New Jersey Child Endangerment Defense Lawyer

New Jersey has specific laws regarding the protection of children from mistreatment. The laws are contained in the Endangering the Welfare of a Child statute. Child endangerment includes sexual misconduct with a child and abuse or neglect of a child. The repercussions of a conviction of child endangerment can have serious adverse effects on your life.

Some accusations of child endangerment are based on a misunderstanding. exaggeration or outright false claims by ex-spouses or others.

If you are facing child endangerment charges in New Jersey, it is crucial for you to obtain representation from an experienced defense attorney. As a former criminal prosecutor, attorney Jason A. Volet understands how serious child endangerment charges are and how important it is for anyone charged with child endangerment to have a dedicated advocate to protect their rights.

Contact the Law Office of Jason A. Volet today at 732-491-8477 to learn more about how a child endangerment defense lawyer can protect you from charges filed in New Jersey.

What Actions Are Considered Child Endangerment in New Jersey?

Under New Jersey law addressing endangering the welfare of children (NJ Rev Stat § 2C:24-4 (2014)), a person may be charged and prosecuted for allegations of engaging in sexual conduct with a child or causing harm to the child that would make the child an abused or neglected child.

Prohibited sexual acts with a child (any person under 18 years old) range from nudity for the purpose of sexual stimulation and gratification to masochism and sadism and “any act of sexual penetration or sexual contact,” of which six are specified in the statute.

But the child endangerment statute is much broader because it includes many acts that are considered child abuse or neglect under New Jersey law.

New Jersey’s law addressing abuse, abandonment, cruelty, and neglect of a child (NJ Rev Stat § 9:6-1 (2013)) defines the crime as any of these acts:

• Using excessive physical restraint on a child
• Habitual use of profane, indecent, or obscene language in front of a child
• Performing any indecent, immoral, or unlawful act or deed in front of a child or allowing anyone else to do so
• Employing or allowing a child to be employed illegally or in a dangerous or immoral job
• Illegally abandoning the custody of a child
• Isolating a child from ordinary social contact with others
• Inflicting, causing, or permitting the infliction of unnecessary suffering or pain, either mental or physical, or unnecessarily severe corporal punishment upon a child
• Exposing a child to unnecessary hardship, fatigue, or mental or physical strains that may tend to injure their health or physical or moral well-being
• Failing to provide proper and sufficient food, clothing, maintenance, education, medical care, and a clean and proper home, or failure to do or permit to be done any act necessary for the child’s physical or moral well-being.

We believe some portions of New Jersey’s definition of child abuse and neglect allow wide interpretation of actions a parent or caretaker may take without regard to the individual’s intent, the severity of impact, or whether the child was truly harmed. Without proper legal representation, a person facing these charges may be wrongly convicted for acts not intended by the law. You need an experienced defense attorney to stand up for you if you have been charged with child endangerment

What Are The Penalties for Child Endangerment In New Jersey?

The penalties for child endangerment in New Jersey are potentially severe. The penalties that may be handed down upon conviction for endangering the welfare of a child in New Jersey depend on whether:

• The defendant had legal custody or had assumed responsibility for the child
• The violation included a sexual offense.

If you are convicted for endangering the welfare of a child in New Jersey, it is a crime of the second degree if you had a legal duty to care for the child or had assumed responsibility for the child. For any other person, it is a crime of the third degree.  

Second-degree endangering the welfare of a child is punishable by 5-10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000.

Third-degree endangering the welfare of a child is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

If the charges you are convicted of include engaging in sexual conduct with a child, then you will also be required to register with the state as a sex offender, which means your identity may be posted on the N.J. Sex Offender Registry. Under provisions of Megan’s Law, you will also be required to register annually with your local police department once released from prison and report any change of address or employment.

A conviction for a sexually based child endangerment offense results in parole supervision for life (PSL), limitations on internet access, and additional consequences for any future criminal violations.

If there is no sexual component to the charges you face of endangering the welfare of a child and a conviction cannot be avoided, your defense attorney from the Law Office of Jason A. Volet would seek to have your charges reduced to cruelty and neglect of a child, which is a fourth-degree offense.

A fourth-degree offense is punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. If you are a first-time offender, there is a presumption of non-incarceration for a fourth-degree offense.

Contact a New Jersey Child Endangerment Defense Lawyer Today

If you have been charged with endangering the welfare of a child in Freehold, NJ, we can defend you and protect your legal rights. New Jersey child endangerment lawyer Jason Volet has the experience and local reputation needed to negotiate with prosecutors or defend you in court to ensure the best available outcome for you.

Contact an experienced New Jersey child endangerment defense lawyer at the Law Office of Jason A. Volet today online or at 732-702-3785 to learn more about how we can help you.

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