Domestic violence affects all corners of our society, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, gender, profession, religion, or geographic location. Bergen County, New Jersey, is no different. Of the 63,058 domestic violence offenses that were reported statewide in 2020, 3,377 came from Bergen County.
Bergen is New Jersey's most populated county, with 955,732 residents in 2020 living throughout 70 municipalities, including two villages, three cities, and 56 boroughs. This includes its county seat and most populous city, Hackensack, as well as Mahwah, which has the largest geographic area in Bergen County.
Regardless of the county's size and population, any number of domestic violence offenses is too many. Statewide, 40 residents, on average, lose their lives in domestic violence homicides. In Bergen County, domestic violence victims make up 90 percent of its homicide victims.
In New Jersey, there are a number of crimes that fall under the category of domestic violence, depending on the circumstances, according to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (PDVA). They include:
- Homicide
- Assault
- Terroristic threats
- Stalking
- Kidnapping
- Criminal restraint
- False imprisonment
- Sexual assault
- Criminal sexual contact
- Lewdness
- Criminal mischief
- Burglary
- Criminal trespass
- Harassment
- Criminal coercion
- Robbery
- Contempt of a restraining order
- Any other crime involving the risk of death or serious bodily injury to a person protected under the PDVA
The Lento Law Firm wants to protect your safety and your rights. Seeking help with a domestic violence case from the plaintiff's or the defendant's position can feel daunting, but you don't need to go through it alone. Our Family Law Team has guided countless families through the New Jersey court system. Reach out to our Family Law Team today by calling 888-535-3686 or using our online form.
Domestic Violence Cases in Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County also has its own explanation of domestic violence, which it describes as “a repeat pattern of abusive behaviors that are used to gain or maintain power and control over a person or the relationship.” Other names for this crime include Intimate Partner Violence and Dating Abuse. Under the Domestic violence umbrella, the Bergen County Department of Human Services Division of Alternatives to Domestic Violence explains, is conduct involving physical, emotional, sexual, psychological, or economic actions or threats that aim to prevent a person from ending the relationship with the accused.
When someone is reported for committing an act of Domestic Violence in Bergen County, it is the County Prosecutor's Office Domestic Violence Unit, headquartered in Hackensack, that is responsible for prosecution.
Applying for a Restraining Order in the Bergen County Superior Court
Tools to prevent domestic violence crimes from happening include the restraining order (RO), and individuals can apply for these through the Family Division Office of the Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. In the event of an emergency restraining order need, the county instructs individuals to contact police. Find additional details about filing for a restraining order in New Jersey here.
A restraining order bans someone from having contact with the petitioner. This could include a mandate to stay away from their family, their friends, their residence, their place of employment, or other locations that they frequent. Restraining orders may also include directions about financial issues or parenting issues (e.g., child support) in the relationship.
The restraining order could be temporary (TRO) or final (FRO). In the former case, the order stays in effect until a court hearing with both parties takes place. In the latter, the order is permanent (unless the victim requests to vacate the order at a later date).
If a defendant violates the “no contact” part of the restraining order, they can be arrested and charged with a crime. If they violate parts of the order that pertain to parenting or finances, the plaintiff needs to file for relief in the Bergen Family Division Office.
The Family Law Team at the Lento Law Firm is Your Ally
There are other protections included in New Jersey's Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, including mandates for when police must make an arrest, as well as several civil protections for victims.
The Family Law Team at the Lento Law Firm can help you navigate these protections as you take steps toward reclaiming your freedom from intimidation or violence or toward defending yourself. We also encourage those seeking to update or make changes to existing restraining orders in Bergen County to learn how we can help you through this process. Contact us by calling 888-535-3686 or using our online form.