Commonly known as obstruction of justice, obstructing the administration of law occurs when a person intentionally interferes with law enforcement functions. A conviction for obstructing the administration of law in South Brunswick could potentially land you in prison for 18 months in addition to a slew of hefty fines. Obstruction charges need to be taken seriously and require immediate attention. The smartest way to mitigate the risks of a South Brunswick obstruction charge is to retain a skilled criminal defense attorney. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have over 100 years of combined experience defending obstruction charges arising in South Brunswick. Our lawyers have the qualification and experience that is needed to have your obstruction charge degraded or dismissed. To speak to a highly qualified lawyer, contact our East Brunswick Office at 732-227-1200 for a free consultation.
Obstructing the Administration of Law Charge in South Brunswick
The provisions contained in N.J.S.A 2C:29-1 seek to criminalize activities that obstruct law enforcement from performing their duties. Under the statute an individual has committed a violation if he/she,
Purposely obstructs, impairs or perverts the administration of law or other governmental function or prevents or attempts to prevent a public servant from lawfully performing an official function by means of flight, intimidation, force, violence, or physical interference or obstacle, or by means of any independently unlawful act.
To obtain a conviction for obstructing the administration of law the state must prove three elements beyond a reasonable doubt. First, the state must prove that the defendant obstructed, impaired or perverted the administration of law or governmental function or prevented or attempted to prevent a public servant from performing an official function. Second, the defendant had purpose to obstruct or prevent. Third, the defendant engaged in either intimidation, force, violence, physical interference or some other independently unlawful act as means to obstruct.
Penalties If You Are Convicted of a South Brunswick Obstructing the Administration of Law Offense
Obstructing the administration of law is typically charged as a disorderly persons offense which carries penalties of $1,000 in fines and up to 6 months in jail. However, obstructing the administration of law is enhanced to a crime of the fourth degree when a person obstructs the detection or investigation of a crime or the prosecution of a person for a crime. Crimes of the fourth degree carry penalties of $10,000 in fines and a maximum prison sentence of 18 months.
South Brunswick Obstructing the Administration of Law Defense Lawyer
Aside from the thousands of dollars in potential fines, and prison time, a conviction of obstructing the administration of law will tarnish your permanent record with a criminal offense, potentially harming your future employment aspirations. If you have been arrested and charged with obstructing the administration of law in South Brunswick, our team of skilled attorneys will work persistently to help you avoid conviction. You can speak to a defense lawyer at the Law Office of Jonathan F. Marshall, for free, right now at 732-227-1200. Take advantage of the opportunity to secure a free case review from an attorney with decades of experience.
