A harassment offense is issued in South Brunswick when a person is accused of unwanted communication with another person that causes annoyance or alarm. Most of these charges arise in the context of allegations of domestic violence although there is certainly a wide range of other ways someone can be charged with harassment in South Brunswick New Jersey. Although harassment is a petty disorderly persons offense most of the time, it is still a criminal charge that stays on your record for many years and can seriously affect your future employment opportunities. If you have been charged with harassment in South Brunswick you should strongly consider hiring an attorney. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall include Jason Seidman, a former director in the prosecutor’s office, and a team of veteran litigators with over 100 years of combined experience defending harassment charges in South Brunswick and elsewhere in the region. For an immediate free consultation with a lawyer on our staff, contact our East Brunswick Office at 732-227-1200.
South Brunswick Harassment Charge
There are typically three different ways a person can commit harassment in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4. The following conduct constitutes harassment under this law:
- Makes, or causes to be made, a communication or communications anonymously or at extremely inconvenient hours, or in offensively coarse language, or any other manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm;
- Subjects another to striking, kicking, shoving, or other offensive touching, or threatens to do so; or
- Engages in any other course of alarming conduct or of repeatedly committed acts with purpose to alarm or seriously annoy such other person.
In plain English, harassment is any form of unwanted communication that is acted out in manner which is of extreme annoyance or discomfort to the person receiving it. Harassment usually involves prolonged unwanted contact by an individual that often includes offensive language and alarming behavior via emails, texts, telephone calls or even a face to face encounter.
Jurisdiction Over Your South Brunswick Harassment Offense. As a general rule, harassment is a petty disorderly persons offense that falls within the jurisdiction of the South Brunswick Municipal Court. When a violation of 2C:33-2 is committed by someone “serving a term of imprisonment or was on parole or probation as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this State”, the charge is enhanced to a fourth degree crime that must be handled at the Middlesex County Superior Court.
Penalties for Harassment. A petty disorderly persons offense for harassment carries a fine of up to $500 and the possibility of up to 30 days in the county jail. Probation is also a permissible recourse at sentencing. If you are convicted of harassing someone as a fourth degree crime, you face up to a $10,000 fine and a state prison sentence that can reach 18 months.
South Brunswick Harassment Lawyer
A harassment conviction in South Brunswick can have serious repercussions that can complicate your life including potentially severe penalties and a record that will appear on background checks for years to come. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall will act to ensure you avoid these negative consequences. We have over a century of experience, including years serving as prosecutors, to put into action on your behalf. An attorney is available to speak with by phone at 732-227-1200 around the clock. Contact us for the time and consideration from a defense lawyer now.
