New Jersey legal term
Mental illness in New Jersey Criminal Law
Current through 2026 New Jersey legislative session
In New Jersey criminal law, “Mental illness” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the New Jersey criminal code.
What does “Mental illness” mean in New Jersey criminal law?
"Mental illness" means a mental disorder classified within the current version of the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), including, but not limited to, anxiety disorders, cognitive disorders, adjustment disorders, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). g. (N.J.S.A. 2C:43-23)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.