Bribery in official and political matters

2C:27-2.  Bribery in official and political matters

    A person is guilty of bribery if he directly or indirectly offers, confers or agrees to confer upon another, or solicits, accepts or agrees to accept from  another:

    a.  Any benefit as consideration for a decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or exercise of discretion of a public servant, party official or voter on any public issue or in any public election;  or

    b.  Any benefit as consideration for a decision, vote, recommendation or exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding; or

    c.  Any benefit as consideration for a violation of an official duty of a public servant or party official;  or

    d.  Any benefit as consideration for the performance of official duties.

     For the purposes of this section  "benefit as consideration"  shall be deemed to mean any benefit not authorized by law.

     It is no defense to prosecution under this section that a person whom the actor sought to influence was not qualified to act in the desired way whether because he had not yet assumed office, or lacked jurisdiction, or for any other  reason.

    In any prosecution under this section of an actor who offered, conferred or  agreed to confer, or who solicited, accepted or agreed to accept a benefit, it  is no defense that he did so as a result of conduct by another constituting  theft by extortion or coercion or an attempt to commit either of those crimes.

    Any offense proscribed by this section is a crime of the second degree. If the benefit offered, conferred, agreed to be conferred, solicited, accepted or agreed to be accepted is of the value of $200.00 or less, any offense proscribed by this section is a crime of the third degree.

     L.1978, c. 95, s. 2C:27-2, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.  Amended by L.1979, c. 178, s. 48, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.

Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey
as a Criminal Trial Attorney