Aiding Suicide

Aiding Suicide (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-6) isn’t a law that’s used in prosecution very often in New Jersey, but it’s a law that creates significant risk for those charged with it.

When a person engages in conduct that leads a person to attempt suicide or to actually commit suicide, they’ll be charged under 2C:11-6 with a crime of the second degree.

Penalties for conviction in aiding suicide include a five to ten year prison sentence and $150,000 in fines.

Where conduct construed as Aiding Suicide doesn’t result in an attempt or completed suicide, you can still be prosecuted.

In those instances, 2C:11-6 is charged as a crime of the fourth degree, which carries a maximum sentence of 18 months and fines of up to $10,000.

When the law was passed in 1979, it was almost certainly thought to primarily apply to doctors, nurses, and others who serve as caregivers to the sick and elderly.

However, in today’s world, we’re already starting to see cases where charges have been filed for encouraging someone to commit suicide by text message or online.

Don’t take chances if police are investigating a case where Aiding Suicide may be in play, or if you’ve been charged.

Get experienced help right away.

Reisig has helped families in New Jersey as they face criminal charges for 20 years.

Call 732-625-9661 for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney.

A recent court case in Massachusetts made international headlines when a young woman was convicted of involuntary manslaughter after she texted her boyfriend, encouraging him to commit suicide, which he did.

In New Jersey, the statute N.J.S.A. 2C:11-6, Aiding Suicide, presents a similar prohibition on taking action that assists or encourages a person to commit suicide.

The text of the bill is short, but in this era of constant communication and dark corners of the internet, it’s hard to say that the language is clear.

The law says, “A person who purposely aids another to commit suicide is guilty of a crime of the second degree if his conduct causes such suicide or an attempted suicide, and otherwise of a crime of the fourth degree.”

It’s far from obvious how a prosecutor could construe the word “conduct” in the statute, which means that a case like the one in Massachusetts could also play out here.

It’s likely that legislators envisioned the law applying to doctors and other caregivers when they enacted it in the 1970s, but with cyberbullying and online suicide challenges, Aiding Suicide is a statute that could come into play more prominently in the future.

If you or your child are being investigated for or have been charged with Aiding Suicide in New Jersey, it’s important that you choose to work with an experienced criminal defense attorney to develop a compelling defense.

Reisig has been helping people in New Jersey who are facing serious criminal charges for two decades.

Call 732-625-9661 for a free consultation today.