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New Jersey statute

N.J.S.A. 2C:34-1.1 — Loitering for the purpose of engaging in prostitution

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

Part of Chapter 34, New Jersey Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of N.J.S.A. 2C:34-1.1

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:34-1.1Primary source, current through the P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22
3. Loitering for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. a. As used in this section, "public place" means any place to which the public has access, including but not limited to any public street, sidewalk, bridge, alley, plaza, park, boardwalk, driveway, parking lot or transportation facility, public library or the doorways and entrance ways to any building which fronts on any of the aforesaid places, or a motor vehicle in or on any such place. b. A person commits a disorderly persons offense if he: (1) wanders, remains or prowls in a public place with the purpose of engaging in prostitution or promoting prostitution as defined in N.J.S.2C:34-1; and (2) engages in conduct that, under the circumstances, manifests a purpose to engage in prostitution or promoting prostitution as defined in N.J.S.2C:34-1. c. Conduct that may, where warranted under the circumstances, be deemed adequate to manifest a purpose to engage in prostitution or promoting prostitution includes, but is not limited to, conduct such as the following: (1) Repeatedly beckoning to or stopping pedestrians or motorists in a public place; (2) Repeatedly attempting to stop, or repeatedly attempting to engage passers-by in conversation; (3) Repeatedly stopping or attempting to stop motor vehicles. d. The element described in paragraph (1) of subsection b. of this section may not be established solely by proof that the actor engaged in the conduct that is used to satisfy the element described in paragraph (2) of subsection b. of this section. L.1997,c.93,s.3.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is loitering for the purpose of engaging in prostitution a crime in New Jersey?

Loitering for the purpose of engaging in prostitution is a disorderly persons offense in New Jersey, which is not a crime under the New Jersey Constitution (N.J.S.A. 2C:1-4) — it carries no criminal record and is heard in municipal court. Governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:34-1.1.

Which New Jersey statute covers loitering for the purpose of engaging in prostitution?

Loitering for the purpose of engaging in prostitution is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:34-1.1 (Loitering for the purpose of engaging in prostitution).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.