If you or a loved one is facing an Endangering the Welfare of a Child (N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4) charge(s) here in Bergen County, then a conviction will likely carry very harsh and serious consequences if convicted. This includes, but is not limited to, possible years in state prison, substantial fines, and loss of employment. In addition to this, you or your loved one facing an endangering the welfare of a child charge can also face aggravated sexual assault and/or aggravated criminal sexual contact. Our law firm, the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, has the experience and knowledge to defend these charges since we have:

  • Over two-hundred (200) years of combined experience
  • A team of eleven (11) criminal defense attorneys that devote their entire practice to criminal law
  • Our firm has eight (8) former prosecutors
    • Four (4) of our attorneys were former county prosecutors and held directorial positions of the Drug, Gang, and Gun Task Force, Major Crimes Division, Trial Division, and the Juvenile Division
  • Two (2) of our lawyers were recently selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2021 list for New Jersey which is a highly credentialed, peer-influenced, third-party validated, and a patented process that selects only 2.5% of the attorneys in New Jersey to this list
  • One (1) of our attorneys is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Criminal Trial Attorney, a distinction held by less than 1% of attorneys in this State
  • Selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and Top 40 Under 40

An N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, has serious consequences, and you or your loved one need serious attorneys to handle these allegations. We have three (3) offices located throughout Bergen County. We have offices in Paramus, Hackensack, as well as Fort Lee. Call one of our offices for a free consultation at 201-429-9783, we’re available 24/7.

Hackensack Endangering the Welfare of a Child Lawyers

N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4 Endangering the Welfare of Children

N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4, also known as Endangering the Welfare of a Child, is a serious criminal charge that can have a lasting impact for you or your loved one if convicted at the Bergen County Superior Court. The statue states, in part, that:

  • Any person that has a legal duty for the care of a child (a person under the age of 18) or who has assumed responsibility for the care of a child and participates in sexual acts with the child which damage or harm the child is guilty of a second degree crime. Any other person (no legal or ethical obligation to the child) participating in sexual acts with a child is guilty of a third degree
  • Any person that has a legal duty or assumed responsibility for the care of a child which causes that child harm resulting in the child being an abused or neglected child is guilty of a second degree crime. Any other person (no legal or ethical obligation to the child) that engages in such conduct that causes harm as described before is guilty of a third degree
    • The following constitutes, in part, an abused or neglected child under NJ law:
      • Performing indecent, immoral or unlawful act while the child is present which would harm or threaten the morals of the child
        • Permitting another person to perform the above
      • Using unnecessary restraint on the child when the child is not a harm to him/herself, others or to property
      • Failing to use reasonable protection in keeping the child safe from physical or moral risk
      • Inflicting excessive and grave punishment on the child
      • Inflicting excessive suffering or pain (mental or physical) on the child
      • Allowing excessive suffering or pain (mental or physical) to the child
      • Willingly failing to provide sufficient food, clothing, maintenance, medical attention, clean home and schooling
    • Any person that causes or allows a child to engage in a prohibited sex act or simulation of a sex act and that person knows or has reason to believe that the sex act(s) is being photographed, filmed, reproduced, or reconstructed is guilty of a first degree crime
    • Any person that photographs or films a child in a sex act or a simulated sex act, or uses a device that reproduces or reconstructs the image of the child in a sex act or a simulated sex act is guilty of a second degree
    • Any person is guilty of a second degree crime that:
      • Knowingly distributes an item that has the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child
      • Knowingly possesses an item that has the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child with the intent to distribute that item
      • Knowingly stores or maintains an item that depicts the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child using a file-sharing program which is available for searching or copying to one or more computers.

If you or a loved one is being charged with the above, they’ll likely be accompanying charges of Aggravated Sexual Assault, and/or Aggravated Sexual Contact.

Penalties if Convicted 

As stated before, the penalties for Endangering the Welfare of a Child can be harsh and have life-long consequences. If you or a loved one is facing am Endangering the Welfare of a Child charge at the Bergen County Courthouse, it’s imperative that you or your loved one know the penalties if convicted:

  • First degree
    • Maximum of twenty (20) years to a minimum ten (10) years in state prison
    • A fine up to $200,000.00 and court costs
  • Second degree
    • Maximum of ten (10) years and a minimum of five (5) years in state prison
    • A fine up to $150,000.00 and court costs
  • Third degree
    • Maximum of five (5) years and a minimum of three (3) years in state prison
    • A fine up to $15,000.00 and court costs

If convicted of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, however, you or your loved one will also face the following:

  • Parole Supervision for Life (PSL)
  • May have to register as a sex offender pursuant to ‘Megan’s Law’

Endangering the Welfare of a Child Law Firm in Hackensack, New Jersey

To ensure that your rights will be protected to the fullest extent allowed by law, it is important that you engage an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after being arrested for a sex crime. Set up a free initial legal consultation with the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall at any of our three (3) of our locations in Bergen County (Paramus, Hackensack, and Fort Lee) today to get started on a strong legal defense. Feel free to call us at 201-429-9783, we’re available 24/7