New jersey criminal charge
Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function in New jersey
Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function is a criminal offense under New jersey law, defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1. 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:29-1.
What is the penalty for obstructing administration of law or other governmental function in New jersey?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 18 months (no statutory minimum) (Obstruction relating to detection/investigation/prosecution of a crime — Applies when the obstruction is of the detection or investigation of a crime, or the prosecution of a person for a crime.; 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 10000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Obstruction relating to detection/investigation/prosecution of a crime — Applies when the obstruction is of the detection or investigation of a crime, or the prosecution of a person for a crime.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3)) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (no statutory minimum) (General obstruction (not crime-related) — Applies to all other obstruction not involving the detection, investigation, or prosecution of a crime.; not a crime under the NJ Constitution (2C:1-4); municipal court) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 |
| Fine | up to 1000 usd (no statutory minimum) (General obstruction (not crime-related) — Applies to all other obstruction not involving the detection, investigation, or prosecution of a crime.) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 |
Applies to current.
How is obstructing administration of law or other governmental function classified in New jersey?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obstruction relating to detection/investigation/prosecution of a crime | crime of the fourth degree | Applies when the obstruction is of the detection or investigation of a crime, or the prosecution of a person for a crime. | N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1undefined |
| General obstruction (not crime-related) | disorderly persons offense | Applies to all other obstruction not involving the detection, investigation, or prosecution of a crime. | N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1undefined |
Common questions about obstructing administration of law or other governmental function in New jersey
What degree of offense is obstructing administration of law or other governmental function in New Jersey?
It depends on the circumstances: obstructing administration of law or other governmental function ranges from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the fourth degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1.
Obstruction relating to detection/investigation/prosecution of a crime: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1) · General obstruction (not crime-related): disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1)
What are the penalties for obstructing administration of law or other governmental function in New Jersey?
Penalties for obstructing administration of law or other governmental function in New Jersey depend on how it is classified — from a disorderly persons offense up to a crime of the fourth degree — with the ranges set by N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 and N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which New Jersey statute covers obstructing administration of law or other governmental function?
Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1 (Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function).
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.