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New jersey criminal charge

Riot; failure to disperse in New jersey

Current through 2026 New Jersey legislative session

Riot; failure to disperse is a criminal offense under New jersey law, defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1. 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:33-1.

What is the penalty for riot; failure to disperse in New jersey?

Penalties for Riot; failure to disperse
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prison3 years to 5 years (Riot with firearm/deadly weapon — Riot is a third degree crime when the person or another known participant uses or plans to use a firearm or other deadly weapon.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs))presumptiveN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Fineup to 15000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Riot with firearm/deadly weapon — Riot is a third degree crime when the person or another known participant uses or plans to use a firearm or other deadly weapon.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3); offense-specific ceilings may exceed)discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Jail / prisonup to 18 months (no statutory minimum) (Riot (other circumstances) — Riot committed without the firearm/deadly weapon circumstance is a fourth degree crime.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Fineup to 10000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Riot (other circumstances) — Riot committed without the firearm/deadly weapon circumstance is a fourth degree crime.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Jail / prisonup to 6 months (no statutory minimum) (Failure to disperse — A person who refuses or knowingly fails to obey a lawful order to disperse commits a disorderly persons offense.; not a crime under the NJ Constitution (2C:1-4); municipal court)discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-8
Fineup to 1000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Failure to disperse — A person who refuses or knowingly fails to obey a lawful order to disperse commits a disorderly persons offense.)discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-8
Jail / prisonup to 18 months (no statutory minimum) (Inciting a public brawl - purpose to incite disorderly conduct under 2C:33-2a — Inciting a public brawl is a fourth degree crime when the person acts with purpose to incite or produce disorderly conduct as defined in subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:33-2.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Fineup to 10000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Inciting a public brawl - purpose to incite disorderly conduct under 2C:33-2a — Inciting a public brawl is a fourth degree crime when the person acts with purpose to incite or produce disorderly conduct as defined in subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:33-2.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Jail / prisonup to 6 months (no statutory minimum) (Inciting a public brawl - other circumstances — Inciting a public brawl is a disorderly persons offense when the purpose relates to disorderly conduct under subsection d. rather than subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:33-2.; not a crime under the NJ Constitution (2C:1-4); municipal court)discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-8
Fineup to 1000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Inciting a public brawl - other circumstances — Inciting a public brawl is a disorderly persons offense when the purpose relates to disorderly conduct under subsection d. rather than subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:33-2.)discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-8

Applies to current.

How is riot; failure to disperse classified in New jersey?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Riot; failure to disperse
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
Riot with firearm/deadly weaponcrime of the third degreeRiot is a third degree crime when the person or another known participant uses or plans to use a firearm or other deadly weapon.N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1undefined
Riot (other circumstances)crime of the fourth degreeRiot committed without the firearm/deadly weapon circumstance is a fourth degree crime.N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1undefined
Failure to dispersedisorderly persons offenseA person who refuses or knowingly fails to obey a lawful order to disperse commits a disorderly persons offense.N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1undefined
Inciting a public brawl - purpose to incite disorderly conduct under 2C:33-2acrime of the fourth degreeInciting a public brawl is a fourth degree crime when the person acts with purpose to incite or produce disorderly conduct as defined in subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:33-2.N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1undefined
Inciting a public brawl - other circumstancesdisorderly persons offenseInciting a public brawl is a disorderly persons offense when the purpose relates to disorderly conduct under subsection d. rather than subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:33-2.N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1undefined

Common questions about riot; failure to disperse in New jersey

What degree of offense is riot; failure to disperse in New Jersey?

It depends on the circumstances: riot; failure to disperse ranges from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the third degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1.

Riot with firearm/deadly weapon: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1) · Riot (other circumstances): crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1) · Failure to disperse: disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1) · Inciting a public brawl - purpose to incite disorderly conduct under 2C:33-2a: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1) · Inciting a public brawl - other circumstances: disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1)

What are the penalties for riot; failure to disperse in New Jersey?

Penalties for riot; failure to disperse in New Jersey depend on how it is classified — from a disorderly persons offense up to a crime of the third degree — with the ranges set by N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 and N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.

Which New Jersey statute covers riot; failure to disperse?

Riot; failure to disperse is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1 (Riot; failure to disperse).

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.