New Jersey statute

N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9 — Contempt

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

Part of Chapter 29, New Jersey Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Contempt

Full text of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9

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:29-9Primary source, current through the P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22

2C:29-9. Contempt. a. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if the person purposely or knowingly disobeys a judicial order or protective order, pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1985, c.250 (C.2C:28-5.1), or hinders, obstructs, or impedes the effectuation of a judicial order or the exercise of jurisdiction over any person, thing, or controversy by a court, administrative body, or investigative entity, or purposely or knowingly violates a condition to avoid all contact with an alleged victim or a condition of home detention with or without the use of an approved electronic monitoring device, ordered pursuant to subparagraph (b) of paragraph (1) or subparagraph (k) of paragraph (2) of subsection b. of section 3 of P.L. 2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-17), when the conduct which constitutes the violation could also constitute a crime or a disorderly persons offense. (2) In all other cases a person is guilty of a disorderly persons offense if that person purposely or knowingly violates a condition to avoid contact with an alleged victim or a condition of home detention with or without the use of an approved electronic monitoring device. b. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if that person purposely or knowingly violates any provision in an order entered under the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.) or an order entered under the provisions of a substantially similar statute under the laws of another state or the United States when the conduct which constitutes the violation could also constitute a crime or a disorderly persons offense. Orders entered pursuant to paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (8), and (9) of subsection b. of section 13 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-29) or substantially similar orders entered under the laws of another state or the United States shall be excluded from the provisions of this paragraph. (2) In all other cases a person is guilty of a disorderly persons offense if that person purposely or knowingly violates an order entered under the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.) or an order entered under the provisions of a substantially similar statute under the laws of another state or the United States. Orders entered pursuant to paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (8), and (9) of subsection b. of section 13 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-29) or substantially similar orders entered under the laws of another state or the United States shall be excluded from the provisions of this paragraph. c. A person is guilty of a crime of the third degree if that person purposely or knowingly violates any provision in an order entered under the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1996, c.39 (C.2C:12-10.1) or section 2 of P.L.1999, c.47 (C.2C:12-10.2) or an order entered under the provisions of a substantially similar statute under the laws of another state or the United States when the conduct which constitutes the violation could also constitute a crime or a disorderly persons offense. d. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if that person purposely or knowingly violates any provision in an order entered under the provisions of P.L.2015, c.147 (C.2C:14-13 et al.) or an order entered under the provisions of a substantially similar statute under the laws of another state or the United States when the conduct which constitutes the violation could also constitute a crime or a disorderly persons offense. (2) In all other cases a person is guilty of a disorderly persons offense if that person purposely or knowingly violates an order entered under the provisions of P.L.2015, c.147 (C.2C:14-13 et al.) or an order entered under the provisions of a substantially similar statute under the laws of another state or the United States. e. A person is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if the person purposely or knowingly violates any provision of an order entered under the provisions of the "Extreme Risk Protective Order Act of 2018," P.L.2018, c.35 (C.2C:58-20 et al.) or an order entered under the provisions of a substantially similar statute under the laws of another state or the United States. As used in this section, "state" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The term includes an Indian tribe or band, or Alaskan native village, which is recognized by a federal law or formally acknowledged by a state. (added)1981, c.290, s.34; amended 1987, c.356, s.9; 1988, c.28, s.3; 1991, c.261, s.18; 2005, c.333; 2008, c.81, s.3; 2015, c.141; 2015, c.147, s.10; 2016, c.93, s.3; 2018, c.35, s.12; 2023, c.46, s.1.

Official sources

justia: N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

What degree of offense is contempt in New Jersey?

It depends on the circumstances: contempt ranges from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the third degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9.

Disobeying judicial/protective order or violating no-contact/home detention condition where conduct could also be crime/DP offense: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9) · Violating no-contact/home detention condition (all other cases): disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9) · Violating domestic violence order where conduct could also be crime/DP offense: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9) · Violating domestic violence order (all other cases): disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9) · Violating stalking/sexual offense protective order (crime): crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9) · Violating sexual assault survivor protective order where conduct could also be crime/DP offense: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9) · Violating sexual assault survivor protective order (all other cases): disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9) · Violating Extreme Risk Protective Order: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9)

Which New Jersey statute covers contempt?

Contempt is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9 (Contempt).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.