In the midst of pressures, sometimes people let their emotions get the best of them and take an argument too far. They can then wind up in a New Jersey criminal court facing a criminal allegation related to domestic assault.
In some cases, criminal convictions can mean a person will receive a prison sentence of years, if not decades. Even first time offenders wo are looking a misdemeanor assault charge or similar allegation should take the case seriously, even if jail time is explicitly off the table.
Even a misdemeanor assault conviction can have lifelong impacts
This is because domestic violence conviction oftentimes have serious consequences that can last long after a New Jersey resident’s criminal case ends. For instance, domestic violence convictions can impact a person’s ability to find a job or even work in a given profession.
It is very difficult for someone who has a background of domestic violence to find a job working with children or vulnerable adults. Moreover, a domestic violence conviction can also mean a person will not be able to own a firearm. Other consequences, even immigration consequences, are possible.
Domestic assault convictions may hurt a parents’ relationships with their kids
Like other states, New Jersey allows judges to consider a parent’s track record of domestic violence, including convictions, when making decisions about child custody and parenting time.
It can be very difficult for a parent to argue about a domestic violence allegation in family court if she already pled guilty to the same allegation in criminal court. The end result is a parent may unfairly wind up subject to supervised visits and little to no say in his child’s life.