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Bill > S2685


NJ S2685

NJ S2685
Increases the penalty for hindering the apprehension or prosecution of an offender.


summary

Introduced
In Committee
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2010-2011 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill increases the current penalty for imposed for interfering with the apprehension, prosecution, or conviction of a person following the commission of an offense. Specifically, this bill provides that a person who knowingly assists or conceals an offender following the commission of a crime or offense is to receive the same punishment imposed for the most serious offense committed by that principal offender. Currently, hindering the detention, apprehension, investigation, prosecution, conviction or punishment of another under subsection a. of N.J.S.A.2C:29-3 is a crime of the third degree if the underlying crime committed by the offender would constitute a crime of the second degree or greater. The penalty is downgraded to a fourth degree crime if the offender who receives assistance is a spouse, parent or child. Hindering is a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying conduct would constitute a crime of the third degree. Otherwise it is a disorderly persons offense. This bill eliminates this gradation of penalties, and establishes that a person who assists or conceals an offender is subject to the same penalty as that offender who carried out the criminal act or offense.

AI Summary

This bill amends existing law to increase the penalties for anyone who knowingly helps or hides a person who has committed a crime, making the penalty for this "hindering" offense the same as the penalty for the most serious crime the person being helped is accused of. Previously, the severity of the hindering charge depended on the seriousness of the underlying crime and whether the person being helped was a close family member, with penalties ranging from a third-degree crime down to a disorderly persons offense; this bill eliminates those distinctions and applies a uniform, more severe penalty structure.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 02/07/2011)

bill text


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bill summary

Document Type Source Location Created
State Bill Page https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp?BillNumber=S2685 04/25/2013
Bill https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/S3000/2685_I1.HTM 05/28/2012
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