New Jersey Statutes

N.J. Stat. § 2C:27-1 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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In chapters 27 through 30, unless a different meaning plainly is required:

a. "Benefit" means gain or advantage, or anything regarded by the beneficiary as gain or advantage, including a pecuniary benefit or a benefit to any other person or entity in whose welfare he is interested;

b. "Government" includes any branch, subdivision or agency of the government of the State or any locality within it;

c. "Harm" means loss, disadvantage or injury, or anything so regarded by the person affected, including loss, disadvantage or injury to any other person or entity in whose welfare he is interested;

d. "Official proceeding" means a proceeding heard or which may be heard before any legislative, judicial, administrative or other governmental agency, arbitration proceeding, or official authorized to take evidence under oath, including any arbitrator, referee, hearing examiner, commissioner, notary or other person taking testimony or deposition in connection with any such proceeding;

e. "Party official" means a person who holds an elective or appointive post in a political party in the United States by virtue of which he directs or conducts, or participates in directing or conducting party affairs at any level of responsibility;

f. "Pecuniary benefit" is benefit in the form of money, property, commercial interests or anything else the primary significance of which is economic gain;

g. "Public servant" means any officer or employee of government, including legislators and judges, and any person participating as juror, advisor, consultant or otherwise, in performing a governmental function, but the term does not include witnesses;

h. "Administrative proceeding" means any proceeding, other than a judicial proceeding, the outcome of which is required to be based on a record or documentation prescribed by law, or in which law or regulation is particularized in application to individuals;

i. "Statement" means any representation, but includes a representation of opinion, belief or other state of mind only if the representation clearly relates to state of mind apart from or in addition to any facts which are the subject of the representation.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 2008–2025 · leading case: State v. Ivonne Saavedra (073793), 117 A.3d 1169 (N.J. 2015).
State v. Ivonne Saavedra (073793), 117 A.3d 1169 (N.J. 2015). · cites it 5× “” N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1(a). That definition includes pecuniary benefit, defined as a “benefit in the form of money, property, commercial interests or anything else the primary significance of which is economic gain.”
State v. Quezada, 953 A.2d 1206 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2008). “The issue concerning obtaining a "benefit" also turns on the definitional section of N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1. The word "benefit," unless having a different meaning in context: means gain or advantage, or anything regarded by the beneficiary as gain or advantage, including a pecuniary…”
United States v. John Bencivengo, 749 F.3d 205 (3rd Cir. 2014). “N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:27-2. The statute defines a “public servant” as “any officer or employee of government, including legislators and judges, and any person participating as juror, advisor, consultant or otherwise, in performing a governmental function.”
Newfield Fire Co. No. 1 v. the Borough of Newfield, 107 A.3d 686 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2015). “2008) (holding a volunteer firefighter is a public servant under N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1(g)). In return, designated volunteer firefighters are afforded worker's compensation insurance as de facto municipal employees, see N.”
United States v. Manzo, 851 F. Supp. 2d 797 (D.N.J. 2012). · cites it 2× “In N.J.S.A. § 2C:27-1(g), “public servant” is defined as “any officer or employee of government, including legislators and judges, and any person participating as juror, advisor, consultant or otherwise, in performing a governmental function, but the term does not include…”
In Re the Matter Concerning the State Grand Jury (N.J. 2025). · cites it 2× “The trial court analogized to the definition of a 6 “public servant” under N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1(g), which refers to “officer[s] or employee[s] of government” as well as others “performing a governmental function.”
State of New Jersey Vs. Joseph Tolotti (17-10-0909, Cumberland Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “" N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1(a). In our view, the State presented prima facie evidence to the grand jury that Kwintiuk sought a benefit to avoid possible discipline by not reporting the accident arrest when it occurred,5 and not truthfully reporting where and how 5 Houbary reported the…”
State of New Jersey Vs. Orlando Trinidad (14-01-0314, Essex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018). “2C:30-2)" (2006); see also N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1; State v. Quezada, 402 N.”
State of New Jersey v. Jason M. O'donnell (21-02-0011, Hudson Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2022). “" N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1(g). Who may be a "party official" is broadly defined in N.”
State of New Jersey v. Luis a. Vializ (18-12-1582, Monmouth Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2022). “2C:28-5(b) nor N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1, which contains definitions for chapters 27 through 30 of Title 2C, defines "service of another as a witness.”
People v. Moyer (Cal. Ct. App. 2023). “01 (2); N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:27-1(a); 18 Pa. Stat.”
People v. Moyer (Cal. Ct. App. 2023). “01 (2); N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:27-1(a); 18 Pa. Stat.”
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:27-1(a) — 4 cases
State v. Ivonne Saavedra (073793), 117 A.3d 1169 (N.J. 2015). “” N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1(a). That definition includes pecuniary benefit, defined as a “benefit in the form of money, property, commercial interests or anything else the primary significance of which is economic gain.”
State of New Jersey Vs. Joseph Tolotti (17-10-0909, Cumberland Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “" N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1(a). In our view, the State presented prima facie evidence to the grand jury that Kwintiuk sought a benefit to avoid possible discipline by not reporting the accident arrest when it occurred,5 and not truthfully reporting where and how 5 Houbary reported the…”
People v. Moyer (Cal. Ct. App. 2023). “01 (2); N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:27-1(a); 18 Pa. Stat.”
People v. Moyer (Cal. Ct. App. 2023). “01 (2); N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:27-1(a); 18 Pa. Stat.”
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:27-1(f) — 1 case
State v. Ivonne Saavedra (073793), 117 A.3d 1169 (N.J. 2015). “” N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1(a). That definition includes pecuniary benefit, defined as a “benefit in the form of money, property, commercial interests or anything else the primary significance of which is economic gain.”
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:27-1(g) — 6 cases
State v. Ivonne Saavedra (073793), 117 A.3d 1169 (N.J. 2015). “” N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1(a). That definition includes pecuniary benefit, defined as a “benefit in the form of money, property, commercial interests or anything else the primary significance of which is economic gain.”
United States v. John Bencivengo, 749 F.3d 205 (3rd Cir. 2014). “N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:27-2. The statute defines a “public servant” as “any officer or employee of government, including legislators and judges, and any person participating as juror, advisor, consultant or otherwise, in performing a governmental function.”
Newfield Fire Co. No. 1 v. the Borough of Newfield, 107 A.3d 686 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2015). “2008) (holding a volunteer firefighter is a public servant under N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1(g)). In return, designated volunteer firefighters are afforded worker's compensation insurance as de facto municipal employees, see N.”
United States v. Manzo, 851 F. Supp. 2d 797 (D.N.J. 2012). “In N.J.S.A. § 2C:27-1(g), “public servant” is defined as “any officer or employee of government, including legislators and judges, and any person participating as juror, advisor, consultant or otherwise, in performing a governmental function, but the term does not include…”
In Re the Matter Concerning the State Grand Jury (N.J. 2025). “The trial court analogized to the definition of a 6 “public servant” under N.J.S.A. 2C:27-1(g), which refers to “officer[s] or employee[s] of government” as well as others “performing a governmental function.”
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