The Penalties for Perjury in New Jersey
Perjury is the act of lying or making verifiably false statements while under oath. Often, the penalties for perjury are as serious as the criminal act about which the individual was allegedly lying. Therefore, it is crucial that individuals do not speak under oath or with a law enforcement authority without first discussing their situation with an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Perjury may be charged as a misdemeanor or as a felony. The severity of the penalties someone may face for an act of perjury in New Jersey is often determined by the purported importance of the testimony in question. Unfortunately, there are many acts that may be considered perjury and all of them have varying degrees of potential outcomes.
Under New Jersey law, an individual does not have to be under oath to commit perjury. Providing a false report to a law enforcement official during an investigation can be considered perjury. Giving false information on an official document, such as an application or form, may also be considered perjury. Lying on an application for a handgun, for example, can result in felony charges. It often takes a skilled attorney to understand the severity of the crime and how to fight the resulting penalties.
The experienced New Jersey perjury defense attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein have a long and successful track record of handling white collar crimes such as perjury. If you or a loved one has been accused of perjury in New Jersey, please contact our offices at (609) 240-0040 for a no-cost consultation.
