How to Fight a Restraining Order in New Jersey The knock comes without warning. You open the door to find a police officer holding papers—a temporary restraining order. Within minutes, you’re being told to leave your home. You can’t contact certain people. One wrong move could mean jail time. Everything you thought was stable just […]
NJ First-Time Simple Assault: Your Guide to the Court Process Being charged with simple assault for the first time is worrisome and downright scary. Maybe you have never been inside a courtroom before. You’re worried about having a criminal record, about your job, and what this means for your future. The paperwork is confusing. The […]
Domestic Violence and Pre-Trial Intervention Domestic violence arrests in New Jersey continue to generate a significant number of criminal cases each year, often beginning with a 911 call, a quick police response, and a mandatory arrest when officers believe an act of violence or a violation of a protective order has occurred. What starts as […]
Proposed Revisions to New Jersey’s Domestic Violence Act The tragic acts of a New Jersey State Trooper have brought back into focus the domestic violence laws of the state. State Police Lt. Ricardo Jorge Santos allegedly shot and killed his former girlfriend, Lauren Semanchik, and her boyfriend, Tyler Webb, and then committed suicide. It has […]
Filing a Harassment Action at a New Jersey Restraining Order Hearing It can be challenging to prove harassment at a New Jersey restraining order hearing because the court must assess both the activity at issue and the alleged harasser’s state of mind. Most cases depend on how both are defined, and a misinterpretation either way […]
NJ Temporary Protective Orders (TPOs) for Stalking, Cyber-Harassment, Sexual Assault In 2023, New Jersey overhauled its system of protective orders by closing a loophole that previously left stalking and stranger-cyber-harassment victims without protection. Michele Albano’s leadership was instrumental in this legislative measure. His daughter had been terrorized by a stranger for years, with no pre-existing […]
NJ Police Lieutenant Case Reveals Gaps in Domestic Violence Legal Protections It was at 5:25 PM on Friday that Santos followed Semanchik back from Long Valley Animal Hospital, a sinister deepening of domestic violence. The case ended in a murder-suicide, with the two victims subsequently found shot inside Semanchik’s home on Upper Kingtown Road. Family members […]
Immigration Status and Domestic Violence: Your Rights in New Jersey Securing Protection and Legal Status as an Immigrant Victim of Domestic Violence in New Jersey Immigrant victims of domestic violence face many additional challenges. Their fear of deportation can prevent them from seeking help. Some immigrants are isolated from their families and support systems and […]
Using Home Security Footage as Evidence in NJ Restraining Order Cases Reaching a Verdict on Footage from Home Security Systems in NJ Restraining Order and Domestic Violence Proceedings With the increased availability and affordability of advanced technologies, home security cameras are becoming a popular tool to safeguard homes from crime. Camera footage of intruders helps […]
When Self-Defense is Legal in New Jersey Domestic Violence Situations Domestic violence cases are a challenge because they involve complex relationships between people. The authorities may find it challenging to determine who is at fault and reach a plausible conclusion. A restraining order cannot do its job when it is not followed. Every relationship and […]
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