New Jersey Statutes

N.J. Stat. § 2C:3-7 (2026)

Use of force in law enforcement

✓ current as of May 2026

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a. Use of force justifiable to effect an arrest. Subject to the provisions of this section and of section 2C:3-9, the use of force upon or toward the person of another is justifiable when the actor is making or assisting in making an arrest and the actor reasonably believes that such force is immediately necessary to effect a lawful arrest.

b. Limitations on the use of force.

(1) The use of force is not justifiable under this section unless:

(a) The actor makes known the purpose of the arrest or reasonably believes that it is otherwise known by or cannot reasonably be made known to the person to be arrested; and

(b) When the arrest is made under a warrant, the warrant is valid or reasonably believed by the actor to be valid.

(2) The use of deadly force is not justifiable under this section unless:

(a) The actor effecting the arrest is authorized to act as a peace officer or has been summoned by and is assisting a person whom he reasonably believes to be authorized to act as a peace officer; and

(b) The actor reasonably believes that the force employed creates no substantial risk of injury to innocent persons; and

(c) The actor reasonably believes that the crime for which the arrest is made was homicide, kidnapping, an offense under 2C:14-2 or 2C:14-3, arson, robbery, burglary of a dwelling, or an attempt to commit one of these crimes; and

(d) The actor reasonably believes:

(i) There is an imminent threat of deadly force to himself or a third party; or

(ii) The use of deadly force is necessary to thwart the commission of a crime as set forth in subparagraph (c) of this paragraph; or

(iii) The use of deadly force is necessary to prevent an escape.

c. Use of force to prevent escape from custody. The use of force to prevent the escape of an arrested person from custody is justifiable when the force could, under subsections a. and b. of this section, have been employed to effect the arrest under which the person is in custody. A correction officer or other person authorized to act as a peace officer is, however, justified in using any force including deadly force, which he reasonably believes to be immediately necessary to prevent the escape of a person committed to a jail, prison, or other institution for the detention of persons charged with or convicted of an offense so long as the actor believes that the force employed creates no substantial risk of injury to innocent persons.

d. Use of force by private person assisting an unlawful arrest.

(1) A private person who is summoned by a peace officer to assist in effecting an unlawful arrest is justified in using any force which he would be justified in using if the arrest were lawful, provided that he does not believe the arrest is unlawful.

(2) A private person who assists another private person in effecting an unlawful arrest, or who, not being summoned, assists a peace officer in effecting an unlawful arrest, is justified in using any force which he would be justified in using if the arrest were lawful, provided that (a) he reasonably believes the arrest is lawful, and (b) the arrest would be lawful if the facts were as he believes them to be and such belief is reasonable.

e. Use of force to prevent suicide or the commission of a crime. The use of force upon or toward the person of another is justifiable when the actor reasonably believes that such force is immediately necessary to prevent such other person from committing suicide, inflicting serious bodily harm upon himself, committing or consummating the commission of a crime involving or threatening bodily harm, damage to or loss of property or a breach of the peace, except that:

(1) Any limitations imposed by the other provisions of this chapter on the justifiable use of force in self-protection, for the protection of others, the protection of property, the effectuation of an arrest or the prevention of an escape from custody shall apply notwithstanding the criminality of the conduct against which such force is used; and

(2) The use of deadly force is not in any event justifiable under this subsection unless the actor reasonably believes that it is likely that the person whom he seeks to prevent from committing a crime will endanger human life or inflict serious bodily harm upon another unless the commission or the consummation of the crime is prevented and that the use of such force presents no substantial risk of injury to innocent persons.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 10 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1982–2025 · leading case: State of New Jersey v. Hugo Fierro, 105 A.3d 1155 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2015).

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State of New Jersey v. Hugo Fierro, 105 A.3d 1155 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2015). · cites it 3× “Defendant argues first that the trial court erroneously denied his attorney's request at the close of the State's case- in-chief to include a use-of-force instruction pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:3-7(a) as part of the court's final charge to the jury.”

Amato v. United States, 549 F. Supp. 863 (D.N.J. 1982). · cites it 2× “The use of force by law enforcement officers in New Jersey is now governed by statute; N.J.Stat.Ann. § 2C:3-7 (West Supp.1982). This statute was enacted after the events giving rise to this lawsuit occurred, so it is not applicable to this case.”

Abraham v. Raso, 15 F. Supp. 2d 433 (D.N.J. 1998). · cites it 3× “This Court recognizes that N.J.S.A. 2C:3-7 provides in pertinent part that the use of deadly force is justifiable where the officer reasonably believes that the crime for which the arrest is being made was homicide, kidnapping, certain enumerated sex offenses, arson, robbery,…”

Rodriguez v. City of Passaic, 730 F. Supp. 1314 (D.N.J. 1990). “*1324 N.J.S.A. 2C:3-7(b)(2). Thus, under New Jersey’s Criminal Code, there is no express requirement that the suspect threaten the officer or others with serious physical harm or that there be probable cause to believe that the suspect committed a violent crime involving the…”

Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “§ 627:6(vi); N.J.Stat.Ann. § 2C:3-7(e) (West 1982); N.”

Coleman v. New Jersey Transit (D.N.J. 2020). · cites it 2× “§ 2C:13-3, and (2) use of force in law enforcement, N.J.S.A. § 2C:3-7. Compl. at 2.2 Plaintiff seeks money damages as well as a disciplinary order against the New Jersey Transit conductor and officers.”

State of New Jersey Vs. Darnell Reed(13-08-1920, Essex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2017). “Const. art. I, ¶ ¶ 1, 9, 10. We agree. A law enforcement officer may use force when making an arrest if he or she "reasonably believes that such force is immediately necessary to effect a lawful arrest.”

Buccheri v. Nogan (D.N.J. 2019). “Also absent is any proof that a third person was endangered by Sophie's actions.”

State of New Jersey v. Kwaku Dua (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2025). “A law enforcement officer may use force when making an arrest if they "reasonably believe[] that such force is immediately necessary to effect a lawful arrest." N.J.S.A. 2C:3-7(a).”

In the Matter of Application of Jonathan R. Wheeler for a Retired officer Permit to Carry a Firearm Openly &/or Concealed in the Matter of Application of George A. Daudelin for a Retired Officer Permit to Carry a Firearm Openly &/or Concealed (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2013). “N.J.S.A. 2C:3-7. The Legislature likely focused on the risk of retaliation faced by these retirees — that threat distinguishes them from others.”

— N.J. Stat. § 2C:3-7(a) — 3 cases

State of New Jersey v. Hugo Fierro, 105 A.3d 1155 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2015). “Defendant argues first that the trial court erroneously denied his attorney's request at the close of the State's case- in-chief to include a use-of-force instruction pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:3-7(a) as part of the court's final charge to the jury.”

— N.J. Stat. § 2C:3-7(b)(2) — 1 case

— N.J. Stat. § 2C:3-7(e) — 2 cases

Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “§ 627:6(vi); N.J.Stat.Ann. § 2C:3-7(e) (West 1982); N.”

Buccheri v. Nogan (D.N.J. 2019). “Also absent is any proof that a third person was endangered by Sophie's actions.”

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