A harassment offense is typically charged as a petty disorderly persons offense in Monroe New Jersey. The charge can also be filed, however, as a fourth degree crime resulting in the potential for much more serious penalties.
Because harassment involves non-violent conflicts between into individuals, there is a tendency to underestimate the severity of the consequences from a conviction. You should not make this make as a conviction for a Monroe NJ harassment charge will result in a criminal record and this can affect your life in ways you may not have thought of.
These days employers routinely perform background checks on potential employees. Your resume or application is more likely to be rejected when a background check reveals that you have a criminal record in Monroe Township for harassment. Harassment is also one of the many offenses that can result in domestic violence and will often be charged alongside simple assault and/or terroristic threats in this context. When a harassment charge arises out of domestic violence, it may also be the basis of a restraining order being placed against you by the alleged victim.
The best way to avoid a record and other penalties for harassment in Monroe is to fight the charge with the help of an experienced defense attorney. Contact the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall for immediate assistance one of eight highly accomplished Monroe criminal lawyers. Our team of attorneys have been defending clients like you in Monroe and elsewhere in Middlesex County for several decades. We can help you fight the charges and get the case either dismissed or downgraded to a non-criminal offense. Call us at 732-201-6509 for a free consultation with a lawyer who can help you.
Harassment Charges in Monroe, New Jersey
The New Jersey’s harassment law is set forth at N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4. Harassment is triggered pursuant to this statute when an individual either engages in conduct or uses language that is intended to be harassing and involves:
- Striking, kicking, shoving or offensive touching of another individual;
- Making anonymous communications, during extremely inconvenient hours, that use of offensive language or is otherwise likely to cause annoyance or alarm; or
- Engaging in any course of alarming or repeated conduct that causes alarm or annoys another person.
The term “communication” as defined under 2C:33-4 includes any verbal or written communication via the telephone, text, email, social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.), face-to-face, via a third party, or any other means used to transmit voice or data.
Harassment cases are typically handled at the Monroe Township Municipal Court, 1 Municipal Plaza, Monroe Twp., NJ 08831, which can be reached by telephone at 732 521-4020 & 4021.
In order to convict you of harassment, the prosecutor must prove that the purpose of your conduct or language was to harass the victim. The courts have routinely held that the use of foul or offensive language alone is not enough to prove that a person intended to harass another.
If you are found guilty of harassment, you will face a fine of up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail. Moreover, if the offense was committed when you were on probation or parole for a previous indictable offense, the charge will be elevated to a fourth degree crime, a felony offense, which is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and 18 months in a state prison.
Monroe Harassment Defense Lawyer
If you or someone close to you is facing a harassment charge in Monroe, the lawyers at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have the expertise to help you successfully defend the charge and avoid the fines, jail time, and criminal record that may result from a conviction. We are former county and municipal prosecutors who are respected attorneys that have the skills to mount the defense needed so that your interests are fully protected. To speak with an attorney with extensive experience defending a harassment offense like the one you are facing in Monroe, New Jersey, call our East Brunswick office at 732-201-6509. A lawyer is available 24/7 to discuss your case in a free consultation.
