
If you are accused of harassment in New Jersey, that can have criminal consequences. You need to take any accusations seriously and part of that means talking to a Bergen County criminal defense lawyer. We can help you figure out the best way to push back on these charges and make holes in the prosecution’s case against you.
What is Considered Harassment in NJ?
Generally, you can catch a harassment charge for any behavior meant to alarm, annoy, or torment someone else. You can also be charged if your behavior causes someone to reasonably fear for the safety of themselves or their loved ones. Some examples of bad behavior include:
- Repeatedly contacting someone who does not want to be contacted
- Anonymously contacting someone in an effort to bother them or make them feel unsafe
- Threatening to harm another person
- Attempting to make unwanted physical contact with another person
- Committing conduct that does not serve any legitimate purpose
- Following someone in public or private places
How Can I Be Punished For Harassment?
In many cases, harassment is considered a petty crime and a disorderly person’s offense. A conviction usually results in a fine of up to $300 and a jail sentence of up to 30 days. Other punishments, like community service, might also be on the table.
Additional charges can also complicate matters. If you are also accused of stalking, simple assault, or cybercrimes, the penalties for convictions can just continue to get worse. You need to defend yourself from any accusations leveled against you.
What If I’m Accused of Harassment While on Parole or Probation?
Harassment can often be considered a disorderly person’s offense, but sometimes a prosecutor will decide to upgrade a charge to a more serious offense. This often happens when the accused is on parole or probation. A harassment charge can become a fourth-degree indictable charge with more severe penalties in this kind of situation, so parolees and probationers need to be especially careful when accused of this crime. A conviction can result in a fine of up to $10,000 and up to 18 months in jail.
Will This Charge Appear on Background Checks?
Even if your crime is treated as a disorderly person’s crime with minimal penalties, a conviction can still cause issues for you. A harassment conviction is going to appear on background checks. This can affect you when you’re looking for a job or trying to rent an apartment. Fight this charge with everything that you have and the help of an attorney to reduce the chances of a conviction following you around for life.
Schedule Your Case Consultation
So don’t try to defend yourself from harassment charges. Contact the Law Office of Boyd & Squitieri to schedule a consultation with our team. Every case is different, so once we learn about your situation we’ll get right to work on a strategy that could help you beat the charges against you.