N.J. Stat. tit. 2C, ch. 24

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 2C:24-1 Bigamy

a. Bigamy. A married person is guilty of bigamy, a disorderly persons offense, if he contracts or purports to contract another marriage, unless at the time of the subsequent marriage: (1) The actor believes that the prior spouse is dead; (2) The actor and the prior spouse have been living apart for 5 consecutive years throughout which the prior spouse was not known by the actor to be alive; (3) A court has entered a judgment purporting to terminate or annul any prior disqualifying marriage, and the actor does not know that judgment to be invalid; or (4) The actor reasonably believes that he is legally eligible to remarry. b. Other party to bigamous marriage. A person is guilty of bigamy if he contracts or purports to contract marriage with another knowing that the other is thereby committing bigamy. L.1978, c. 95, s. 2C:24-1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.

N.J. Stat. § 2C:24-4 Endangering welfare of children.

2C:24-4. Endangering Welfare of Children. a. (1) Any person having a legal duty for the care of a child or who has assumed responsibility for the care of a child who engages in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child is guilty of a crime of the second degree. Any other person who engages in conduct or who causes harm as described in this paragraph to a child is guilty of a crime of the third degree. (2) Any person having a legal duty for the care of a child or who has assumed responsibility for the care of a child who causes the child harm that would make the child an abused or neglected child as defined in R.S.9:6-1, R.S.9:6-3, and section 1 of P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9:6-8.21) is guilty of a crime of the second degree. Any other person who engages in conduct or who causes harm as described in this paragraph to a child is guilty of a crime of the third degree. b. (1) As used in this subsection: "Child" means any person under 18 years of age. "Distribute" means to sell, or to manufacture, give, provide, lend, trade, mail, deliver, publish, circulate, disseminate, present, exhibit, display, share, advertise, offer, or make available via the Internet or by any other means, whether for pecuniary gain or not. The term also includes an agreement or attempt to distribute. "File-sharing program" means a computer program, application, software, or operating system that allows the user of a computer on which such program, application, software, or operating system is installed to designate files as available for searching by and copying to one or more other computers, to transmit such designated files directly to one or more other computers, and to request the transmission of such designated files directly from one or more other computers. The term "file-sharing program" includes but is not limited to a computer program, application, or software that enables a computer user to participate in a peer-to-peer network. "Internet" means the international computer network of both federal and non-federal interoperable packet switched data networks. "Item depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child" or "child sexual abuse or exploitation material" or "CSAEM" means a photograph, film, video, an electronic, electromagnetic, or digital recording, an image stored or maintained in a computer program or file or in a portion of a file, or any other reproduction or reconstruction which: (a) depicts a child engaging in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act; or (b) portrays a child in a sexually suggestive manner. "Peer-to-peer network" means a connection of computer systems through which files are shared directly between the systems on a network without the need of a central server. "Portray a child in a sexually suggestive manner" means: (a) to depict a child's less than completely and opaquely covered intimate parts, as defined in N.J.S.2C:14-1, in a manner that, by means of the posing, composition, format, or animated sensual details, emits sensuality with sufficient impact to concentrate prurient interest on the child; or (b) to depict any form of contact with a child's intimate parts, as defined in N.J.S.2C:14-1, in a manner that, by means of the posing, composition, format, or animated sensual details, emits sensuality with sufficient impact to concentrate prurient interest on the child; or (c) to otherwise depict a child for the purpose of sexual stimulation or gratification of any person who may view the depiction where the depiction does not have serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. "Prohibited sexual act" means (a) Sexual intercourse; or (b) Anal intercourse; or (c) Masturbation; or (d) Bestiality; or (e) Sadism; or (f) Masochism; or (g) Fellatio; or (h) Cunnilingus; or (i) Nudity, if depicted for the purpose of sexual stimulation or gratification of any person who may view such depiction; or (j) Any act of sexual penetration or sexual contact as defined in N.J.S.2C:14-1. "Reproduction" means, but is not limited to, computer generated images. (2) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2001, c.291) (3) A person commits a crime of the first degree if the person causes or permits a child to engage in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act or to be portrayed in a sexually suggestive manner if the person knows, has reason to know, or intends that the prohibited act or portrayal may be photographed, filmed, reproduced, or reconstructed in any manner, including on the Internet, or may be part of an exhibition or performance. (4) A person commits a crime of the second degree if the person photographs or films a child in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act or for portrayal in a sexually suggestive manner or who uses any device, including a computer, to reproduce or reconstruct the image of a child in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act or for portrayal in a sexually suggestive manner. (5) (a) A person commits a crime if, by any means, including, but not limited to, the Internet, the person: (i) knowingly distributes an item depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child; (ii) knowingly possesses an item depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child with the intent to distribute that item; or (iii) knowingly stores or maintains an item depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child using a file-sharing program which is designated as available for searching by or copying to one or more other computers. In a prosecution under sub-subparagraph (iii) of this subparagraph, the State shall not be required to offer proof that an item depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child had actually been searched, copied, transmitted, or viewed by another user of the file-sharing program, or by any other person, and it shall be no defense that the defendant did not intend to distribute the item to another user of the file-sharing program or to any other person. Nor shall the State be required to prove that the defendant was aware that the item depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child was available for searching or copying to one or more other computers, and the defendant shall be strictly liable for failing to designate the item as not available for searching or copying by one or more other computers. A violation of this subparagraph that involves 1,000 or more items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child is a crime of the first degree; otherwise it is a crime of the second degree. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:43-6, a person whose offense under this subparagraph involved at least 25 but less than 1,000 items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, which shall be fixed at, or between, one-third and one-half of the sentence imposed by the court or five years, whichever is greater, during which the defendant shall be ineligible for parole. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:43-6, a person whose offense under this subparagraph involved 1,000 or more items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, which shall be fixed at, or between, one-third and one-half of the sentence imposed by the court or 10 years, whichever is greater, during which the defendant shall be ineligible for parole. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:43-6, a person convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this subparagraph shall be sentenced to an extended term of imprisonment as set forth in N.J.S.2C:43-7. For the purposes of this subparagraph, an offense is considered a second or subsequent offense if the actor has at any time been convicted pursuant to paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of this subsection, or under any similar statute of the United States, this State, or any other state for an offense that is substantially equivalent to paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of this subsection. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "possess" includes receiving, viewing, or having under one's control, through any means, including the Internet. (b) (i) A person commits a crime of the first degree if the person knowingly possesses, knowingly views, or knowingly has under the person's control, through any means, including the Internet, 100,000 or more items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child. (ii) A person commits a crime of the second degree if the person knowingly possesses, knowingly views, or knowingly has under the person's control, through any means, including the Internet, at least 1,000 but less than 100,000 items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child. (iii) A person commits a crime of the third degree if the person knowingly possesses, knowingly views, or knowingly has under the person's control, through any means, including the Internet, less than 1,000 items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection e. of N.J.S.2C:44-1, in any instance where a person was convicted of an offense under this subparagraph that involved 100 or more items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child, the court shall impose a sentence of imprisonment unless, having regard to the character and condition of the defendant, it is of the opinion that imprisonment would be a serious injustice which overrides the need to deter such conduct by others. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:43-6, a person convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this subparagraph shall be sentenced to an extended term of imprisonment as set forth in N.J.S.2C:43-7. For the purposes of this subparagraph, an offense is considered a second or subsequent offense if the actor has at any time been convicted pursuant to paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of this subsection, or under any similar statute of the United States, this State, or any other state for an offense that is substantially equivalent to paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of this subsection. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to preclude or limit any prosecution or conviction for the offense set forth in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph. (6) For purposes of this subsection, a person who is depicted as or presents the appearance of being under the age of 18 in any photograph, film, videotape, computer program or file, video game, or any other reproduction or reconstruction shall be rebuttably presumed to be under the age of 18. If the child who is depicted as engaging in, or who is caused to engage in, a prohibited sexual act or simulation of a prohibited sexual act or portrayed in a sexually suggestive manner is under the age of 18, the actor shall be strictly liable and it shall not be a defense that the actor did not know that the child was under the age of 18, nor shall it be a defense that the actor believed that the child was 18 years of age or older, even if such a mistaken belief was reasonable. (7) For aggregation purposes, each depiction of the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child shall be considered a separate item, provided that each depiction that is in the form of a photograph, picture, image, or visual depiction of a similar nature shall be considered to be one item and each depiction that is in the form of a film, video, video-clip, movie, or visual depiction of a similar nature shall be considered to be 10 separate items, and each individual act of distribution of an item depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child shall be considered a separate item. For purposes of determining the number of items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child for purposes of sentencing pursuant to subparagraph (a) of paragraph (5) of this subsection, the court shall aggregate all items involved, whether the act or acts constituting the violation occurred at the same time or at different times and, with respect to distribution, whether the act or acts of distribution were to the same person or several persons or occurred at different times, provided that each individual act was committed within the applicable statute of limitations. For purposes of determining the number of items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child for purposes of sentencing pursuant to subparagraph (b) of paragraph (5) of this subsection, the court shall aggregate all items involved, whether the possession of such items occurred at the same time or at different times, provided that each individual act was committed within the applicable statute of limitations. amended 1979, c.178, s.46; 1983, c.494; 1992, c.2; 1992, c.6; 1995, c.109; 1998, c.126; 2001, c.291; 2013, c.51, s.13; 2013, c.136, s.1; 2017, c.141, s.1; 2024, c.92, s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 2C:24-4.1 Leader of child pornography network; degree of crime; definitions.

8. a. A person is a leader of a network to share child sexual abuse or exploitation material if the person knowingly conspires with others as an organizer, moderator, administrator, programmer, recruiter, or facilitator to engage in a scheme or course of conduct to establish or maintain an interconnected network through which files containing one or more items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child are in any way made available to or accessible among an organized group of users or participants. b. Leader of a network to share child sexual abuse or exploitation material is a crime of the first degree if the offense involves 100,000 or more items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child, a crime of the second degree if the offense involves at least 1,000 but less than 100,000 items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child, and a crime of the third degree if the offense involves less than 1,000 items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child. c. For aggregation purposes, each item depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child made available or accessible through a distribution network shall be considered a separate item, provided that each item that is in the form of a photograph, picture, image, or visual depiction of a similar nature shall be considered to be one item and each depiction that is in the form of a film, video, video-clip, movie, or visual depiction of a similar nature shall be considered to be 10 separate items. d. Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.2C:1-8, a conviction of leader of a network to share child sexual abuse or exploitation material shall not merge with the conviction for any offense which is the object of the conspiracy, nor shall the other conviction merge with a conviction under this section. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed in any way to preclude or limit the prosecution or conviction of any person for conspiracy under the provisions of N.J.S.2C:5-2, or any prosecution or conviction for endangering the welfare of children under the provisions of N.J.S.2C:24-4 or any other provision of law. e. As used in this section: "Interconnected network" means a set of computer nodes, including, but not limited to, personal computers, mobile devices, and physical or virtual servers that are linked together to facilitate the transmission of data between users. "Item depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child" shall have the same meaning as provided in subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:24-4. L.2017, c.141, s.8; amended 2024, c.92, s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 2C:24-5 Willful nonsupport

Willful nonsupport. A person commits a crime of the fourth degree if he willfully fails to provide support which he can provide and which he knows he is legally obliged to provide to a spouse, child or other dependent. In addition to the sentence authorized by the code, the court may proceed under section 2C:62-1. L.1978, c. 95, s. 2C:24-5, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.

N.J. Stat. § 2C:24-6 Unlawful adoptions

Unlawful adoptions shall be governed by the provisions of Title 9 of the Revised Statutes. L.1978, c. 95, s. 2C:24-6, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by L.1979, c. 178, s. 46A, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.

N.J. Stat. § 2C:24-7.1 Endangering another person; offense created; degree of crime.

1. a. (1) A person commits a disorderly persons offense if he recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of bodily injury to another person. (2) A person commits a crime of the fourth degree if he knowingly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to another person. (3) A person commits a crime of the third degree if he knowingly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of death to another person. b. (1) A person commits a crime of the fourth degree if he recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of bodily injury to a person with a developmental disability. (2) A person commits a crime of the third degree if he knowingly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to a person with a developmental disability. (3) A person commits a crime of the second degree if he knowingly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of death to a person with a developmental disability. c. As used in this act, "developmental disability" has the meaning ascribed to it in section 3 of P.L.1977, c.82 (C.30:6D-3). d. Nothing in this act shall preclude an indictment and conviction for any other offense defined by the laws of this State. L.2015, c.186, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2C:24-7.2 Personal identifying information protected during certain prosecutions, knowingly exposing others to infectious, communicable disease.

1. a. As used in this section: "Infectious or communicable disease" means a non-airborne disease spread from person to person that is fatal or causes disabling long-term consequences in the absence of treatment and management. "Personal identifying information" means any name, address, or other information that may be used, alone or in conjunction with any other information, to identify a specific individual, and any photographic image, reproduction, or other depiction of a person. b. In a prosecution under section 1 of P.L.2015, c.186 (C.2C:24-7.1) against a person who knowingly or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of transmitting an infectious or communicable disease to another person, all court decisions, orders, petitions, motions, and other documents filed by the parties and the prosecutor shall be redacted to protect the name and other personal identifying information of the other person from public disclosure, unless the other person requests otherwise. Additionally, the court shall enter appropriate orders to bar the disclosure of the name or other personal identifying information of the other person by the parties, attorneys, law enforcement, and any other persons, unless the other person requests otherwise. L.2021, c.409, s.1

N.J. Stat. § 2C:24-8 Abandonment, neglect of elderly person, disabled adult; third degree crime

1. a. A person having a legal duty to care for or who has assumed continuing responsibility for the care of a person 60 years of age or older or a disabled adult, who abandons the elderly person or disabled adult or unreasonably neglects to do or fails to permit to be done any act necessary for the physical or mental health of the elderly person or disabled adult, is guilty of a crime of the third degree. For purposes of this section "abandon" means the willful desertion or forsaking of an elderly person or disabled adult. b. A person shall not be considered to commit an offense under this section for the sole reason that he provides or permits to be provided nonmedical remedial treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone in lieu of medical care, in accordance with the tenets and practices of the elderly person's or disabled adult's established religious tradition, to an elderly person or disabled adult to whom he has a legal duty to care for or has assumed responsibility for the care of. c. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude or limit the prosecution or conviction for any other offense defined in this code or in any other law of this State. L.1989,c.23,s.1; amended 1999, c.8.

N.J. Stat. § 2C:24-9 Use of 17-year-old or younger to commit criminal offense; crime.

1. a. Except as provided in P.L.1991, c.81 (C.2C:20-17) and N.J.S.2C:35-6, any person who is at least 18 years of age who knowingly uses, solicits, directs, hires, employs or conspires with a person who is in fact 17 years of age or younger to commit a criminal offense is guilty of a crime. b. An offense under this section constitutes a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying offense is a disorderly persons offense. Otherwise, an offense under this section shall be classified one degree higher than the underlying offense. c. Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.2C:1-8, a conviction under this section shall not merge with a conviction for the underlying offense. Nor shall a conviction for the underlying offense merge with a conviction under this section. Nothing contained in this act shall prohibit the court from imposing an extended term of imprisonment pursuant to 2C:43-7; nor shall this be construed to preclude or limit a prosecution or conviction of any person for conspiracy under N.J.S.2C:5-2, or any prosecution or conviction for any offense. d. It shall be no defense to a prosecution under this act that the actor mistakenly believed that the person which the actor used, solicited, directed, hired or employed was 18 years of age or older, even if such mistaken belief was reasonable. L.1998,c.102,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2C:24-10 Female genital mutilation of females under 18 years of age, third degree crime.

1. a. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person is guilty of a crime of the third degree if the person: (1) knowingly circumcises, excises, or infibulates, in whole or in part, the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris of a female under 18 years of age; (2) is a parent, guardian, or has immediate custody or control of a female under 18 years of age and knowingly consents to, or permits the circumcision, excision, or infibulation, in whole or in part of, the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris of a female under 18 years of age; or (3) knowingly removes or permits the removal of a female under 18 years of age from the State for the purpose of circumcising, excising, or infibulating, in whole or in part, the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris of the female under 18 years of age. b. The provisions of subsection a. of this section shall not apply if the circumcision, excision, or infibulation is: (1) necessary to the health of the female on whom it is performed and it is performed by a licensed health care professional acting within the scope of the professional's license; or (2) performed on a female in labor or who has just given birth and is performed for medical purposes connected with that labor or birth by a licensed health care professional acting within the scope of the professional's license or by a person in training to become such a licensed health care professional. c. It shall not be a defense to a prosecution under this section that: (1) the person engaging in the conduct prohibited by subsection a. of this section believed that the procedure was necessary or appropriate as a matter of custom, ritual, or standard practice; or (2) the female on whom the circumcision, excision, or infibulation was performed, or the female's parent, guardian, or person who had immediate custody or control over the female, consented to the procedure. L.2013, c.200, s.1.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026