New Jersey criminal charge
Criminal coercion in New Jersey
Criminal coercion is a criminal offense under New Jersey law, defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:13-5. 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:13-5.
What is the penalty for criminal coercion in New Jersey?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 18 months (Criminal coercion - base offense — Applies when the coercive threat does not involve committing a crime more serious than a fourth degree offense and the actor's purpose is not criminal.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs)) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Criminal coercion - base offense — Applies when the coercive threat does not involve committing a crime more serious than a fourth degree offense and the actor's purpose is not criminal.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3)) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Jail / prison | 3 years to 5 years (Criminal coercion - serious threat or criminal purpose — Applies when the threat is to commit a crime more serious than one of the fourth degree, or the actor's purpose in coercing is itself criminal.; 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 (Criminal coercion - serious threat or criminal purpose — Applies when the threat is to commit a crime more serious than one of the fourth degree, or the actor's purpose in coercing is itself criminal.; 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 criminal coercion classified in New Jersey?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal coercion - base offense | Crime of the Fourth Degree | Applies when the coercive threat does not involve committing a crime more serious than a fourth degree offense and the actor's purpose is not criminal. | N.J.S.A. 2C:13-5undefined |
| Criminal coercion - serious threat or criminal purpose | Crime of the Third Degree | Applies when the threat is to commit a crime more serious than one of the fourth degree, or the actor's purpose in coercing is itself criminal. | N.J.S.A. 2C:13-5undefined |
Common questions about criminal coercion in New Jersey
What degree of offense is criminal coercion in New Jersey?
It depends on the circumstances: criminal coercion ranges from a Crime of the Fourth Degree to a Crime of the Third Degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:13-5.
Criminal coercion - base offense: Crime of the Fourth Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:13-5) · Criminal coercion - serious threat or criminal purpose: Crime of the Third Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:13-5)
What are the penalties for criminal coercion in New Jersey?
Penalties for criminal coercion in New Jersey depend on how it is classified — from a Crime of the Fourth Degree up to a Crime of the Third 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 criminal coercion?
Criminal coercion is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:13-5 (Criminal coercion).
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.