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New jersey criminal charge

Unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses in New jersey

Current through 2026 New Jersey legislative session

Unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses is a criminal offense under New jersey law, defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3. 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:18-3.

What is the penalty for unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses in New jersey?

Penalties for Unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prisonup to 18 months (no statutory minimum) (Unlicensed entry - school or school property — Unlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in a school or on school property.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Fineup to 10000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Unlicensed entry - school or school property — Unlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in a school or on school property.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Jail / prisonup to 18 months (no statutory minimum) (Unlicensed entry - dwelling — Unlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in a dwelling.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Fineup to 10000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Unlicensed entry - dwelling — Unlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in a dwelling.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Jail / prisonup to 18 months (no statutory minimum) (Unlicensed entry - hazardous/utility/critical facility — Unlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in a research, power, waste treatment, sewage, water treatment, nuclear, or hazardous chemical facility.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Fineup to 10000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Unlicensed entry - hazardous/utility/critical facility — Unlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in a research, power, waste treatment, sewage, water treatment, nuclear, or hazardous chemical facility.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Jail / prisonup to 18 months (no statutory minimum) (Unlicensed entry - utility company property — Unlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in or upon utility company property.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Fineup to 10000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Unlicensed entry - utility company property — Unlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in or upon utility company property.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Jail / prisonup to 18 months (no statutory minimum) (Unlicensed entry - airport sterile/operational area — Unlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in the sterile area or operational area of an airport.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Fineup to 10000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Unlicensed entry - airport sterile/operational area — Unlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in the sterile area or operational area of an airport.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Jail / prisonup to 6 months (no statutory minimum) (Unlicensed entry - default/other location — Unlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining occurs in a location not specifically enumerated as a fourth-degree location.; not a crime under the NJ Constitution (2C:1-4); municipal court)discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-8
Fineup to 1000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Unlicensed entry - default/other location — Unlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining occurs in a location not specifically enumerated as a fourth-degree location.)discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-8
Jail / prisonup to 30 days (no statutory minimum) (Defiant trespasser — A person enters or remains in a place after notice against trespass is given by communication, posting, or enclosure.; not a crime under the NJ Constitution (2C:1-4); municipal court)discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-8
Fineup to 500 usd (no statutory minimum) (Defiant trespasser — A person enters or remains in a place after notice against trespass is given by communication, posting, or enclosure.)discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-8
Jail / prisonup to 18 months (no statutory minimum) (Peering into dwelling places — A person peers into a window or opening of a dwelling or overnight-accommodation structure to invade privacy under circumstances where observation is not expected.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Fineup to 10000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Peering into dwelling places — A person peers into a window or opening of a dwelling or overnight-accommodation structure to invade privacy under circumstances where observation is not expected.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6

Applies to current.

How is unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses classified in New jersey?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
Unlicensed entry - school or school propertycrime of the fourth degreeUnlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in a school or on school property.N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3undefined
Unlicensed entry - dwellingcrime of the fourth degreeUnlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in a dwelling.N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3undefined
Unlicensed entry - hazardous/utility/critical facilitycrime of the fourth degreeUnlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in a research, power, waste treatment, sewage, water treatment, nuclear, or hazardous chemical facility.N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3undefined
Unlicensed entry - utility company propertycrime of the fourth degreeUnlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in or upon utility company property.N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3undefined
Unlicensed entry - airport sterile/operational areacrime of the fourth degreeUnlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining is committed in the sterile area or operational area of an airport.N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3undefined
Unlicensed entry - default/other locationdisorderly persons offenseUnlicensed entry or surreptitious remaining occurs in a location not specifically enumerated as a fourth-degree location.N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3undefined
Defiant trespasserpetty disorderly persons offenseA person enters or remains in a place after notice against trespass is given by communication, posting, or enclosure.N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3undefined
Peering into dwelling placescrime of the fourth degreeA person peers into a window or opening of a dwelling or overnight-accommodation structure to invade privacy under circumstances where observation is not expected.N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3undefined

Common questions about unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses in New jersey

What degree of offense is unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses in New Jersey?

It depends on the circumstances: unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses ranges from a petty disorderly persons offense to a crime of the fourth degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3.

Unlicensed entry - school or school property: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3) · Unlicensed entry - dwelling: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3) · Unlicensed entry - hazardous/utility/critical facility: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3) · Unlicensed entry - utility company property: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3) · Unlicensed entry - airport sterile/operational area: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3) · Unlicensed entry - default/other location: disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3) · Defiant trespasser: petty disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3) · Peering into dwelling places: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3)

What are the penalties for unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses in New Jersey?

Penalties for unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses in New Jersey depend on how it is classified — from a petty 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 unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses?

Unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3 (Unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses).

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.