New Jersey Violent Crimes Defense Lawyers
Violent crimes often mean bodily injury or death for victims and innocent bystanders. If you are facing a criminal charge for a violent crime in New Jersey, a New Jersey violent crimes defense lawyer at Shugar Law Office will provide the legal counsel and defense representation you need.
A crime in New Jersey involving the threat or use of violence against another person is a violent crime. New Jersey violent crimes do not have to involve the use or display of weapons. Due to the dangers they pose, violent criminals receive harsh penalties under New Jersey’s legal system.
While New Jersey’s violent crimes have declined statewide in recent years, violent crime cases continue to increase in the state’s largest cities. Newark’s violent crime rate rose by 9 percent in 2024, an increase primarily driven by domestic violence.
What Are the Effects of a Violent Crime Conviction?
Violent crime charges under New Jersey law include criminal homicide, aggravated assault, sexual assault, armed robbery, domestic violence, and other violent crimes. A violent crime conviction establishes a criminal record and triggers severe penalties and serious consequences.
A violent crime conviction can ruin your career and devastate your family. You may lose the right to vote and own a firearm. If you hold a professional license in New Jersey and receive a violent crime conviction, your state licensing board may take disciplinary action.
If you are an immigrant in this state, a conviction for a violent crime may prompt a deportation order. Anyone facing prosecution for a violent crime in this state should seek legal representation immediately from a New Jersey violent crimes defense attorney at Shugar Law Office.
How Does New Jersey Classify and Punish Violent Crimes?
Violent crimes in New Jersey are “indictable offenses,” the equivalent of felonies in most other states. This state has four indictable offense categories, with first-degree indictable crimes carrying the most severe penalties.
Most violent crimes in this state are first- or second-degree offenses. A first-degree offense, like murder and aggravated sexual assault, can trigger a sentence of ten years to life imprisonment. A second-degree offense, like assault or robbery, can prompt a prison sentence of five to ten years.
New Jersey courts impose mandatory minimum sentences for specific violent crimes. Under the No Early Release Act, a person convicted of one of these crimes must serve 85 percent of the sentence before qualifying for parole.
Are Wrongful Arrests Sometimes Made for Violent Crimes?
Judges, county prosecutors, divorce lawyers, and defense attorneys know that alleged sex crimes and domestic violence claims are sometimes fabricated for motives such as revenge or gaining an advantage in a divorce. In some cases, purported victims make false allegations for no apparent reason.
But whether you are guilty as charged or entirely innocent, a conviction for a violent crime will damage your family, possibly send you to prison, take some of your rights, and create a criminal record that may make it difficult for you to find employment or housing in the future.
What if You Are Not Guilty of a Violent Crime?
The violent crime charges you are likely to be falsely accused of in New Jersey include assault and aggravated assault charges. When a violent dispute or a fight erupts in a parking lot, a bar, or another public setting, the police may simply arrest everyone involved, including the victims.
If you face a charge for a violent crime you did not commit, you must fight the charge, but do not act as your own criminal defense lawyer. A mistake could mean jail time or prison, even if you are innocent. Instead, call a New Jersey violent crimes defense lawyer at Shugar Law Office.
Do not try explaining anything to a law enforcement officer; anything you say may be used against you. Instead, politely insist on your right to stay silent and have an attorney present for any questioning. Do not sign or agree to any plea deal before you have consulted your attorney.
What Are the Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges?
Your legal strategies against a violent crime accusation will depend on the details of the prosecution’s case. If you are innocent, someone may have misidentified you or framed you for the crime. Alternatively, you may have acted in self-defense or in the defense of others.
Violent crimes present defense lawyers with considerable challenges. Juries, for example, are more apt to convict when a perpetrator used a deadly weapon or caused bodily harm. In a typical violent crime trial, an attorney will offer one of these defenses on a defendant’s behalf:
- Someone else perpetrated the crime: This defense implies the police and the prosecutor are mistaken and persecuting an innocent defendant.
- The defendant has an alibi: An alibi that depends only on friends and relatives is not a strong defense. Alibis should be based on “disinterested” evidence, such as an ATM or gas receipt.
- Lack of criminal intent: If a defendant behaved innocently (by not fleeing from the police or consenting to a search), the defense attorney can claim the defendant had no criminal intent. To convict, a prosecutor must prove the defendant had criminal intent.
- Someone fabricated the allegation: The defense may contend that no crime occurred and that the claim against the defendant is contrived. This defense is offered frequently in cases that involve sex crimes or domestic violence.
- Affirmative defenses: Affirmative defenses do not dispute the facts of a case. Instead, the defense claims a defendant’s action was legally exempt (because of insanity or duress, for instance) or legally justified (such as a claim of self-defense or entrapment).
What is a Defense Lawyer’s Role?
An experienced criminal defense attorney works to find and offer exculpatory evidence in violent crime cases, suppress unlawfully gathered evidence, challenge unreliable witnesses, and provide aggressive, effective defense representation.
A New Jersey violent crimes defense attorney at Shugar Law Office provides representation to clients charged with violent crimes to obtain a positive outcome for those clients. A positive result could mean:
- a reduction or dismissal of the charge or charges
- winning an acquittal at trial
- a plea deal for probation, parole, deferred adjudication, or alternative sentencing
You can’t afford to hire an inexperienced criminal defense lawyer. Defendants are innocent until proven guilty, and everyone who faces a violent crime charge should be advised and represented by a skilled criminal defense attorney.
Let Us Defend You Against Violent Crime Charges
If you face charges for any violent criminal offenses in New Jersey, now or in the future, you will want the New Jersey criminal defense attorneys at Shugar Law Office on your side. Clients are treated courteously, professionally, and respectfully throughout the entire legal process.
We know New Jersey law. When you choose Shugar Law Office, our violent crimes lawyers will protect your rights, negotiate on your behalf, take your case to trial if necessary, prepare you for court appearances, and bring your violent crime case to its best possible outcome.
Your best interests are our top priority, and our proven track record speaks for itself. If you are facing a violent crime charge in New Jersey, contact Shugar Law Office at 609-544-2811 to schedule a free consultation with a New Jersey violent crime lawyer.