New Jersey criminal charge
False public alarms in New Jersey
Current through 2026 New Jersey legislative session
False public alarms is a criminal offense under New Jersey law, defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3. 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:33-3.
What is the penalty for false public alarms in New Jersey?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 3 years to 5 years (Basic false public alarm — A person initiates or circulates a false or baseless report/warning of an impending incident likely to cause evacuation or public inconvenience or alarm.; 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 (Basic false public alarm — A person initiates or circulates a false or baseless report/warning of an impending incident likely to cause evacuation or public inconvenience or alarm.; 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 (False alarm re bombing/hostage/armed person/heightened response — The false alarm involves a bombing, hostage situation, person armed with a deadly weapon, or an incident eliciting an immediate or heightened law enforcement/emergency response.; presumption of imprisonment (2C:44-1(d))) | presumptive | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (False alarm re bombing/hostage/armed person/heightened response — The false alarm involves a bombing, hostage situation, person armed with a deadly weapon, or an incident eliciting an immediate or heightened law enforcement/emergency response.; 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 (False alarm re critical infrastructure — The false alarm involves a report or warning about critical infrastructure located in New Jersey.; presumption of imprisonment (2C:44-1(d))) | presumptive | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (False alarm re critical infrastructure — The false alarm involves a report or warning about critical infrastructure located in New Jersey.; 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 (False alarm transmitted to emergency organization — A person knowingly causes a false alarm to be transmitted to or within an emergency response organization.; 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 (False alarm transmitted to emergency organization — A person knowingly causes a false alarm to be transmitted to or within an emergency response organization.; 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 (Placing false or facsimile bomb — In addition to a report/warning under subsection a., the person places or causes to be placed a false or facsimile bomb in a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transport.; presumption of imprisonment (2C:44-1(d))) | presumptive | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Placing false or facsimile bomb — In addition to a report/warning under subsection a., the person places or causes to be placed a false or facsimile bomb in a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transport.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3); offense-specific ceilings may exceed) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Jail / prison | 10 years to 20 years (Placing false or facsimile bomb during declared emergency — The false/facsimile bomb placement offense under subsection b. occurs during a declared period of national, State, or county emergency.; presumption of imprisonment (2C:44-1(d))) | presumptive | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to $200,000 (Placing false or facsimile bomb during declared emergency — The false/facsimile bomb placement offense under subsection b. occurs during a declared period of national, State, or county emergency.; 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 (Subsection a. violation resulting in serious bodily injury or during declared emergency — A violation of subsection a. in fact results in serious bodily injury to another, or occurs during a declared period of national, State, or county emergency.; presumption of imprisonment (2C:44-1(d))) | presumptive | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Subsection a. violation resulting in serious bodily injury or during declared emergency — A violation of subsection a. in fact results in serious bodily injury to another, or occurs during a declared period of national, State, or county emergency.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3); offense-specific ceilings may exceed) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Jail / prison | 10 years to 20 years (Subsection a. violation resulting in death — A violation of subsection a. in fact results in the death of another person.; presumption of imprisonment (2C:44-1(d))) | presumptive | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to $200,000 (Subsection a. violation resulting in death — A violation of subsection a. in fact results in the death of another person.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3); offense-specific ceilings may exceed) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Jail / prison | up to 18 months (False 9-1-1 call without purpose to report — A person knowingly places a 9-1-1 call without any purpose of reporting a genuine need for 9-1-1 service.; 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 (False 9-1-1 call without purpose to report — A person knowingly places a 9-1-1 call without any purpose of reporting a genuine need for 9-1-1 service.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3)) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Jail / prison | 3 years to 5 years (9-1-1 call to intimidate or harass based on bias — A person knowingly places a 9-1-1 call with the purpose to intimidate or harass an individual or group based on a protected characteristic.; 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 (9-1-1 call to intimidate or harass based on bias — A person knowingly places a 9-1-1 call with the purpose to intimidate or harass an individual or group based on a protected characteristic.; 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 false public alarms classified in New Jersey?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic false public alarm | Crime of the Third Degree | A person initiates or circulates a false or baseless report/warning of an impending incident likely to cause evacuation or public inconvenience or alarm. | N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3undefined |
| False alarm re bombing/hostage/armed person/heightened response | Crime of the Second Degree | The false alarm involves a bombing, hostage situation, person armed with a deadly weapon, or an incident eliciting an immediate or heightened law enforcement/emergency response. | N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3undefined |
| False alarm re critical infrastructure | Crime of the Second Degree | The false alarm involves a report or warning about critical infrastructure located in New Jersey. | N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3undefined |
| False alarm transmitted to emergency organization | Crime of the Third Degree | A person knowingly causes a false alarm to be transmitted to or within an emergency response organization. | N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3undefined |
| Placing false or facsimile bomb | Crime of the Second Degree | In addition to a report/warning under subsection a., the person places or causes to be placed a false or facsimile bomb in a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transport. | N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3undefined |
| Placing false or facsimile bomb during declared emergency | Crime of the First Degree | The false/facsimile bomb placement offense under subsection b. occurs during a declared period of national, State, or county emergency. | N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3undefined |
| Subsection a. violation resulting in serious bodily injury or during declared emergency | Crime of the Second Degree | A violation of subsection a. in fact results in serious bodily injury to another, or occurs during a declared period of national, State, or county emergency. | N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3undefined |
| Subsection a. violation resulting in death | Crime of the First Degree | A violation of subsection a. in fact results in the death of another person. | N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3undefined |
| False 9-1-1 call without purpose to report | Crime of the Fourth Degree | A person knowingly places a 9-1-1 call without any purpose of reporting a genuine need for 9-1-1 service. | N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3undefined |
| 9-1-1 call to intimidate or harass based on bias | Crime of the Third Degree | A person knowingly places a 9-1-1 call with the purpose to intimidate or harass an individual or group based on a protected characteristic. | N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3undefined |
Common questions about false public alarms in New Jersey
What degree of offense is false public alarms in New Jersey?
It depends on the circumstances: false public alarms ranges from a Crime of the Fourth Degree to a Crime of the First Degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3.
Basic false public alarm: Crime of the Third Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3) · False alarm re bombing/hostage/armed person/heightened response: Crime of the Second Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3) · False alarm re critical infrastructure: Crime of the Second Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3) · False alarm transmitted to emergency organization: Crime of the Third Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3) · Placing false or facsimile bomb: Crime of the Second Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3) · Placing false or facsimile bomb during declared emergency: Crime of the First Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3) · Subsection a. violation resulting in serious bodily injury or during declared emergency: Crime of the Second Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3) · Subsection a. violation resulting in death: Crime of the First Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3) · False 9-1-1 call without purpose to report: Crime of the Fourth Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3) · 9-1-1 call to intimidate or harass based on bias: Crime of the Third Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3)
What are the penalties for false public alarms in New Jersey?
Penalties for false public alarms in New Jersey depend on how it is classified — from a Crime of the Fourth 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 false public alarms?
False public alarms is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3 (False public alarms).
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.