{"id":178357,"date":"2025-04-09T07:09:19","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T07:09:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/business\/legal\/facing-a-domestic-violence-charge-whats-next-ernest-g-ianetti-esq\/"},"modified":"2025-04-09T07:09:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T07:09:19","slug":"facing-a-domestic-violence-charge-whats-next-ernest-g-ianetti-esq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=178357","title":{"rendered":"Facing A Domestic Violence Charge! What’s Next? \u2014 Ernest G. Ianetti, Esq."},"content":{"rendered":"


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Is Domestic Violence a Criminal Offense?<\/h3>\n

Domestic violence is a civil offense.\u00a0 However, a domestic violence incident always involves an underlying criminal offense. Therefore, a person accused of domestic violence faces both civil and criminal penalties – up to six months of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000 for a disorderly person offense. \u00a0Simple assault and harassment are examples of disorderly persons offenses.<\/p>\n

Serious felony offenses start with fines of up to $10,000 and 18 months in prison for fourth-degree crimes. Third-degree crimes carry prison sentences starting at three to five years with fines of up to $15,000. Second-degree offenses have prison sentences of between five and ten years and a fine of up to $150,000.\u00a0 First-degree offenses generally carry prison terms of between 10 and 20 years; however, some first-degree homicides and kidnapping carry even longer prison terms. The fine for a first-degree offense can be as high as $300,000.<\/p>\n

What Crimes Give Can Be Used to Charge Domestic Violence?<\/h3>\n

In New Jersey, domestic violence is defined as the commission of one or more offenses listed against any person the offender has or had an intimate or familial relationship with:<\/p>\n