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 $15,000 (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 $15,000 (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 $15,000 (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 (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 $10,000 (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 $15,000 (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:21-1) · Forgery - checks: Crime of the Third Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1) · Forgery - 15 or more retail sales receipts/UPC labels: Crime of the Third Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1) · Forgery - all other cases: Crime of the Fourth Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1) · Possession of forgery devices: Crime of the Third Degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1)
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.