Drugs Near a School Zone Defense Attorney in Totowa, NJ, Navigating Enhanced Penalties for Zone-Related Offenses
School zone drug charges in New Jersey can turn your bad situation into a catastrophe.
They come with mandatory penalties, and prosecutors don't negotiate easily. Our New Jersey drugs near a school zone lawyer knows how to fight these enhanced charges.
School zone cases hinge on location and measurement. Prosecutors must prove you were within 1,000 feet of school property, and they don't always get it right. We've challenged faulty measurements, questioned whether areas qualify as school zones, and exposed gaps in the state's case.
You don't have to accept penalties without a fight. We know how to find the weaknesses and use them to protect your future. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let's build your defense.
Facing Criminal Charges And Have Questions? We Can Help. Just Tell Us What Happened. Call (973) 834-8457 Or Fill Out Our Convenient Free Case Evaluation Form.
What Counts as Committing a Drug Crime in a School Zone in New Jersey?
Any drug crime committed within 1,000 feet of school property triggers school zone drug charges.
The underlying crime can be possession, distribution, or manufacturing of any controlled dangerous substance, such as:
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Fentanyl
- Methamphetamine
- Prescription pills
What qualifies as a "school" under New Jersey law is broader than most people realize. It includes:
- Public elementary schools
- Middle schools and junior high schools
- High schools
- Private schools
- Charter schools
- School buses
The 1,000-foot measurement is calculated as a straight line from the school property boundary to where you were when the alleged crime occurred. It doesn't matter if buildings, fences, or other structures block the direct path.
The 1,000-foot radius creates an enormous circle around every school. In Newark, Paterson, Jersey City, Trenton, and Camden, these circles overlap so much. You can be multiple blocks away and still be in the zone.
Penalties for Drug Possession or Distribution in a New Jersey School Zone
School zone enhancements are separate charges that carry their own sentences in addition to your underlying drug offense. These sentences stack, meaning they add on top of whatever you're already facing.
Penalties for Drug Possession Within 1,000 Feet of a School
If you're charged with drug possession within 1,000 feet of a school, it is a third-degree crime.
You face an additional three to five years in state prison beyond your underlying possession sentence. If your base possession charge carries up to five years, and the school zone enhancement adds another three to five years, you're looking at a total exposure of eight to ten years in prison.
But here's what makes school zone charges so devastating:
They come with mandatory minimum sentences. You must serve at least one-third of the school zone sentence before you're eligible for parole.
Penalties for Drug Distribution Within 1,000 Feet of a School
The school zone enhancement for distribution is still a third-degree crime.
You face the same additional three to five years in prison for the school zone enhancement, but this stacks on top of distribution sentences.
Distribution to minors or pregnant women within a school zone can trigger even more enhancements, doubling some penalties.
School zone charges carry the harshest drug penalties in New Jersey. Discuss your case with our New Jersey drugs near a school zone lawyer.
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“Mr K. Camili great attorney and very professional. All cases was dismissed and great communication with him and his staff. I would recommend him 5 stars.”
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How We Fight School-Zone Drug Charges in New Jersey
School-zone defenses depend heavily on the exact location, measurements, and details of your arrest.
But, as New Jersey drug charge attorneys, we can show you where our lawyers look for weaknesses that can get these enhancement charges dismissed or your case resolved more favorably.
Challenging the Exact Distance and School Zone Map Accuracy
The prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were within 1,000 feet of school property. This isn't always as clear-cut as it seems. Our New Jersey drugs near a school zone lawyer can challenge the measurements and the methodology used to determine distance.
We obtain the official school zone map used by the prosecutor's office. These maps aren't always accurate or up-to-date. We've found cases where buildings marked as schools have been closed for years, where property boundaries are incorrectly marked, or where the map itself contains measurement errors.
Even small measurement errors can be the difference between a case with mandatory prison time and one where you have options.
Attacking an Illegal Stop, Search, or Arrest
Even if you were technically within a school zone, the entire case can fall apart if the initial stop, search, or arrest was illegal. We challenge every step of how police obtained evidence against you.
For traffic stops, we examine whether the officer had legitimate grounds to pull you over. Did you actually commit a traffic violation, or did the officer fabricate a reason to justify the stop? We review dashcam footage, body camera recordings, and police reports looking for inconsistencies.
For searches, we scrutinize whether police had legal authority. If they had a warrant, was it based on reliable information? Did it properly describe the place to be searched? Was it executed within the scope authorized? Any defect in the warrant invalidates the search and everything seized as a result.
If there was no warrant, prosecutors must prove your consent or plain view.
Consent searches need special scrutiny. Many people don't realize they can refuse to consent to searches. If you did consent, we examine whether it was truly voluntary. Did officers pressure you? Threaten you? Lie about having a warrant? Tell you it would be "easier" if you cooperated? If your consent wasn't freely and voluntarily given, the search becomes illegal.
If we prove the stop or search was illegal, the judge can suppress all evidence obtained as a result, including the drugs. Without the drugs, there's no possession charge and no school zone enhancement.
How we help you depends on the specific facts of your case. Every school zone charge involves different circumstances, different measurement issues, and different opportunities for defense.
Discuss your case with our New Jersey drugs near a school zone lawyer.
Why People Facing School Zone Drug Charges Choose Camili & Capo, PA
When Krenar Camili went to law school, no one in his family had previously pursued a legal career. Being the first lawyer in his family meant creating his own path, learning the system from scratch with no shortcuts or insider connections. He clerked for judges to understand how cases really worked from the inside.
After clerking, Krenar joined the prosecutor's office, where he spent over seven years prosecuting controlled dangerous substance cases, including school zone enhancements. He learned exactly how prosecutors approach these cases, what evidence they consider essential, and where their cases become vulnerable.
Krenar became highly successful as a prosecutor. He tried numerous drug cases, including many with school zone enhancements. He presented hundreds of investigations to grand juries. He knew the school zone laws inside and out because he used them to secure convictions.
But prosecuting case after case, something troubled Krenar. The school zone law was originally designed to protect children from drug dealers targeting schools. But in practice, it caught everyone, including people who had no idea they were near a school.
Krenar saw good people—first-time offenders, people struggling with addiction, people who made mistakes—facing mandatory prison sentences because they happened to be within an arbitrary distance of a building.
He realized he could do more good fighting for people than prosecuting them. People facing school zone enhancements deserved lawyers who understood how to challenge these charges effectively.
Our other partner, Joseph Capo, shares this commitment too. Appearing regularly in federal, state, and municipal courts throughout New Jersey, Joe has defended numerous clients against school zone drug charges. Together with Krenar, they bring over 35 years of combined experience focused on getting the best possible outcomes.
What makes Camili & Capo uniquely effective is Krenar's prosecutor background. He doesn't guess about how prosecutors will use school zone enhancements. He knows because he used them himself. He knows what measurements they rely on, what evidence they need, and where challenges can succeed. He knows what judges consider when evaluating school zone cases because he's argued these cases from the prosecution side.
We can't promise specific results, but we promise aggressive advocacy focused on protecting your freedom.
Discuss your case with our drugs near a school zone defense attorney in Totowa, NJ, today. School zone charges require immediate, strategic action.
Contact Our New Jersey Drugs Near a School Zone Lawyer at Camili & Capo, PA, Today for a Free Case Evaluation
These charges don't have to destroy your future. But you need lawyers who fight aggressively to challenge school zone measurements, attack illegal police conduct, and negotiate strategically for the best possible outcome.
That's what we do at Camili & Capo, PA. We defend you with everything we have while helping you address underlying issues. Let's talk about your specific situation and build a defense strategy to protect your future.
For help from a drugs near a school zone lawyer in New Jersey, contact the Camili & Capo, PA, firm online or call today.
