New jersey criminal charge
Impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer in New jersey
Impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer is a criminal offense under New jersey law, defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:28-8. 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:28-8.
What is the penalty for impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer in New jersey?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (no statutory minimum) (Falsely pretending to hold a position in public service — Applies when a person falsely pretends to hold a position in the public service, other than as an officer/member/employee/agent of a law enforcement organization, in order to induce another to submit to or rely on that pretended authority.; not a crime under the NJ Constitution (2C:1-4); municipal court) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 |
| Fine | up to 1000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Falsely pretending to hold a position in public service — Applies when a person falsely pretends to hold a position in the public service, other than as an officer/member/employee/agent of a law enforcement organization, in order to induce another to submit to or rely on that pretended authority.) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 |
| Jail / prison | up to 18 months (no statutory minimum) (Falsely pretending to hold position with law enforcement organization — Applies when a person falsely pretends to hold a position as an officer, member, employee, or agent of any organization or association of law enforcement officers in order to induce another to submit to or rely on that pretended authority.; 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) (Falsely pretending to hold position with law enforcement organization — Applies when a person falsely pretends to hold a position as an officer, member, employee, or agent of any organization or association of law enforcement officers in order to induce another to submit to or rely on that pretended authority.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3)) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 |
Applies to current.
How is impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer classified in New jersey?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falsely pretending to hold a position in public service | disorderly persons offense | Applies when a person falsely pretends to hold a position in the public service, other than as an officer/member/employee/agent of a law enforcement organization, in order to induce another to submit to or rely on that pretended authority. | N.J.S.A. 2C:28-8undefined |
| Falsely pretending to hold position with law enforcement organization | crime of the fourth degree | Applies when a person falsely pretends to hold a position as an officer, member, employee, or agent of any organization or association of law enforcement officers in order to induce another to submit to or rely on that pretended authority. | N.J.S.A. 2C:28-8undefined |
Common questions about impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer in New jersey
What degree of offense is impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer in New Jersey?
It depends on the circumstances: impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer ranges from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the fourth degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:28-8.
Falsely pretending to hold a position in public service: disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:28-8) · Falsely pretending to hold position with law enforcement organization: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:28-8)
What are the penalties for impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer in New Jersey?
Penalties for impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer in New Jersey depend on how it is classified — from a disorderly persons offense up to a crime of the fourth degree — with the ranges set by N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 and N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which New Jersey statute covers impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer?
Impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:28-8 (Impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer).
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.