Kenneth Vercammen is a Middlesex County Trial Attorney who has published 130 articles in national and New Jersey publications on Criminal Law, Probate, Estate and litigation topics.

He was awarded the NJ State State Bar Municipal Court Practitioner of the Year.

He lectures and handles criminal cases, Municipal Court, DWI, traffic and other litigation matters.

To schedule a confidential consultation, call us or New clients email us evenings and weekends via contact box www.njlaws.com.

Kenneth Vercammen & Associates, P.C,

2053 Woodbridge Avenue,

Edison, NJ 08817,

(732) 572-0500

Monday, December 19, 2011

NJSA 2C:3-11 Definitions

NJSA 2C:3-11 Definitions

2C:3-11 Definitions.

2C:3-11. Definitions. In this chapter, unless a different meaning plainly is required: a. "Unlawful force" means force, including confinement, which is employed without the consent of the person against whom it is directed and the employment of which constitutes an offense or actionable tort or would constitute such offense or tort except for a defense (such as the absence of intent, negligence, or mental capacity; duress, youth, or diplomatic status) not amounting to a privilege to use the force. Assent constitutes consent, within the meaning of this section, whether or not it otherwise is legally effective, except assent to the infliction of death or serious bodily harm.

b."Deadly force" means force which the actor uses with the purpose of causing or which he knows to create a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily harm. Purposely firing a firearm in the direction of another person or at a vehicle, building or structure in which another person is believed to be constitutes deadly force unless the firearm is loaded with less-lethal ammunition and fired by a law enforcement officer in the performance of the officers official duties. A threat to cause death or serious bodily harm, by the production of a weapon or otherwise, so long as the actors purpose is limited to creating an apprehension that he will use deadly force if necessary, does not constitute deadly force.

c."Dwelling" means any building or structure, though movable or temporary, or a portion thereof, which is for the time being the actors home or place of lodging except that, as used in 2C:3-7, the building or structure need not be the actors own home or place of lodging.

d."Serious bodily harm" means bodily harm which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ or which results from aggravated sexual assault or sexual assault.

e."Bodily harm" means physical pain, or temporary disfigurement, or impairment of physical condition.

f."Less-lethal ammunition" means ammunition approved by the Attorney General which is designed to stun, temporarily incapacitate or cause temporary discomfort to a person without penetrating the persons body. The term shall also include ammunition approved by the Attorney General which is designed to gain access to a building or structure and is used for that purpose.