NJ Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
Consequences and Penalties
Whether an ex-wife or partner leveled accusations against you of assault and battery, marital rape, or child neglect; or you are worried that a friend or family member has been falsely accused of neglect, abuse or another domestic crime, you want solid and reliable information about the potential consequences and penalties.
Factors That Will Influence Your Penalties
- Whether you committed the abuse/neglect or not; and if so, whether the allegations against you are 100% accurate or exaggerated
- Whether you've been convicted of a violent crime (or any other crime) in the past; and if so, what did you do and what sentence did you receive
- Your demonstration (or not) of remorse for the crime
- Whether you thought out the violence in advance or acted in a fit of passion
- Whether the abuse or neglect involved a one-time incident or a chronic pattern
- Whether other mitigating circumstances can be found. For instance, a chronically battered woman who assaults her abusive husband one day may find a certain amount of sympathy from the court.
- Any and all relevant New Jersey and Federal criminal laws
What Might Happen
- Prison sentence
- Fines, fees, court costs
- Forced restitution to people that have been hurt
- Forced payment for medical care, surgical bills, therapy, rehabilitation, and medications
- Loss of spousal and parental rights
- Loss of professional license (e.g. doctor's license)
- Long-term harm to your personal/professional reputation
- Forced community service
- Forced alcohol/drug/anger management therapy
- Secondary consequences, such as credit score problems, inflated insurance rates, and other financial and logistical headaches
Reducing/Eliminating the Charges: How to Put Up Your Defense
Depending on the evidence the prosecutors have against you -- as well as a truly unquantifiable number of factors, some of which are discussed above -- your New Jersey criminal defense lawyers may be able to get the charges against you excused dismissed or "plea bargained" down to lesser charges. For instance, instead of a felony assault and battery conviction, you may face a misdemeanor disorderly persons charge. This might mean that you will face fines and other penalties, but you won't face the full brunt of what the law could potentially bring to bear on you.
Building a good defense involves a lot of intense preparatory work, investigation, and knowledge of the New Jersey legal system in theory and in practice. Trust your defense to the experienced NJ domestic abuse defense lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein. Contact the team online or dial the offices to set up a confidential initial consultation: 609-240-0040.