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• What Jail Sentences are Possible?
  
  
• What about License Suspension or Suspended License Penalties?
  
  
• What is Intoxicated Driver Resource Center ( IDRC ) ?
  
  
• What is a Community Service Penalty?
  
  
• What are some other penalties which may be imposed?
  
  
• What is Mediation?
  
  
• Are Interpretors or Translators Available?
  
  
• What is the Alcohol Treatment Rehabilitation Act ( ATRA )?
  
  
• What is a Conditional Discharge?
  
  
• How is Bail Handled?
  
  

• What Jail Sentences are Possible?
  
  JAIL
  Six (6) months is the maximum jail term imposed for offenses heard in municipal court. Sentences are served at Burlington County Jail. The Judge may allow defendant to serve sentence on weekends. Work release is coordinated through the Jail’s Work Release Administrator. Juveniles serve their sentence at the County Juvenile Detention Facility.
  
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• What about License Suspension or Suspended License Penalties?
  
  Many offenses require license suspension of a minimum period. One cannot drive FOR ANY REASON until:
  1. Period of suspension ends, and
  2. restoration fee has been paid, and
  3. written notification from Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of restored driving priveleges has been received.
  If one’s license has been suspended for failure to appear, pay fines, or comply with a condition of your sentence, in most cases it will not be restored until the case is completed. Conditional or special work licenses are prohibited in New Jersey.
  
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• What is Intoxicated Driver Resource Center ( IDRC ) ?
  
  If convicted of Drving While Intoxicated ( DWI ) or refusal to take a breathalyzer test, the court must order attendance at the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center, where defendant must satisfy screening, evaluation, referral, program and fee requirements. Failure to comply with IDRC guidelines will result in further court action.
  
  Intoxicated Driver Resource Center ( IDRC ) may be reached at TEL: 609-265-5857.
  
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• What is a Community Service Penalty?
  
  Law requires the Judge to order Community Service for certain traffic offenses and may order it for a criminal conviction. Defendant must work for a municipality or non-profit organization for a specified amount of time, WITHOUT COMPENSATION. Failure to comply may result in the case being returned to court. Some Commmunity Service sentences are supervised by the Probation Division of the Superior Court TEL: 609-518-2885.
  
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• What are some other penalties which may be imposed?
  
  In addition to penalties imposed by the court for traffic violations, defendants may also:
  • receive points on their driving records
  • be charged auto insurance surcharges
  • be required to pay restoration and administrative fees.
  Out of state motorists should check with their state’s Motor Vehicle Agency regarding the impact New Jersey traffic violations have on their driving privileges.
  
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• What is Mediation?
  
  Mediation
  The Judge, Court Administrator or a police officer may suggest that the parties try to settle their differences through Mediation, a confidential process which allows the parties to meet with a trained mediator to aid them in resolving their dispute. You may request mediation:
  • instead of filing a formal complaint
  • or, before your court date
  The Court will decide if your case is eligible. Types of matters referred to mediation typically include:
  • neighborhood disputes
  • bad check cases
  • disputes among co-workers
  Mediation is scheduled through the Municipal Court and is held:
  
  1st Wednesday each month starting at 9am
  New City Hall
  525 High Street
  Burlington NJ 08016
  (see Map directly below)
  
  Mediation, New City Hall, High Street
  
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• Are Interpretors or Translators Available?
  
  Please notify court staff immediately if you need a foreign language or sign language ( ASL) interpretor. Please be sure to include in your notification any special language dialect required.
  
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• What is the Alcohol Treatment Rehabilitation Act ( ATRA )?
  
  This Act applies to criminal offenses commited where alcohol is involved during the commission of the offense, or is determined to be an underlying factor in the commission of the offense. The court may “stay” (put on hold) the case, provided the defendant agrees to be evaluated and treated in a sixty (60) or ninety (90) day alcohol rehabilitation program. Once this program is successfully completed, charges may be dismissed at the discretion of the court. An ATRA stay is not available for traffic violations.
  
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• What is a Conditional Discharge?
  
  Defendants charged with certain drug offenses may be allowed this process of periodic monitoring, drug counseling and/or random drug testing. To be eligible, a defendant must have:
  • Never have been previously convicted of a drug offense
  • Never been granted a conditional discharge
  • Never have received Pre-Trial Intervention of Diversion
  The Judge ultimately determines eligibility for conditional discharge. If granted, defendant must pay mandatory assessments and the Judge may suspend driving priveleges. If no additional offenses are committed and compliance is maintained with all conditions during the monitoring period, then the original charges will be dismissed, however, a record of the original discharge remains.
  
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• How is Bail Handled?
  
  Bail is money required to be deposited with the court to secure the defendant’s future appearance in court upon their release. Bail can only be returned to the person who posted it. Bail will not be returned until the case is concluded. The Bail Receipt should be brought to the court to speed return of bail. It may be possible to have the bail applied to any fines or assessments imposed by the court if the holder of the bail agrees.
  
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