While the importance of mental health care is becoming a more prominent social focus, the availability of mental health care is still a problem. About 60% of therapists aren't accepting new patients. There is a shortage of therapists overall and a shortage of male therapists in particular; only a...

A poor decision coupled with present-day increased school security protocols led to trouble for two juveniles recently in Metuchen, New Jersey. According to reports, the two found their way into Metuchen High School during the morning of a school day. Normally this would not be a problem – excep...

If you've been accused of domestic violence in New Jersey, your text messages can easily become part of the case against you. Text messaging has become second nature to many of us. In many cases, it's a wonderful convenience, allowing us to instantly communicate with friends, families, and other...

Text messaging is a quick and easy way to communicate with anyone, from a work colleague to a romantic partner. The downside, though, is that it's easy to say something you might regret later – and once the message is out there, it's difficult to retract. If you're facing a restraining order (RO...

On April 3, 2023, a federal appellate court ruled that John Jackson, a former U.S. Army major, and his wife Carolyn must be resentenced a fourth time for their child endangerment conviction. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit took this unusual step because it determined the New Jerse...

Under current New Jersey law, restraining orders are only granted in cases that involve a personal or intimate relationship unless there is a criminal conviction. A person who is being threatened can petition for a restraining order against their spouse or domestic partner, but not against a neig...

The crime of “criminal mischief” may be one of the least-understood crimes that still appears most often in local news reports. Part of the problem is with its use of the word “mischief.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines “mischief” as “behavior, especially a child's, that is slightly bad but is n...

Last month, a Hillsborough resident reported seeing a man masturbating outside of his Meadowbrook Drive home in Somerset County, New Jersey. Recent press reports that a suspect has been arrested and charged with the incident as well as two similar incidents from the fall of 2018. According to th...

The current debate over changes to NJ Restraining Order (RO) law highlights the balancing act between modernizing and expanding the law while also preventing misuse. The NJ Senate recently held a hearing on changes to the law proposed by Senator Jon Bramnick. The Bramnick Bill proposes expanding ...

When researching an individual, whether for personal reasons or for a job background check, many people use Google or online databases. For individuals identified through media as suspects in criminal investigations, this presence on Google can be devastating. People researching you may see dated...

Visitors from around the world come to New Jersey to take advantage of all the state has to offer. Tourists enjoy the state's numerous and diverse cultural offerings, beautiful beaches, and quaint seaside towns. Business travelers fly in to work with Fortune 500 companies in a wide range of indus...

A recent lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of NJ's Child Abuse Registry, under which a person may be placed for a lifetime, regardless of how much time passes after the offense. Once you receive notice of possible placement on the Registry, you have only 20 days to challenge the placement....

Divorce is never easy. As you moved forward through the process of dissolving your marriage, you took care and time to determine a co-parenting plan based on your children's needs – and you and your ex-partner's capabilities. But what happens when circumstances change, like in the case of a prolo...

For anyone who has suffered childhood trauma, the results of recent studies are unsurprising: Having one or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to many ill effects in adolescence and adulthood. In general, ACEs are defined as potentially traumatic events that occur up to age 17 and...

At different points in your life, you may be asked to take a drug test. You may be applying for a new job. You may be taking on a supervisory role at your current gig. There may have been an accident or workplace incident. Your school may request one. Or, maybe, your doctor is requesting a drug t...

In the Catholic Church, the act of confession is a sacrament – the first step toward reconciliation, restitution, and, ultimately, redemption. Historically, anything shared with a priest during the act of confession was protected by law. Confession is considered a “sacred space” – and even if the...

Language barriers and cultural incompetence on the part of law enforcement can often lead to an unjust encounter for those of a non-English speaking background. When those factors are amplified by what appears to be a heated domestic dispute, one or both parties could wind up being wrongfully det...

What happens when victims of domestic violence in New Jersey become the alleged offenders? At first, this notion may seem outlandish, but this happens more often than many would suspect. Victims of domestic violence may be charged with a violent crime in New Jersey if they fight back against thei...

The New Jersey expungement process for drug-related crimes can be complicated. There's a lot of red tape to navigate even when you do qualify for an expungement. First, it's important to understand that not every crime can be expunged. Drug crimes that qualify for NJ expungement include manufactu...

When the pandemic hit in 2020, it forced significant others into enclosed spaces with no escape for months. In turn, the number of domestic violence cases rose just over 8% during the lockdowns. Partners could not get away from one another, triggers arose, and violence ensued. Unfortunately, the ...

Those accused of domestic violence face swift punishment in a court of law and in the court of public opinion. While it's important victims of domestic violence are protected from harm, we need to develop a deeper understanding of the circumstances that cause domestic violence to begin with. Soc...

Many things may run through your mind if you're facing a possible criminal conviction, but how it could impact your credit score may not be at the top of that list. Regardless of what the conviction is for, you will want to move on with your life, and an impact on your credit score would have a p...

Restraining orders can be useful for judges and courts to help manage dangerous situations between people. When a restraining order is granted, it will typically include certain conditions that the defendant must follow in order to comply with the order. These requirements are in effect until the...

Drug use is an epidemic today. According to the state of New Jersey, there were more than 80,000 people admitted to drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs in New Jersey in 2020. But even more shockingly, there were more than 31,000 deaths from opioid use in the U.S. in 2019, many of those from...