While penalties for Causing or Risking Widespread Injury or Damage are significant, the statute creates penalties even for recklessly creating a risk of widespread injury or damage, even if no injury or damage actually occurs. Circumstances under which you could be charged under 2C:17-2(c) would include even some fairly innocuous behaviors, like spilling or abandoning flammable materials in a place where they could reasonably ignite, or leaving an un-ignited gas stove on in an apartment … [Read more...]

Causing or Risking Widespread Injury or Damage is a criminal law in New Jersey that can be applied in a variety of ways. Under section (b) of the statute (2C:17-2(b)), a person who recklessly causes widespread injury or damage is guilty of a crime of the third degree. In general “widespread injury or damage” is defined as causing an explosion, flood, avalanche, building collapse, or the release of poison gas, radioactive material, or any other harmful or destructive substance. As … [Read more...]

A little known but extremely serious criminal charge in New Jersey is specified under N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2(a), Second Degree Causing or Risking Widespread Injury or Damage. The charge is applied in cases where a defendant stands accused of “purposely or knowingly” unlawfully causing an explosion, flood, avalanche, collapse of a building, release or abandonment of poison gas, radioactive material, or any other harmful or destructive substance. The charge is often filed in cases of suspected … [Read more...]

New Jersey Penalties For Causing Or Risking Widespread Injury Or Damage (N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2) Charges Causing or Risking Widespread Injury or Damage (N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2) in New Jersey is something of a catch all charge that covers a variety of types of conduct that don’t only affect a single person or even several people. Rather, 2C:17-2 describes acts that can have wide ranging implications and cause damages or injury to many. The charge is always an indictable offense, meaning that it is … [Read more...]

New Jersey Penalties For Causing Or Risking Widespread Injury Or Damage (N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2) Charges Causing or Risking Widespread Injury or Damage (N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2) in New Jersey is graded at a number of levels, depending on the alleged conduct and its results. At the fourth degree level, with a possible 18 month sentence, the prosecution will allege that you recklessly created a risk of widespread injury or damage, or that you knowingly or recklessly failed to mitigate a source of … [Read more...]