Bill Text: NJ S4119 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Increases monetary thresholds for certain theft offenses.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-10-24 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee [S4119 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S4119-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Increases monetary thresholds for certain theft offenses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act increasing the monetary threshold for certain theft offenses and amending N.J.S.2C:20-2.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.2C:20-2 is amended to read as follows:
2C:20-2. a. Consolidation of Theft and Computer Criminal Activity Offenses. Conduct denominated theft or computer criminal activity in this chapter constitutes a single offense, but each episode or transaction may be the subject of a separate prosecution and conviction. A charge of theft or computer criminal activity may be supported by evidence that it was committed in any manner that would be theft or computer criminal activity under this chapter, notwithstanding the specification of a different manner in the indictment or accusation, subject only to the power of the court to ensure fair trial by granting a bill of particulars, discovery, a continuance, or other appropriate relief where the conduct of the defense would be prejudiced by lack of fair notice or by surprise.
b. Grading of theft offenses.
(1) Theft constitutes a crime of the second degree if:
(a) The amount involved is $75,000.00 or more;
(b) The property is taken by extortion;
(c) The property stolen is a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog as defined in N.J.S.2C:35-2 and the quantity is in excess of one kilogram;
(d) The property stolen is a person's benefits under federal or State law, or from any other source, which the Department of Human Services or an agency acting on its behalf has budgeted for the person's health care and the amount involved is $75,000.00 or more;
(e) The property stolen is human remains or any part thereof; except that, if the human remains are stolen by deception or falsification of a document by which a gift of all or part of a human body may be made pursuant to P.L.2008, c.50 (C.26:6-77 et al.), the theft constitutes a crime of the first degree; or
(f) It is in breach of an obligation by a person in his capacity as a fiduciary and the amount involved is $50,000.00 or more.
(2) Theft constitutes a crime of the third degree if:
(a) The amount involved [exceeds $500.00] is at least $2,500.00 but is less than $75,000.00;
(b) The property stolen is a firearm, motor vehicle, vessel, boat, horse, domestic companion animal or airplane;
(c) The property stolen is a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog as defined in N.J.S.2C:35-2 and the amount involved is less than $75,000.00 or is undetermined and the quantity is one kilogram or less;
(d) It is from the person of the victim;
(e) It is in breach of an obligation by a person in his capacity as a fiduciary and the amount involved is less than $50,000.00;
(f) It is by threat not amounting to extortion;
(g) It is of a public record, writing or instrument kept, filed or deposited according to law with or in the keeping of any public office or public servant;
(h) The property stolen is a person's benefits under federal or State law, or from any other source, which the Department of Human Services or an agency acting on its behalf has budgeted for the person's health care and the amount involved is less than $75,000.00;
(i) The property stolen is any real or personal property related to, necessary for, or derived from research, regardless of value, including, but not limited to, any sample, specimens and components thereof, research subject, including any warm-blooded or cold-blooded animals being used for research or intended for use in research, supplies, records, data or test results, prototypes or equipment, as well as any proprietary information or other type of information related to research;
(j) The property stolen is a New Jersey Prescription Blank as referred to in R.S.45:14-14;
(k) The property stolen consists of an access device or a defaced access device; or
(l) The property stolen consists of anhydrous ammonia and the actor intends it to be used to manufacture methamphetamine.
(3) Theft constitutes a crime of the fourth degree if the amount involved is at least [$200.00] $1,000.00 but does not exceed [$500.00] $2,500.00.
(4) Theft constitutes a disorderly persons offense if:
(a) The amount involved was less than [$200.00] $1,000.00; or
(b) The property stolen is an electronic vehicle identification system transponder.
The amount involved in a theft or computer criminal activity shall be determined by the trier of fact. The amount shall include, but shall not be limited to, the amount of any State tax avoided, evaded or otherwise unpaid, improperly retained or disposed of. Amounts involved in thefts or computer criminal activities committed pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct, whether from the same person or several persons, may be aggregated in determining the grade of the offense.
c. Claim of right. It is an affirmative defense to prosecution for theft that the actor:
(1) Was unaware that the property or service was that of another;
(2) Acted under an honest claim of right to the property or service involved or that he had a right to acquire or dispose of it as he did; or
(3) Took property exposed for sale, intending to purchase and pay for it promptly, or reasonably believing that the owner, if present, would have consented.
d. Theft from spouse. It is no defense that theft or computer criminal activity was from or committed against the actor's spouse, except that misappropriation of household and personal effects, or other property normally accessible to both spouses, is theft or computer criminal activity only if it occurs after the parties have ceased living together.
(cf: P.L.2013, c.58, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
At present, theft offenses are graded based primarily on the value of the item involved or, alternatively for second and third degree crimes, graded by the attendant circumstances or category. Thus, at present, a theft is graded as a crime of the second degree crime if the amount involved is $75,000 or more. A theft is graded as a crime of the third degree if the amount involved exceeds $500 but is less than $75,000. A theft is graded as a crime of the fourth degree if the amount involved is at least $200 but does not exceed $500.
This bill would upgrade the monetary thresholds for certain theft offenses. Under the bill, the monetary threshold for a second degree theft remains at $75,000 or more, the same as at present. The monetary threshold for a third degree theft is reached if the theft is at least $2,500, but is less than $75,000. Under the bill, a crime of the fourth degree would occur if the amount is at least $1,000, but does not exceed $2,500. Lastly, theft would be a disorderly persons offense if the amount involved is under $1,000.
The sponsor finds that due to large caseloads and limited resources, currently when county prosecutors receive a case of theft or shoplifting that involves an amount under $500, they often downgrade the complaint to under $250 and send the case back to the municipal courts. This results in a waste of resources as defendants will often retain a public defender at the county level and then again at the municipal level once the charges are downgraded. This bill would address this issue by having the municipal courts retain jurisdiction of theft and shoplifting cases that involve amounts under $1,000.
