New Jersey statute

N.J.S.A. 2C:22-1 — Disturbing, desecrating human remains; offenses

Current through P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22

Part of Chapter 22, New Jersey Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Disturbing, desecrating human remains; offenses

Full text of N.J.S.A. 2C:22-1

Statutory text current through the P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22. This publication reproduces the official text of the New Jersey Statutes from the statute files published by the New Jersey Legislature; it is not the official statutes of the State of New Jersey.

N.J.S.A. 2C:22-1Primary source, current through the P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22

1. a. A person commits a crime of the second degree if he: (1) Unlawfully disturbs, moves or conceals human remains; (2) Unlawfully desecrates, damages or destroys human remains; or (3) Commits an act of sexual penetration or sexual contact, as defined in N.J.S.2C:14-1, upon human remains. b. A person commits a crime of the third degree if he purposely or knowingly fails to dispose of human remains in a manner required by law. c. As used in this act, "human remains" means the body of a deceased person or the dismembered part of a body of a living person but does not include cremated remains. d. Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to any act performed in accordance with law, including but not limited to the "State Medical Examiner Act," P.L.1967, c.234 (C.52:17B-78 et al.); the "Mortuary Science Act," P.L.1952, c.340 (C.45:7-32 et seq.); the provisions of chapters 6 and 7 of Title 26 of the Revised Statutes concerning disposal of dead bodies and cremation; the "New Jersey Cemetery Act," N.J.S.8A:1-1 et seq.; a criminal investigation conducted by a law enforcement authority; or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction or other appropriate legal authority. Nothing in this section shall be construed to criminalize any good faith action involving interment or disinterment which disturbs, moves, conceals, desecrates, damages or destroys human remains. L.2002,c.127,s.1.

Official sources

justia: N.J.S.A. 2C:22-1

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

What degree of offense is disturbing, desecrating human remains; offenses in New Jersey?

It depends on the circumstances: disturbing, desecrating human remains; offenses ranges from a crime of the third degree to a crime of the second degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:22-1.

Unlawful disturbance, desecration, or sexual violation of human remains: crime of the second degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:22-1) · Failure to properly dispose of human remains: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:22-1)

Which New Jersey statute covers disturbing, desecrating human remains; offenses?

Disturbing, desecrating human remains; offenses is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:22-1 (Disturbing, desecrating human remains; offenses).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.