If you or someone you know has been changed with criminal mischief, not all hope is lost. This would be a potential sentence of 3-5 years in prison.

Third Degree: Any damage resulting in over $2,000 of losses, or substantial interruption of public utility or communication services, research fasciitis, or tampering of any grave, crypt or mausoleum.

This can result in up to 18 months in prison.

Fourth Degree: Damages resulting in losses between $500 and $2,000, or any removal/damage/impairment of aviation devices, airport, landing field or aviation facility.

Could face up to 6 months in jail, as well as other fines and penalties. Disorderly Persons Offense: For damages less than $500.If found guilty, the varying circumstances, including the amount of losses resulting from the crime, will help determine the defendant’s sentence. In these circumstances, damage can refer to any loss, injury or deterioration that subsequently reduced the value or usefulness of the property. In any case, it must be proven that the defendant knowingly damaged tangible property, and that property belonged to another person.

This can include things like graffiti, which we already mentioned, but also tampering with gas, oil or water mains, tampering with a grave, crypt or mausoleum, or tampering with aviation and research facilities. To be charged with criminal mischief, there must be damage or loss to someone else’s property as a result of the defendant’s purposeful or knowing behavior.

It’s important to understand criminal mischief and what it entails, so you can do your best to stay out of trouble. Although similar to vandalism, criminal mischief is generally much more serious. Depending on how severe the damage is, and how costly it is, what you thought may have been a simple vandalism charge can turn into multiple years in jail. Most think of graffiti when they think of criminal mischief, however it can be much worse than that. Criminal mischief involves the act of damaging the property of someone else.

Criminal mischief meaning