Passaic County NJ Murder Defense Attorney

Homicide Defense Lawyer with Offices in Totowa and Denville, New Jersey

Passionate, aggressive criminal defense attorney Alissa D. Hascup represents clients throughout New Jersey, including Paterson, Totowa, Clifton, Wayne, Morristown, Dover, and Denville, who have been charged with violent crimes and offenses such as murder, aggravated assault, manslaughter, and terroristic threats.

Ms. Hascup has successfully handled thousands of cases in New Jersey, in both Superior Court (indictable/felony level offenses) and Municipal Court (disorderly persons/misdemeanor level offenses). She is a former special deputy attorney general and assistant county prosecutor. During her distinguished prosecutorial career, Ms. Alissa D. Hascup handled cases ranging from murder and sexual assault to robbery and drug offenses. Now she is fighting for YOU.

If you are facing murder charges in New Jersey, your freedom is at stake. It is critical that you have an aggressive defense lawyer representing your interests and protecting your rights at all stages of the criminal process. Alissa D. Hascup will use her skills and experience to attack the State’s case, exploit its weaknesses, and put you in a position to achieve the best possible result. Contact Ms. Hascup anytime for an initial consultation, which is always provided free of charge.

Murder in New Jersey: N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3

Murder is codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, which provides:

Criminal homicide constitutes murder when:

The actor purposely causes death or serious bodily injury resulting in death; or
The actor knowingly causes death or serious bodily injury resulting in death; or
It is committed when the actor, acting either alone or with one or more other persons, is engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit robbery, sexual assault, arson, burglary, kidnapping, carjacking, criminal escape or terrorism, and in the course of such crime or of immediate flight therefrom, any person causes the death of a person other than one of the participants;

EXCEPTIONS: in any prosecution under this subsection, in which the defendant was not the only participant in the underlying crime, it is an affirmative defense that the defendant:

Did not commit the homicidal act or in any way solicit, request, command, importune, cause or aid the commission thereof; and
Was not armed with a deadly weapon, or any instrument, article or substance readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury and or a sort not ordinarily carried in public places by law-abiding persons; and
Had no reasonable ground to believe that any other participant was armed with such a weapon, instrument, article or substance; and
Had no reasonable ground to believe that any other participant intended to engage in conduct likely to result in death or serious physical injury.

Penalties for Homicide/Murder in New Jersey

Murder is a crime of the first degree – the most serious under our Criminal Code. Normally, a crime of the first degree is punishable by a period of between 10 to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison. However, a person convicted of the crime of Murder is subject to a sentence of 30 years to life, with a minimum of 30 years that must be served before the person is eligible for parole. Notably, there are a number of circumstances that will subject a person to a sentence of life without parole including:

If the victim was a law enforcement officer and was murdered while performing his official duties or was murdered because of his status as a law enforcement officer.
If the victim was less than 14 years old and the act was committed in the course of the commission, whether alone or with one or more persons, of an act of Sexual Assault or Criminal Sexual Contact.

There are also certain circumstances that mandate serving the sentence in a maximum security prison.

Contact a NJ Murder Defense Lawyer for a Free Consultation

If you find yourself in a situation where you have been charged with murder, it is important that you seek legal representation without delay. The consequences of a murder conviction are life-altering. Criminal defense lawyer Alissa D. Hascup is ready to defend you. Contact her office now for your free initial consultation about your case. She is available 24/7 at 862-257-1200.

If you are facing criminal charges in New Jersey, you want a battle-tested, aggressive criminal defense attorney on your side. Alissa D. Hascup will protect your rights and your freedom. She is highly skilled and incredibly motivated and puts clients first – always.

Please contact Ms. Hascup’s office today to request a free initial consultation about your criminal charges. She will review the facts of your case, answer your questions, and explain how she can best defend you.

Ms. Hascup can be reached 24/7. For your convenience, she offers night and weekend appointments, as well as virtual appointments.

Courts We Serve

In Passaic County, including Paterson, Clifton, Wayne, Passaic, West Milford, Hawthorne, Little Falls, Pompton Lakes, Ringwood, Woodland Park, Wanaque, Totowa, North Haledon, Haledon, Bloomingdale, and Prospect Park, in Morris County, including Morristown, Parsippany, Denville, Randolph, Rockaway, Madison, Boonton, Dover, East Hanover, Montville, Lincoln Park, Pequannock, Butler, and Riverdale, in Essex County, including Newark, East Orange, West Orange, South Orange, Irvington, Bloomfield, Montclair, Belleville, Nutley, Maplewood, Millburn, Verona, Cedar Grove, West Caldwell, Glen Ridge, Fairfield, and Roseland.

Offices

Alissa D. Hascup, Esq.