If you have been accused of committing what is considered to be a violent crime, you are going to require strong legal representation because New Jersey takes these charges very seriously and will try to punish you to the fullest extent of the law. If the crime you are accused of committing is either a first or second-degree crime, you are facing serious repercussions including years of time in prison. Though second-degree crimes are still severe, they have less serious penalties than those of a first-degree crime. Second-degree crimes in New Jersey include aggravated assault, sex crimes, burglary, and kidnapping. You may be charged with anywhere from 5-10 years in prison for committing these crimes.

More severe than second-degree crimes are first-degree crimes. These can include murder, manslaughter, and rape. Charges for first-degree crimes are extremely serious and will likely have a major impact on the rest of your life, especially upon conviction. You are facing anywhere from 10-20 years in prison as well as having this on your record for the rest of your life. This can impact where you are allowed to live, work, and can deter people from wanting to hire you when you are released from prison. 

In the event that you have been charged with a violent crime in New Jersey, you will need an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can fight for your case in court. The experienced criminal defense attorneys at Underwood & Micklin can assist you with strong legal representation for any of your matters of violent crime.