Domestic Violence Attorney

Domestic Violence in New Jersey

An allegation of domestic violence can result in the filing of criminal charges, the filing of a petition for a domestic violence restraining order, or both.  A domestic violence attorney can help prevent a conviction for a domestic violence that can carry severe consequences, including time in prison, and the issuance of a restraining order can result in limits on your freedom of movement and rights as a parent and property owner.  If you are accused of domestic violence, you should speak with an attorney right away. An experienced lawyer will provide valuable guidance throughout your case while protecting your fundamental rights.

What is domestic violence?

Under NJSA 2C:25-19, the occurrence of one or more of the following criminal offenses upon a person protected under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act:
  1. Homicide  NJSA 2C:11-1
  2. Assault  NJSA 2C:12-1
  3. Terroristic Threats  NJSA 2C:12-3
  4. Kidnapping  NJSA 2C:13-1
  5. Criminal Restraint  NJSA 2C:13-2
  6. False Imprisonment  NJSA 2C:13-3
  7. Sexual Assault  NJSA 2C:14-2
  8. Criminal Sexual Contact  NJSA 2C:14-3
  9. Lewdness  NJSA 2C:14-4
  10. Criminal Mischief  NJSA 2C:17-3
  11. Burglary  NJSA 2C:18-2
  12. Criminal Trespass NJSA 2C:18-3
  13. Harassment NJSA 2C:33-4
  14. Stalking  NJSA 2C:12-10
  15. Criminal Coercion NJSA 2C:13-5
  16. Robbery NJSA 2C:15-1
  17. Contempt of a domestic violence order NJSA 2C:29-9
  18. Any other crime involving risk of death or serious bodily injury to a person protected under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991

Who is protected under the domestic violence act in New Jersey?

  1. Current or former spouse who is 18 or older or is an emancipated minor
  2. Current or former household member who is 18 or older or is an emancipated minor
  3. Person with whom the perpetrator (one being violent) has a child or is expecting a child, regardless of the victim's age
  4. Person with whom the perpetrator has had a dating relationship

Police are required to arrest suspect and take into custody:

The police will arrest, take into custody and sign a criminal complaint against the person being violent if:
  1. A person claims they were the victim of domestic violence by the suspect
  2. The officer has sufficient evidence to believe the violence occurred
  3. One of the following circumstances applies: victim shows signs of injury, arrest warrant exists, suspect has violated restraining order, or officer has sufficient cause to believe a weapon was used in committing the violence.

What does a temporary restraining order do?

A Temporary Restraining Order or TRO for short, can be issued by a Judge at the request of the victim.  The TRO may require you to leave your home, stay away from your spouse and children, stop calling, texting, Facebooking, your spouse or children, pay for the rent or mortgage in the home that your spouse and children are residing in even you are not allowed to live there, pay support to your spouse or children even though you can not see them.

A hearing will be scheduled by the court to determine if the TRO will become final, meaning a Final Restraining Order or FRO.  It is normally scheduled within 10 days of the TRO and held at the Family Court.

Final Restraining Orders are very serious.  They can affect your employment and they last forever unless the victim physically goes into court and tell the Judge that he/she no longer needs the TRO.  YOU SHOULD HAVE AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING YOU BEFORE THE FRO IS ISSUED.

Is PTI Available?

In order to enter into a PTI program, you need the prosecutor, case management office and judge to agree. In the majority of times, a prosecutor will refuse to consent to PTI. However, there are potential ways around this that an attorney can assist with. If PTI is approved, a guilty plea may be required based on your criminal charge. That guilty plea will be placed on hold pending completion of the program. If you do not complete the program, the guilty plea will be entered and you will have to come back to court to be sentenced. The requirement of a guilty plea is needed if charged with a third or fourth degree crime involving domestic violence or if charged with a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense involving domestic violence while subject to a restraining order under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991. Unfortunately, this is the law and cannot be waived.

I Need A Domestic Violence Attorney. What Do I Do Now?

You hire our law firm to defend you against your domestic violence charge in Mercer County, Middlesex County, or Burlington County.  We are experienced lawyers who continually represent individuals such as yourself charged with domestic violence.  We also go to Family Court to defend you against having a Final Restraining Order Issued.  We have been very successful in having these charges taken care of and we can help you also.

Mercer County: Hamilton, Trenton, Ewing, Lawrence, Pennington, East Windsor, West Windsor, Hopewell, Princeton Township, Princeton Borough, Hightstown, and Robbinsville.

Middlesex County: Plainsboro, Cranbury, East Brunswick, South Brunswick, and Sayreville.

Burlington County: Bordentown, Burlington City, Burlington Township, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Willingboro, Mt. Holly, Florence, and Pemberton.

CALL TO DISCUSS YOUR CASE
609-392-7600

more information for victims of domestic violence:

Domestic Violence.org: http://www.domesticviolence.org/who-are-the-victims/
State of New Jersey: http://www.state.nj.us/lps/dcj/agguide/dvpolrsp.htm
New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women: http://www.njcbw.org/
Guide for Services for victims in NJ: http://www.njcbw.org/gethelp_NJservices.html