NEW JERSEY CRIMINAL LAWYERS

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Harassment Charges: Everything You Must Know

Harassment is a serious offense, which can carry harsh legal penalties, in Atlantic City, Mullica, Margate City, Brigantine, Egg Harbor Township, or Buena Vista. Typically, when you hear the word harassment, it brings up the concept of unwanted physical contact. But in New Jersey law under N.J.S.A 2C:33-4 harassment constitutes different behaviors. If you are being charged with harassment, it means that the difference between two private parties has reached an unpleasant level leading to legal proceedings.

Harassment charges levied against you can result in several consequences like serving jail time up to 30 days if your trial ends with a conviction. You may face excessive and steep fines alongside penalties that can ruin your life permanently. Because of this severe consequence of having a criminal record for harassment convictions alone, legal advice from competent attorneys becomes critical.

What Harassment Means According to NJ Law?

In general terms according to New Jersey law §2C:43-8 harassment constitutes petty disorderly individuals’ offenses that often results in fines or community service and in some cases up to 30-days jail term if convicted. The complainant must prove the defendant had the intentions to harass them through acts such as communications or physical touches.

Three Behaviors That Constitute Harassment

There are three types of behavior considered by New Jersey law as constituting harassing action towards an individual.

1. Communications Proscribed for Harassment

The place where people tend to see most communications today is on their phones or devices connected with social media platforms like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp. Technology has made it easy for individuals who want to generate annoyance and disturbance through any means possible.

Suppose someone starts calling at odd hours constantly using harsh language communicating with you anonymously? In that case,you could charge someone with harassment because anonymous communication or communication after extreme hours using offensive language or any other form of communication likely to be annoying or threatening.

2. Striking, Kicking and Offensive Touching

The second type of constituting harassment is striking, shoving or other forms of offensive touching or creating a physical threat. When there is no actual bodily injury that results from touching someone offensively constitutes harassment charges in place of simple assault cases.

3. Alarming Course of Conduct or Repeated Acts

This form refers to the intentional participation in alarming behavior that creates an avenue for repeated acts targeting to annoy another person. The complainant must prove the defendant intended to harass them.

The Penalties for Harassment in Egg Harbor Township NJ

Typically, harassment charges are treated as petty disorderly individual offenses, and later they may get increased to other categories such as Simple Assault, Terroristic Threats, and Aggravated Assault depending on various factors surrounding the case’s nature.

When convicted of harassment charges in Egg Harbor Township NJ, you may face up to 30 days behind bars at the Atlantic County jail, excessive fines up to $50,a no-contact order affecting even communicating online with the victim and leave a permanent legal record on your name.

If You Get Arrested For Harassment in Somers Point NJ

When someone involves themselves in harassing activities, it’s possible they were not aware their actions could lead them into confrontations with the law enforcement agencies until this happens. It’s a frightening experience for both yourself and loved ones involved.

It remains imperative during such scenarios that you look for experienced counsel specializing in criminal defense practice since they can assist you by guiding you through all aspects from arraignment listing; court date hearings so let us help take some pressure off your shoulders caused by these charges! Call today at (212)-300-5196!

Table Showing Categories of Offenses Resulting From Battery
| Charge | Penalty |
| — | — |
| Harassment | A petty disorderly individual offense carrying a 30-day prison term, excessive fines up to $50, a no-contact order that carries online communication restrictions with the victim and resulting in a permanent criminal record. |
| Simple Assault | A Category 1 misdemeanor offense carrying up to six months of jail time, fines of up to $1000 dollars, probation, and resulting in a permanent criminal record. |
| Aggravated Assault | A category 2 felony carry-ing sentences from five to ten years depending on various factors associated with the case like the level of physical harm , fines up to $150000, probation and resulting in an unspent criminal record|
|Terroristic threats | A category 3 felony leading upto ten years in extreme cases having aggravating factors regarding violence towards civilians or property damage,fines of up to $15000, probation and as well as resulting in additional charges|

Conclusion

Harassment charges are severe offenses that can arise when two private individuals have interactions gone out of control. In case of conviction,it’s possible for you to end up losing your freedom paying steep fees, getting a permanent legal record on your name or since it may affect your present or future employment opportunities.

At Todd Spodek and our seasoned lawyers know how challenging these situations can be emotionally since we deal with them daily but don’t fret! Contact us today by calling (212)-300-5196 so we can help you attain favorable outcomes such as minimizing penalties, dismissing or reducing harassment charges against you.