New Jersey statute

N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2 — Bribery in official and political matters

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

Part of Chapter 27, New Jersey Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Bribery in official and political matters

Full text of N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2

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:27-2Primary source, current through the P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22

A person is guilty of bribery if he directly or indirectly offers, confers or agrees to confer upon another, or solicits, accepts or agrees to accept from another: a. Any benefit as consideration for a decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or exercise of discretion of a public servant, party official or voter on any public issue or in any public election; or b. Any benefit as consideration for a decision, vote, recommendation or exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding; or c. Any benefit as consideration for a violation of an official duty of a public servant or party official; or d. Any benefit as consideration for the performance of official duties. For the purposes of this section "benefit as consideration" shall be deemed to mean any benefit not authorized by law. It is no defense to prosecution under this section that a person whom the actor sought to influence was not qualified to act in the desired way whether because he had not yet assumed office, or lacked jurisdiction, or for any other reason. In any prosecution under this section of an actor who offered, conferred or agreed to confer, or who solicited, accepted or agreed to accept a benefit, it is no defense that he did so as a result of conduct by another constituting theft by extortion or coercion or an attempt to commit either of those crimes. Any offense proscribed by this section is a crime of the second degree. If the benefit offered, conferred, agreed to be conferred, solicited, accepted or agreed to be accepted is of the value of $200.00 or less, any offense proscribed by this section is a crime of the third degree. L.1978, c. 95, s. 2C:27-2, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by L.1979, c. 178, s. 48, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.

Official sources

justia: N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

What degree of offense is bribery in official and political matters in New Jersey?

It depends on the circumstances: bribery in official and political matters ranges from a crime of the third degree to a crime of the second degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2.

Bribery - general: crime of the second degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2) · Bribery - benefit $200 or less: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2)

Which New Jersey statute covers bribery in official and political matters?

Bribery in official and political matters is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2 (Bribery in official and political matters).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.