There are few things worse than being charged with a crime of any sort. Not only can a criminal conviction land you in jail and cost high fines, but it can also bring about a criminal record, which can haunt you for years into the future. One of the most serious crimes an individual can be charged with is child endangerment. If you were recently charged with child endangerment here in New Jersey, the most important thing you can do is continue reading and contact a competent Bergen County criminal defense lawyer who can help fight your charges at every turn. Here are some of the questions you may have:
What exactly is child endangerment in New Jersey?
Here in New Jersey, child endangerment is defined as when a person with a legal duty to care for a child either neglects or abuses that child in some way. This can range from anywhere between abandoning the child somewhere to having sexual contact with the child.
What are examples of child endangerment in NJ?
Child endangerment can, unfortunately, come in a wide range of crimes. Some of the most common child endangerment charges we’ve seen are as follows:
- Statutory rape
- Child molestation
- Driving while intoxicated while having a minor in the car
- Possessing, manufacturing, or selling child pornography
- Neglect or abuse
- Sexual assault against a child
What are the penalties for a child endangerment conviction in the state of New Jersey?
When someone is convicted of endangering the welfare of a child, they will likely face a wide range of penalties. To start, for a conviction for child endangerment in the third degree, you’ll likely face up to five years of incarceration, with a minimum of three years of incarceration. From here, the penalties only get harsher. For example, if you’re convicted of child endangerment in the second degree, you’ll likely face anywhere between five and 10 years in state prison. Those convicted of crimes of a sexual nature against children will also likely have to register as sex offenders under Megan’s Law.
If you have any further questions about child endangerment charges in New Jersey or you’d like to speak with a competent attorney who can help you fight your charges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Boyd & Squitieri to learn more about what we can do for you.
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