One of the most significant good governance laws on the books in New Jersey is 2C:27-12, Corruption of Public Resources. Under this statute, a person who knowingly uses or makes disposition of a public resource, including money or physical property, for an unauthorized purpose can face up to a first degree criminal charge, and potentially lose decades of their life to prison.
Where a public resource is subject to an obligation for use of a government function or public service, corruption of public resources will be charged at the first degree level where the value is more than $500,000. If the public resource is worth more than $75,000, the charge will be second degree. If the value is less than $75,000, the charge will be graded as a third degree crime.
Where a public resource is not subject to an obligation to be used for a governmental function or public service, the grading is potentially less serious for you, though you still face exposure to jail time. Where the value of the public resource is $500,000 or more, you can be charged with a second degree crime. Where it is $75,000 or more, the charge is third degree. Where the value is less than $75,000, you’ll face a fourth degree charge.
You can also be charged with Corruption of Public Resources if you make a false representation to a government agency, officer, or employee, in order to obtain a public resource fraudulently. This again is graded as a second degree crime where the value of the public resource is beyond $500,000, a third degree crime where it is over $75,000, and a fourth degree crime when the value is below $75,000.
Public corruption charges can be ruinous. Protect yourself right away. Call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9661 and talk to an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney for free.