Bill Text: NJ A2331 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Amends penalty imposed for interfering with apprehension or prosecution of certain criminals.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-06 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [A2331 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A2331-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Amends penalty imposed for interfering with apprehension or prosecution of certain criminals.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning criminal investigation and prosecution and amending N.J.S.2C:29-3.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.2C:29-3 is amended to read as follows:
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 subsection a. of this section is a crime of the second 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 first degree enumerated under subsection d. of section 2 of P.L.1997, c.117 (C.2C:43-7.2), 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 third degree.
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.
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. Otherwise, the offense 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.
(cf: P.L.2008, c.81, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill amends the current penalty imposed for interfering with the apprehension, prosecution, or conviction of certain criminals following the commission of a crime. Specifically, the bill increases the penalty for assisting an offender who has committed a first degree crime under the "No Early Release Act" (N.E.R.A.).
The crimes listed under the "No Early Release Act" include murder, aggravated manslaughter or manslaughter, vehicular homicide, aggravated assault, disarming a law enforcement officer, kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, robbery, carjacking, aggravated arson, burglary, extortion, booby traps in manufacturing or distribution facilities, strict liability for drug induced deaths, terrorism, producing or possessing chemical weapons, biological agents or nuclear or radiological devices, and, in certain instances, racketeering.
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 would make hindering a second degree crime if the underlying crime committed by the principal offender would constitute a crime of the first degree under N.E.R.A. This penalty is downgraded to a third degree crime if the offender who receives assistance is a spouse, parent or child.
A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to ten years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment up to 18 months, up to $10,000, or both.
