New jersey criminal charge
Tampering with public records or information in New jersey
Tampering with public records or information is a criminal offense under New jersey law, defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:28-7. 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:28-7.
What is the penalty for tampering with public records or information in New jersey?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (no statutory minimum) (Tampering without purpose to defraud or injure — Applies when a person commits an offense under subsection a. without purpose to defraud or injure anyone.; 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) (Tampering without purpose to defraud or injure — Applies when a person commits an offense under subsection a. without purpose to defraud or injure anyone.) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 |
| Jail / prison | 3 years to 5 years (Tampering with purpose to defraud or injure — Applies when the actor's purpose in committing the subsection a. offense is to defraud or injure anyone.; 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 15000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Tampering with purpose to defraud or injure — Applies when the actor's purpose in committing the subsection a. offense is to defraud or injure anyone.; 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 (no statutory minimum) (Tampering with patrol vehicle recording device — Applies when a person purposely and unlawfully alters, destroys, conceals, removes or disables a camera or monitoring device installed in a patrol vehicle.; 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) (Tampering with patrol vehicle recording device — Applies when a person purposely and unlawfully alters, destroys, conceals, removes or disables a camera or monitoring device installed in a patrol vehicle.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3)) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
Applies to current.
How is tampering with public records or information classified in New jersey?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampering without purpose to defraud or injure | disorderly persons offense | Applies when a person commits an offense under subsection a. without purpose to defraud or injure anyone. | N.J.S.A. 2C:28-7undefined |
| Tampering with purpose to defraud or injure | crime of the third degree | Applies when the actor's purpose in committing the subsection a. offense is to defraud or injure anyone. | N.J.S.A. 2C:28-7undefined |
| Tampering with patrol vehicle recording device | crime of the fourth degree | Applies when a person purposely and unlawfully alters, destroys, conceals, removes or disables a camera or monitoring device installed in a patrol vehicle. | N.J.S.A. 2C:28-7undefined |
Common questions about tampering with public records or information in New jersey
What degree of offense is tampering with public records or information in New Jersey?
It depends on the circumstances: tampering with public records or information ranges from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the third degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:28-7.
Tampering without purpose to defraud or injure: disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:28-7) · Tampering with purpose to defraud or injure: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:28-7) · Tampering with patrol vehicle recording device: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:28-7)
What are the penalties for tampering with public records or information in New Jersey?
Penalties for tampering with public records or information in New Jersey depend on how it is classified — from a disorderly persons offense up to a crime of the third degree — with the ranges set by N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 and N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which New Jersey statute covers tampering with public records or information?
Tampering with public records or information is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:28-7 (Tampering with public records or information).
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.