NJSA 2C:1-13 Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Kenneth Vercammen's Law office represents individuals charged with criminal and serious traffic violations throughout New Jersey. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt; 2C:1-13. affirmative defenses; burden of proving fact when not an element of an offense a. No person may be convicted of an offense unless each element of such offense is proved beyond a reasonable doubt. In the absence of such proof, the innocence of the defendant is assumed. b. Subsection a. of this section does not: (1) Require the disproof of an affirmative defense unless and until there is evidence supporting such defense; or (2) Apply to any defense which the code or another statute requires the defendant to prove by a preponderance of evidence or such other standard as specified in this code. c. A defense is affirmative, within the meaning of subsection b.(1) of this section, when: (1) It arises under a section of the code which so provides; or (2) It relates to an offense defined by a statute other than the code and such statute so provides; or d. When the application of the code depends upon the finding of a fact which is not an element of an offense, unless the code otherwise provides: (1) The burden of proving the fact is on the prosecution or defendant, depending on whose interest or contention will be furthered if the finding should be made; and (2) The fact must be proved to the satisfaction of the court or jury, as the case may be. e. When the code or other statute defining an offense establishes a presumption with respect to any fact which is an element of an offense, it has the meaning accorded it by the law of evidence. f. In any civil action commenced pursuant to any provision of this code the burden of proof shall be by a preponderance of the evidence. L.1978, c. 95, s. 2C:1-13, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by L.1979, c. 178, s. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. 2C:1-14. Definitions 2C:1-14. In this code, unless a different meaning plainly is required: a. "Statute" includes the Constitution and a local law or ordinance of a political subdivision of the State; b. "Act" or "action" means a bodily movement whether voluntary or involuntary; c. "Omission" means a failure to act; d. "Conduct" means an action or omission and its accompanying state of mind, or, where relevant, a series of acts and omissions; e. "Actor" includes, where relevant, a person guilty of an omission; f. "Acted" includes, where relevant, "omitted to act"; g. "Person," "he," and "actor" include any natural person and, where relevant, a corporation or an unincorporated association; h. "Element of an offense" means (1) such conduct or (2) such attendant circumstances or (3) such a result of conduct as (a)Is included in the description of the forbidden conduct in the definition of the offense; (b)Establishes the required kind of culpability; (c)Negatives an excuse or justification for such conduct; (d)Negatives a defense under the statute of limitations; or (e)Establishes jurisdiction or venue; i. "Material element of an offense" means an element that does not relate exclusively to the statute of limitations, jurisdiction, venue or to any other matter similarly unconnected with (1) the harm or evil, incident to conduct, sought to be prevented by the law defining the offense, or (2) the existence of a justification or excuse for such conduct; j. "Reasonably believes" or "reasonable belief" designates a belief the holding of which does not make the actor reckless or criminally negligent; k. "Offense" means a crime, a disorderly persons offense or a petty disorderly persons offense unless a particular section in this code is intended to apply to less than all three; l.(Deleted by amendment, P.L. 1991, c.91). m. "Amount involved," "benefit," and other terms of value. Where it is necessary in this act to determine value, for purposes of fixing the degree of an offense, that value shall be the fair market value at the time and place of the operative act. n. "Motor vehicle" shall have the meaning provided in R.S .39:1-1. o. "Unlawful taking of a motor vehicle" means conduct prohibited under N.J.S. 2C:20-10 when the means of conveyance taken, operated or controlled is a motor vehicle. p. "Research facility" means any building, laboratory, institution, organization, school, or person engaged in research, testing, educational or experimental activities, or any commercial or academic enterprise that uses warm-blooded or cold-blooded animals for food or fiber production, agriculture, research, testing, experimentation or education. A research facility includes, but is not limited to, any enclosure, separately secured yard, pad, pond, vehicle, building structure or premises or separately secured portion thereof. q. "Communication" means any form of communication made by any means, including, but not limited to, any verbal or written communication, communications conveyed by any electronic communication device, which includes but is not limited to, a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectric or photo-optical system, telephone, including a cordless, cellular or digital telephone, computer, video recorder, fax machine, pager, or any other means of transmitting voice or data and communications made by sign or gesture. Amended 1979, c.178, s.8; 1991, c.91, s.142; 1993, c.219, s.1; 1995, c.20, s.1; 2001, c.220, s.1. 2C:2-1 Requirement of voluntary act; omission as basis of liability; possession as an act 2C:2-1. Requirement of Voluntary Act; Omission as Basis of Liability; Possession as an act. a. A person is not guilty of an offense unless his liability is based on conduct which includes a voluntary act or the omission to perform an act of which he is physically capable. A bodily movement that is not a product of the effort or determination of the actor, either conscious or habitual, is not a voluntary act within the meaning of this section. b. Liability for the commission of an offense may not be based on an omission unaccompanied by action unless: (1) The omission is expressly made sufficient by the law defining the offense; or (2) A duty to perform the omitted act is otherwise imposed by law, including but not limited to, laws such as the "Uniform Fire Safety Act," P.L. 1983, c.383 (C. 52:27D-192 et seq.), the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L. 1975, c.217 (C. 52:27D-119 et seq.), or any other law intended to protect the public safety or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder. c. Possession is an act, within the meaning of this section, if the possessor knowingly procured or received the thing possessed or was aware of his control thereof for a sufficient period to have been able to terminate his possession. Amended 1997, c. 180, s.1.