Simple Assault & Aggravated Assault charges are very different.
One is a misdemeanor & the other is a felony.
This article explains the difference between these two charges.
The difference between Simple Assault & Aggravated Assault means the difference between your freedom & going to prison.
- Simple Assault is a Disorderly Persons Offense in New Jersey.
- Aggravated Assault is a felony or an Indictable Offense in New Jersey.
- Disorderly Persons are heard in Municipal Court.
- Felony charges are prosecuted in New Jersey Superior Court.
An everyday confrontation can escalate from a verbal insult to an assault. Before we can into the defenses you have available, you need to understand the difference between Simple & Aggravated Assault.
We’ve created a video (below) to help you. If you commit a Simple Assault on someone who is a “member of a protected class” you are automatically facing felony Aggravated Assault charges.
Next, you will need to assess the “type of injury” your victim suffered. The greater the injury, the more serious the felony charge. Here’s more on New Jersey Crime Degrees.
What Are The Penalties for Simple Assault?
The penalties include up to six months in jail and up to a $1,000- fine.
A conviction for this charge will stay on your record for five years.
You will also be ordered to pay court costs.
What Are The Penalties for Aggravated Assault?
Aggravated Assault is a Felony or Indictable Offense in New Jersey.
Felony convictions stay on your record for 10 years.
Depending on whether you are facing a 2nd, 3rd or 4th-degree felony charge, you will face different prison terms.
Visit this page for more on Felony Charges:
NJ Felony (Indictable) Charges: 5 Steps To Start Fighting Back
When is assault a misdemeanor & when is it a felony?
There are two things you need to be aware of.
1. Did you injure a member of a “Protected Class”?
2. If you did not injure a member of the protected class, what are the victim’s injuries?
Protect Classes In New Jersey
If you commit a Simple Assault on a member of a protected class, you will automatically be facing Aggravated Assault charges. For example, a police officer is a member of New Jersey’s protected class.
If you commit a Simple Assault on a police officer, firefighter, teacher, etc., it instantly becomes an Aggravated Assault (felony) charge.
Simple Assault Explained
You may be shocked to learn that you can be charged with misdemeanor assault, or “simple assault,” if the victim suffers no injuries at all.
A minor scratch or tiny bruise can get you arrested and charged with simple assault charges.
You can even be charged for making a threat of physical harm without any actual physical contact.
In other words, you will face misdemeanor assault charges for any “unwelcome” touching of another person
It does not matter if you caused physical injury.
Simple Assault is the most common & least serious form of assault charge in NJ.
Aggravated Assault Explained
If you use a deadly weapon or to threaten to use a deadly weapon on another person, you can be charged with Felony Aggravated Assault. A deadly weapon is anything that can cause death or great bodily harm.
Most commons weapons involved in aggravated assault charges are guns and knives.
Aggravated Assault examples include the following:
– Striking or threatening to strike a person with a weapon or dangerous object
– Use of a firearm – either shooting someone or threatening to shoot or kill someone while pointing a gun at them;
– Assault with the intent to commit another felony crime such as rape or robbery;
– Any assault that results in serious physical injury to someone else;
– Any assault against a member of a protected class, such as a police officer, healthcare provider, social services worker or disabled or elderly person.
Please note that in New Jersey any gun-related criminal charge triggers the Graves Act.
Legal Defenses - Self-Defense
If you are charged with either simple or aggravated assault, it is important to understand the circumstances of your situation. These charges commonly arise in confrontational situations.
- Were you acting in self-defense?
- Did you feel threatened or in danger?
- If you were at a bar & someone threatened you, did you protect yourself?
Self-defense is a legally recognized defense.
As your criminal lawyers, we will conduct our own investigation into your situation and we will:
- obtain surveillance video (if any);
- interview any/all witnesses;
- research the relationship between you & the victim.
Each case is different & our investigation into your self-defense theory will vary accordingly.
Downgrades
If you were charged with felony aggravated assault, we will work very hard to get the charge downgraded.
A “downgrade” means that the charge would go from a felony to a misdemeanor. Successfully downgrading a charge involves aggressive lawyering. We show the prosecutor that you have a “borderline” case. This means that your case is really a simple assault but that it was charged as an aggravated assault.
Once we get it downgraded, you are out of felony danger.
Simple assault charges are low-level, misdemeanor offenses.
A conviction for simple assault carries up to six months in jail and stays on your record for five years.
Aggravated assault charges are felony charges and a conviction will stay on your criminal record for 6 years.
The best legal defense for either charge is self-defense.
Conclusion
As New Jersey Criminal defense attorneys, we are here to defend & protect you.
Getting arrested and charged with a crime is a traumatizing experience.
We pride ourselves in fighting for people and defending their innocence.
A criminal conviction will negatively affect your life in many ways.
In addition to being cut off from countless employment opportunities, you face the possibility of imprisonment.
Your choice of a criminal defense attorney is one of the most important decisions you will ever make.
Meet with us for FREE & tell us your side of the story.
Please visit the Areas We Serve & Practice Areas pages for more information.
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