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The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall

Morris County

NJ Criminal Defense Lawyers

973-309-7050

Our team of skilled attorneys includes former County and Municipal Prosecutors with over 200 years combined experience and is available to assist you immediately.

Free Consultation

Madison NJ Obstructing the Administration of Justice Lawyer

The law firm of The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall has been representing clients charged with obstructing the administration of justice in towns like Hanover, Montville, Dover, Denville, Morristown, Madison, Washington and elsewhere in Morris County for over a decade. Our team of eight Morris County criminal defense lawyers possess the skill set and experience required to successfully represent your interests. As you will see below, obstructing the administration of justice is typically a disorderly persons offense (misdemeanor) with that being said, it can be escalated to a felony under certain circumstances. The governing statute in New Jersey for obstructing the administration of justice is N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1. If convicted, a Defendant is not only facing a criminal record and high fines but also incarceration as well.

A Defendant that is charged with the obstruction of the administration of justice is usually charged with some other type of criminal charge as well, like Heroin Possession, Marijuana Distribution, Aggravated Assault, Eluding, Receiving Stolen Property and Assault by Auto.  If you or a loved one has been charged with obstructing the administration of justice in Morris County, then The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall can help. Our team of criminal defense attorneys has the experience and skill set required to successfully protect your freedom. If you would like to discuss your options with any one of the eight criminal defense lawyers on staff, please contact our office at 973.309.7050. We are available 24/7 to help assist in any way possible. Now here is some key information on obstructing the administration of justice.

N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1: Obstruction the Administration of Justice

As mentioned above, the governing statute in New Jersey for the obstructing the administration of justice is N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1. In pertinent part the statute states:

§ 2C:29-1 Obstructing administration of law or other government function

a. A person commits an offense if he purposely obstructs, impairs or perverts the administration of law or other governmental function or prevents or attempts to prevent a public servant from lawfully performing an official function by means of flight, intimidation, force, violence, or physical interference or obstacle, or by means of any independently unlawful act. This section does not apply to failure to perform a legal duty other than an official duty, or any other means of avoiding compliance with law without affirmative interference with governmental functions.

b. An offense under this section is a crime of the fourth degree if the actor obstructs the detection or investigation of a crime or the prosecution of a person for a crime; otherwise it is a disorderly persons offense.

A Defendant could be charged with obstruction by simply lying to the police about their identity, fleeing the scene of a crime or lying to the police about another individual’s identity. The legislature has intentionally left the statute very vague to allow for a multitude of potential conduct to fall within it. With that being said, when the legislature does that, it allows for an experienced criminal defense lawyer to make crafty arguments on your behalf to help defend the charges. If you would like to discuss your options with any one of the eight Morris County criminal defense attorneys on staff at the Law Office of Jonathan F. Marshall please contact our office directly at 973.309.7050.

What are the Penalties for Obstructing the Administration of Justice in NJ?

Typically, obstructing the administration of justice is a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense, which is more commonly known as a misdemeanor, is punishable by up to six (6) months in jail, up to a $1,000 fine, mandatory fees and assessments totaling about $350 and obviously a criminal record. With that being said, if the charge is a fourth degree felony, a Defendant faces up to eighteen (18) months in State Prison, a fine up to $10,000 and obviously a felony record as well.

Dover NJ Obstruction of Justice Lawyers

The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall is an experienced Morris County criminal defense firm. With over 200 years of combined experience on staff, including years of prior prosecuting experience, there are very few types of cases we haven’t handled before. We have been representing clients charged with endangering the welfare of a child, driving while intoxicated, stalking, disorderly conduct, and cocaine possession in Morris County for over a decade. If you would like to discuss your options with any one of the eight Morris County criminal defense lawyers on staff, please contact our office at 973.309.7050.