Disorderly Persons Charge-NJ

NJ - Someone I know was recently arrested and received a disorderly persons charge b/c a very small amount of marijuana ( a small blunt roach) was found on them. This is their first offense. They've never been arrested before...not even pulled over. They are scheduled to appear in municiple court on 10/14. What should be expected to come of this? Is an attorney necessary (they don't have much extra money lying around)? Again, this happened in NJ. Thanks for your input in advance. I know they'll appreciate it.

Make sure he hires counsel (or at least the public defender) to try to keep this off the record eventually--jail time is not likely going to occur if his record is clear now. But having that arrest and/or a conviction on the record will make job-hunting etc. more difficult. Often this could be negotiated down to some kind of court supervision, a dismissal etc.