A candidate for Matawan, NJ town council was recently arrested on domestic violence charges, which resulted in his removal from the ticket prior to the election and prior to any trial or plea by the accused. Domestic violence is a serious issue with devastating consequences for families and commu...

Many people's first experience with being accused of criminal wrongdoing involves minor shoplifting infractions. Kids and teens may become curious about testing their boundaries and slip something small, like candy, makeup, or a toy, into their pockets to see if they can get away with it. Oftenti...

Ruby Franke is an enormously popular family vlogger who is now facing criminal charges for some shocking—and criminal—behavior. A YouTube celebrity with over two million subscribers, Ruby Franke came to fame in 2015 when she began posting videos of her family, offering tips and a tough-love philo...

In middle schools and high schools all across the country, students are taught that few rights and obligations articulated in the U.S. Constitution are absolute. As a result of both legislation and jurisprudence, most rights are subject to various restrictions and qualifications that test their s...

We've all found ourselves in a situation where we've said unpleasant things in the heat of the moment, only to regret it later. It could be harsh words during an argument with a family member, a friend, or a coworker. Regardless, once we realize what we have said, we usually apologize and ask for...

Cities often house diverse populations that bring their own attitudes and approaches to human interaction—from expressions of love to expressions of anger. Sometimes, The Jersey City, New Jersey Health Department recently won a grant that may help combat domestic violence in communities in the ci...

It is well understood that criminal defendants in the U.S. are presumed to be innocent if/until they are proven guilty of wrongdoing. Yet, sometimes, being charged with a crime – even if a judge or jury has not yet determined whether an individual is guilty or innocent – can lead to profound cons...

It comes as no surprise that being charged with sexual assault or stalking can have serious long-term consequences. Your personal and professional reputation can be tarnished, and if you work in education or healthcare, the accusations may put your job or professional certification at risk. But o...

Juvenile curfews are spreading across NJ, with teens from Sea Isle City to Long Beach restricted in where they can go after dark without an adult. The reason? There's a growing concern over juvenile crime rates in NJ. Proponents believe that curfews keep juveniles safe and reduce crime levels, bu...

According to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, American kids and teens between the ages of 8-18 spend an average of 7.5 hours each day in front of screens for entertainment purposes alone. Consuming so much media on screens has affected the attention spans of the nation's youth, so it's pe...

In a recent development out of Pennsylvania, two Dauphin County men, Tyreese Lewis, 22, of Harrisburg, and Carl Gonzalez, 19, of Highspire, were arrested and charged with an elaborate bank fraud operation. This operation allegedly involved impersonating both bank employees and customers, leading ...

Animal cruelty is one of those crimes that can be an indicator of propensity to commit other violent crimes. In fact, studies have shown—and law enforcement subscribes to the idea that—there exists a link between animal cruelty and human violence. An animal cruelty accusation can cast a long shad...

Can you go to jail for hosting a house party in New Jersey? Possibly—if criminal activities are taking place under your roof. You might also get in trouble if your house is used by someone else for a party, say, if your kids host a party while you're out of town. There might be serious repercussi...

In New Jersey alone, some 52,000 teenagers (ages 12 to 17) say they've used drugs of some sort in the last month. That's less than the national average—in fact, NJ teens are 7.49% less likely to use drugs than their counterparts in other states—but that statistic is cold comfort for a parent who'...

According to statistics compiled by the Pew Research Center, fully 40% of Americans report having experienced harassment online. What's more, half of those cite politics as the reason. That's probably no surprise, given the divisive political landscape in America—not to mention the vitriolic atmo...

In New Jersey, one person can file a restraining order (RO) against another if they feel their physical safety is at risk. Until recently, however, you could only get an RO for domestic violence—meaning you had to have a prior relationship with the person. A new state law has changed this restric...

Challenging and emotional situations are often amplified if children are involved. Not only are there a myriad of local, state, and federal laws protecting them, but there are also moral complexities that can have profound implications for all parties involved. One such circumstance raising conce...

Getting charged with a prostitution or solicitation crime in New Jersey can be humiliating. It can also result in serious long-term consequences—New Jersey has strict laws for sex crimes. It's a high price to pay for what may have been a simple misunderstanding. This will help you understand exac...

In New Jersey, it's illegal to intentionally confine or restrain someone against their will. Restraining someone that you have a domestic relationship with, such as a spouse or family member, can result in a domestic violence crime. What happens if you are charged and convicted of false imprison...

Divorce is never easy, especially if you and your former spouse have children. Trying to figure out how to co-parent adds another complication, even if you and your ex are still on good terms. In some situations, one parent may even be accused of trying to turn the kids against the other parent—k...

As expected, law enforcement agencies take reports of kidnapping very seriously. In fact, such instances often garner the help of the public to share photos of the victim on social media in hopes of guaranteeing a safe return. The same fastidiousness, though, is placed on those who submit false c...

Credit card fraud is one of the most common crimes in the United States, and gas stations are a favorite location for this type of activity. In a recent case, a New Jersey man was arrested for using information from stolen credit cards to pay for diesel fuel at gas stations in New York, which he ...

Just across the Delaware River from New Jersey in neighboring Easton, Pennsylvania, a member of the city council was recently charged after she reportedly “slapped, punched and head-butted someone” at her home “multiple times.” Arrested by police who were called to her home, she pleaded not guilt...

Producing or possessing material that depicts the sexual exploitation of a minor is a felony offense in the state of New Jersey, leading to 15-30 years in prison. New Jersey laws aren't the only ones you have to worry about, though. Federal laws against the production, distribution, and possessio...

Smart tech is taking over our homes. Just five or ten years ago, the technology in our homes was pretty much limited to computers, tablets, and phones. Now, it has seeped into every room of the house. Doorbell cameras monitor the exterior of houses all down the block. Refrigerators have video scr...