New Jersey legal term
Obscene film in New Jersey Criminal Law
Current through 2026 New Jersey legislative session
In New Jersey criminal law, “Obscene film” 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 “Obscene film” mean in New Jersey criminal law?
"Obscene film" means any motion picture film or preview or trailer to a film, not including newsreels portraying actual current events or pictorial news of the day, in which a scene, taken by itself: (a) Depicts a specified anatomical area or specified sexual activity, or the simulation of a specified sexual activity, or verbalization concerning a specified sexual activity; and (b) Emits sensuality sufficient, in terms of the duration and impact of the depiction, to appeal to prurient interest. (3) "Specified anatomical area" means: (a) Less than completely and opaquely covered human genit (N.J.S.A. 2C:34-3)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.