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New Jersey statute

N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3 — Hindering apprehension or prosecution

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

Part of Chapter 29, New Jersey Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3

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:29-3Primary source, current through the P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22
2C:29-3. Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution. a. A person commits an offense if, with purpose to hinder the detention, apprehension, investigation, prosecution, conviction or punishment of another for an offense or violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes or a violation of chapter 33A of Title 17 of the Revised Statutes he: (1) Harbors or conceals the other; (2) Provides or aids in providing a weapon, money, transportation, disguise or other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension or effecting escape; (3) Suppresses, by way of concealment or destruction, any evidence of the crime, or tampers with a witness, informant, document or other source of information, regardless of its admissibility in evidence, which might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person or in the lodging of a charge against him; (4) Warns the other of impending discovery or apprehension, except that this paragraph does not apply to a warning given in connection with an effort to bring another into compliance with law; (5) Prevents or obstructs, by means of force, intimidation or deception, anyone from performing an act which might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person or in the lodging of a charge against him; (6) Aids such person to protect or expeditiously profit from an advantage derived from such crime; or (7) Gives false information to a law enforcement officer or a civil State investigator assigned to the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor established by section 32 of P.L.1998, c.21 (C.17:33A-16). An offense under paragraph (5) of subsection a. of this section is a crime of the second degree, unless the actor is a spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union, parent or child to the person aided who is the victim of the offense, in which case the offense is a crime of the fourth degree. An offense under paragraph (3) or (7) of subsection a. of this section is a crime of the third degree if the conduct which the actor knows has been charged or is liable to be charged against another person would constitute leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident that results in the death of another person in violation of section 1 of P.L.1997, c.111 (C.2C:11-5.1). Notwithstanding the presumption of non-imprisonment for certain offenders set forth in subsection e. of N.J.S.2C:44-1, the actor shall serve a term of imprisonment, which shall be fixed at not less than one year, during which the actor shall not be eligible for parole.Otherwise, the offense under subsection a. of this section is a crime of the third degree if the conduct which the actor knows has been charged or is liable to be charged against the person aided would constitute a crime of the second degree or greater, unless the actor is a spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union, parent or child of the person aided, in which case the offense is a crime of the fourth degree. The offense is a crime of the fourth degree if such conduct would constitute a crime of the third degree. Otherwise it is a disorderly persons offense. b. A person commits an offense if, with purpose to hinder his own detention, apprehension, investigation, prosecution, conviction or punishment for an offense or violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes or a violation of chapter 33A of Title 17 of the Revised Statutes, he: (1) Suppresses, by way of concealment or destruction, any evidence of the crime or tampers with a document or other source of information, regardless of its admissibility in evidence, which might aid in his discovery or apprehension or in the lodging of a charge against him; or (2) Prevents or obstructs by means of force or intimidation anyone from performing an act which might aid in his discovery or apprehension or in the lodging of a charge against him; or (3) Prevents or obstructs by means of force, intimidation or deception any witness or informant from providing testimony or information, regardless of its admissibility, which might aid in his discovery or apprehension or in the lodging of a charge against him; or (4) Gives false information to a law enforcement officer or a civil State investigator assigned to the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor established by section 32 of P.L.1998, c.21 (C.17:33A-16). An offense under paragraph (3) of subsection b. of this section is a crime of the second degree. An offense under paragraph (1) or (4) of subsection b. of this section is a crime of the third degree if the conduct which the actor knows has been charged or is liable to be charged against him would constitute leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident that results in the death of another person in violation of section 1 of P.L.1997, c.111 (C.2C:11-5.1). Notwithstanding the presumption of non-imprisonment for certain offenders set forth in subsection e. of N.J.S.2C:44-1, the actor shall serve a term of imprisonment which shall be fixed at not less than one year, during which the actor shall not be eligible for parole. Otherwise, the offense under subsection b. of this section is a crime of the third degree if the conduct which the actor knows has been charged or is liable to be charged against him would constitute a crime of the second degree or greater. The offense is a crime of the fourth degree if such conduct would constitute a crime of the third degree. Otherwise it is a disorderly persons offense. amended 1981, c.290, s.29;1999, c.297; 2008, c.81, s.2; 2015, c.265.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

What degree of offense is animal owned, used by law enforcement agency, search and rescue dog, harming, threatening, interference with officer, degree of crime, penalties in New Jersey?

It depends on the circumstances: animal owned, used by law enforcement agency, search and rescue dog, harming, threatening, interference with officer, degree of crime, penalties ranges from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the third degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.1.

Purposely killing law enforcement/search and rescue animal: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.1) · Purposely maiming or inflicting harm: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.1) · Purposely threatening to kill, maim or harm: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.1) · Interference with law enforcement officer using animal: disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.1)

What degree of offense is hindering apprehension or prosecution in New Jersey?

It depends on the circumstances: hindering apprehension or prosecution ranges from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the second degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.

Subsection a(5) - obstruction by force, intimidation or deception: crime of the second degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3) · Subsection a(5) - close family member exception: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3) · Subsection a(3)/(7) - leaving scene of fatal accident: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3) · Subsection a - conduct constituting 2nd degree or greater: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3) · Subsection a - family member exception for 2nd degree or greater conduct: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3) · Subsection a - conduct constituting 3rd degree crime: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3) · Subsection a - residual/lesser conduct: disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3) · Subsection b(3) - obstructing witness/informant: crime of the second degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3) · Subsection b(1)/(4) - leaving scene of fatal accident: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3) · Subsection b - conduct constituting 2nd degree or greater: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3) · Subsection b - conduct constituting 3rd degree crime: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3) · Subsection b - residual/lesser conduct: disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3)

Which New Jersey statute covers hindering apprehension or prosecution?

Hindering apprehension or prosecution is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3 (Hindering apprehension or prosecution).

What degree of offense is offenses against service animals, guide dogs, degree of crime; penalties, restitution in New Jersey?

It depends on the circumstances: offenses against service animals, guide dogs, degree of crime; penalties, restitution ranges from a petty disorderly persons offense to a crime of the fourth degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.2.

Reckless killing of service animal or guide dog: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.2) · Reckless injury of service animal or guide dog: disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.2) · Reckless interference with service animal or guide dog: petty disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.2)

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.