Charged With Harassment in Hillside New Jersey
The breakup of a relationship, an argument with a supervisor at work, a poor grade from a teacher at school or any number of situations can mushroom in an offense for harassment in Hillside New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4. This petty disorderly persons offense may seem very minor but a conviction will definitely result in a criminal record and can even land you in jail. It therefore only makes sense to be represented by an experienced lawyer. The defense team at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall has more than 100 years of combined experience successfully representing individuals charged with harassment and other criminal offenses in the Township of Hillside and other area municipalities. Attorneys at the firm devote their practices exclusively to criminal defense with most of them having served as prosecutors previously. You want an attorney defending you with the legal knowledge and skill to utilize the most effective strategies to obtain the result most favorable to you. Contact us now at (908) 272-1700 for a free consultation with one of our accomplished lawyers.
Harassment Charges in Hillside NJ
N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4 provides prosecutors with the following options, depending upon the conduct the individual engaged in, when charging someone with harassment:
- Making, or causing to be made, communications at extremely inconvenient times or communicating anonymously with another person or using offensively coarse language to annoy or alarm the person.
- Kicking, shoving, striking or offensive touching committed or threatened against another person.
- Engaging in a course of conduct intended to alarm or to seriously annoy another person.
An isolated telephone call or text message generally is not enough to warrant a harassment charge. The law focuses on a course of conduct, so defense strategies must be tailored to the facts of each case to be effective. A Hillside harassment attorney understands the importance of carefully reviewing the circumstances underlying the charge to identify inconsistencies in witness statements or other deficiencies in the evidence advantageous to your defense.
Harassment charges frequently arise between individuals who are related or romantically involved with each other. A harassment offense under such circumstances could be designated as an incident of Hillside domestic violence pursuant to the New Jersey Prevention of Domestic Violence Act found at N.J.S.A. 2C:25-19. If the victim of harassment is within one of the following categories, it could be domestic violence:
- Your parents
- A current or former spouse
- Your children
- The parent of your child
- Someone you are or were dating
Designation as a domestic violence incident means a superior court judge can grant a restraining order. The order can prohibit you from having any contact with the victim and prevent you from living at home if you reside with the victim. Our Hillside harassment lawyers are experienced in defending individuals in domestic violence cases and have spent many years practicing in the superior courts throughout the state.
Penalties and Consequences of Hillside Harassment
N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4 makes a conviction for harassment a petty disorderly persons offense punishable by a fine up to $500. Judges also have the power to order you to perform community service and, possibly, serve up to 30 days in the county jail. If you were on probation or parole or incarcerated when the offense took place, you could be charged with harassment as an indictable offense of the fourth degree, which is the equivalent of a felony. Sentences could include fines as high as $10,000 and incarceration for up to 18 months.
You can avoid prosecution for harassment by gaining admission in either the Conditional Dismissal or the Pretrial Intervention program. Admission into both programs is limited to first time offenders who meet the narrow requirements for eligibility. The lawyers at our firm are well versed in this form of relief and can help secure dismissal on this basis too.
Hillside NJ Harassment Defense Attorney
The most important thing to keep in mind about harassment or any other criminal charge is that you are innocent until proven guilty. A dedicated Hillside NJ harassment defense attorney at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall has a proven record of success in representing clients facing a disorderly persons offense like yours. Lawyers that have the knowledge and expertise to secure the outcome you need are available for a free consultation 24/7. Call us at (908) 272-1700 to speak to a savvy defense lawyer immediately.
