New Jersey Criminal Defense Blog

Legislators all over the country have reacted to the tragic death of Caylee Anthony in Florida. Caylee was gone for over a month before her mother, Casey Anthony, reported her as missing to the authorities. According to NJ.com, Assemblyman Ralph Caputo has introduced a bill that would make it a crime in New Jersey to not report your child as missing within 12 hours. Senator Nick Sacco and Assemblyman John Wisnieski are sponsoring a bill that would make it a felony to not report the death of a child or that a child is missing within 24 hours. Casey Anthony was acquitted by a Florida jury earlier this month in connection with Caylee's death.

It is common for politicians and for society to react boldly and swiftly following a well-publicized tragedy. It is also common, however, for the immediate response to a negative situation to be over-reaching and detrimental to an individual's civil liberties. It is crucial that the children of New Jersey are protected, but it is also important to protect the rights of innocent parents.

Anyone facing a wrongful criminal charge in New Jersey would be well-advised to seek immediate legal guidance. The experienced Princeton criminal defense lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein have a long history of helping people who have been charged with a crime in New Jersey. If you are facing domestic violence or child abuse charges, the consequences can be devastating. You not only face the danger of losing your job and your freedom, but also the risk of having your children taken away from you. If you are facing criminal charges in New Jersey, please contact our law offices at 609-240-0040 to discuss your case at no cost.