcome and best outcome for hiring him to defend me.He was very reasonable priced and answered all my questions even if I repeated myself.All the way upto my court date he was responsive to all my calls and concerns. Other lawyers wanted outrageous fees and would tell me what i wanted to hear. Alan isn't like that at all. Not only was my case dismissed but he gave me great life advice. He is a true definition of a scholar and a gentleman!!!!!
Geselle Linares
Geselle Linares
21:31 22 Jan 23
I just wanted to get on here and say how amazing Alan is. He is very friendly and professional. He took care of everything and thankfully I did not stress one bit. Every time I had a question he was sure to answer within a reasonable time. If anyone is thinking about hiring him do not hesitate to contact him or his team!
Rosales Karen
Rosales Karen
03:24 18 Dec 22
Exelente abogado merece más de 5 estrellas una persona seria humilde el abogado alan es bien educado habla español trata de lo mejor A sus clientes exelente persona 😄 ✌
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