New jersey criminal charge
Forgery and Related Offenses in New jersey
Forgery and Related Offenses is a criminal offense under New jersey law, defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1. Its classification is not fixed: New jersey assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1.
What is the penalty for forgery and related offenses in New jersey?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 3 years to 5 years (Forgery - government issued instruments/securities/personal ID info/access device — Applies when the forged writing is or purports to be part of an issue of money, securities, postage or revenue stamps, government-issued instruments/certificates/licenses, NJ Prescription Blanks, stock/bonds or other property interest instruments, personal identifying information, or an access device.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs)) | presumptive | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to 15000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Forgery - government issued instruments/securities/personal ID info/access device — Applies when the forged writing is or purports to be part of an issue of money, securities, postage or revenue stamps, government-issued instruments/certificates/licenses, NJ Prescription Blanks, stock/bonds or other property interest instruments, personal identifying information, or an access device.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3); offense-specific ceilings may exceed) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Jail / prison | 3 years to 5 years (Forgery - checks — Applies when the forged writing is or purports to be a check.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs)) | presumptive | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to 15000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Forgery - checks — Applies when the forged writing is or purports to be a check.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3); offense-specific ceilings may exceed) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Jail / prison | 3 years to 5 years (Forgery - 15 or more retail sales receipts/UPC labels — Applies when the forgery involves 15 or more forged or altered retail sales receipts or universal product code labels.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs)) | presumptive | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to 15000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Forgery - 15 or more retail sales receipts/UPC labels — Applies when the forgery involves 15 or more forged or altered retail sales receipts or universal product code labels.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3); offense-specific ceilings may exceed) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Jail / prison | up to 18 months (no statutory minimum) (Forgery - all other cases — Applies to any forgery not falling within the enumerated third degree categories.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs)) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to 10000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Forgery - all other cases — Applies to any forgery not falling within the enumerated third degree categories.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3)) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Jail / prison | 3 years to 5 years (Possession of forgery devices — Applies when a person makes or possesses a device, apparatus, equipment, computer, computer equipment, computer software, or article specially designed or adapted for forging written instruments, access devices, or personal identifying information.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs)) | presumptive | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
| Fine | up to 15000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Possession of forgery devices — Applies when a person makes or possesses a device, apparatus, equipment, computer, computer equipment, computer software, or article specially designed or adapted for forging written instruments, access devices, or personal identifying information.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3); offense-specific ceilings may exceed) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
Applies to current.
How is forgery and related offenses classified in New jersey?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forgery - government issued instruments/securities/personal ID info/access device | crime of the third degree | Applies when the forged writing is or purports to be part of an issue of money, securities, postage or revenue stamps, government-issued instruments/certificates/licenses, NJ Prescription Blanks, stock/bonds or other property interest instruments, personal identifying information, or an access device. | N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1undefined |
| Forgery - checks | crime of the third degree | Applies when the forged writing is or purports to be a check. | N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1undefined |
| Forgery - 15 or more retail sales receipts/UPC labels | crime of the third degree | Applies when the forgery involves 15 or more forged or altered retail sales receipts or universal product code labels. | N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1undefined |
| Forgery - all other cases | crime of the fourth degree | Applies to any forgery not falling within the enumerated third degree categories. | N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1undefined |
| Possession of forgery devices | crime of the third degree | Applies when a person makes or possesses a device, apparatus, equipment, computer, computer equipment, computer software, or article specially designed or adapted for forging written instruments, access devices, or personal identifying information. | N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1undefined |
Common questions about forgery and related offenses in New jersey
What degree of offense is forgery and Related Offenses in New Jersey?
It depends on the circumstances: forgery and Related Offenses ranges from a crime of the fourth degree to a crime of the third degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1.
Forgery - government issued instruments/securities/personal ID info/access device: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1undefined) · Forgery - checks: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1undefined) · Forgery - 15 or more retail sales receipts/UPC labels: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1undefined) · Forgery - all other cases: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1undefined) · Possession of forgery devices: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1undefined)
What are the penalties for forgery and Related Offenses in New Jersey?
Penalties for forgery and Related Offenses in New Jersey depend on how it is classified — from a crime of the fourth degree up to a crime of the third degree — with the ranges set by N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which New Jersey statute covers forgery and Related Offenses?
Forgery and Related Offenses is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1 (Forgery and Related Offenses).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.