Bill > A2088

This bill amends New Jersey law to increase the penalties for hindering the apprehension or prosecution of another person. Previously, the penalty for hindering apprehension depended on the severity of the crime the person being aided was accused of, with specific exceptions for family members. Now, under the proposed changes, anyone who hinders the apprehension or prosecution of another person will face a penalty that matches the degree of the most serious crime that the person being aided is known to have been charged with or is liable to be charged with. This applies to offenses related to general criminal law, traffic violations under Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, and insurance fraud violations under chapter 33A of Title 17 of the Revised Statutes. The bill also clarifies that this increased penalty applies to various actions, including harboring or concealing someone, providing them with means to avoid capture, destroying evidence, tampering with witnesses, warning them of impending discovery, obstructing law enforcement, aiding them to profit from a crime, or giving false information to law enforcement or investigators from the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.