New Jersey criminal charge
Corrupting or influencing a jury in New Jersey
Corrupting or influencing a jury is a criminal offense under New Jersey law, defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:29-8. Its classification is not fixed: New Jersey assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:29-8.
What is the penalty for corrupting or influencing a jury in New Jersey?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 10 years to 20 years (Force/threat in connection with enumerated violent crimes — Applies when the conduct occurs in connection with an official proceeding involving one of the enumerated crimes (e.g., murder, kidnapping, robbery) and the actor employs force or threat of force.; presumption of imprisonment (2C:44-1(d))) | presumptive | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to $200,000 (Force/threat in connection with enumerated violent crimes — Applies when the conduct occurs in connection with an official proceeding involving one of the enumerated crimes (e.g., murder, kidnapping, robbery) and the actor employs force or threat of force.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3); offense-specific ceilings may exceed) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Jail / prison | 5 years to 10 years (Force/threat not involving enumerated crimes — Applies when the actor employs force or threat of force but the underlying proceeding does not involve any of the crimes listed in subsection a.; presumption of imprisonment (2C:44-1(d))) | presumptive | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Force/threat not involving enumerated crimes — Applies when the actor employs force or threat of force but the underlying proceeding does not involve any of the crimes listed in subsection a.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3); offense-specific ceilings may exceed) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Jail / prison | 3 years to 5 years (General/otherwise offense — Applies to all other instances of corrupting or influencing a jury not involving force or threat of force as described in subsections a. or b.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs)) | presumptive | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to $15,000 (General/otherwise offense — Applies to all other instances of corrupting or influencing a jury not involving force or threat of force as described in subsections a. or b.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3); offense-specific ceilings may exceed) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
Applies to current.
How is corrupting or influencing a jury classified in New Jersey?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Force/threat in connection with enumerated violent crimes | Crime of the First Degree | Applies when the conduct occurs in connection with an official proceeding involving one of the enumerated crimes (e.g., murder, kidnapping, robbery) and the actor employs force or threat of force. | N.J.S.A. 2C:29-8undefined |
| Force/threat not involving enumerated crimes | Crime of the Second Degree | Applies when the actor employs force or threat of force but the underlying proceeding does not involve any of the crimes listed in subsection a. | N.J.S.A. 2C:29-8undefined |
| General/otherwise offense | Crime of the Third Degree | Applies to all other instances of corrupting or influencing a jury not involving force or threat of force as described in subsections a. or b. | N.J.S.A. 2C:29-8undefined |
Common questions about corrupting or influencing a jury in New Jersey
What degree of offense is corrupting or influencing a jury in New Jersey?
It depends on the circumstances: corrupting or influencing a jury ranges from a Crime of the Third Degree to a Crime of the First Degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-8.
Force/threat in connection with enumerated violent crimes: Crime of the First Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-8) · Force/threat not involving enumerated crimes: Crime of the Second Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-8) · General/otherwise offense: Crime of the Third Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-8)
What are the penalties for corrupting or influencing a jury in New Jersey?
Penalties for corrupting or influencing a jury in New Jersey depend on how it is classified — from a Crime of the Third Degree up to a Crime of the First Degree — with the ranges set by N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which New Jersey statute covers corrupting or influencing a jury?
Corrupting or influencing a jury is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:29-8 (Corrupting or influencing a jury).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.