N.J. Stat. tit. 2A, ch. 153

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 2A:153-1 Authority of governor in general

The governor or person administering the government for the time being may issue a proclamation for apprehending and securing any person, known or unknown, charged, on oath of one or more credible witnesses, with having committed murder, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, arson or other heinous crime within this state, or for apprehending any person charged with aiding, abetting or concealing any such person, and in such proclamation may offer such reward as he may think proper, according to the nature and aggravation of the crime, not exceeding $25,000 for any 1 person. The reward shall be paid, on conviction of the party charged, to such person or persons as the governor or person administering the government for the time being may, in his discretion, deem entitled thereto. Such payment shall be made by the state treasurer, out of any public money in his hands unappropriated, on warrant of the comptroller under certification of the governor or person administering the government for the time being. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:153-2 Authority of chosen freeholders

2A:153-2. The board of chosen freeholders of any county, on the recommendation and request in writing of the prosecutor of the county, approved by a judge of the Superior Court may offer a reward not exceeding $5,000 for the detection and apprehension of any person guilty of murder, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, arson or other heinous crime in such county, the reward to be payable after conviction out of such funds of the county as may be applicable thereto. The reward shall be paid to such person or persons as the board of chosen freeholders may, in its discretion, deem entitled thereto. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended 1991,c.91,s.121.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:153-3 Escaped county prisoners; authority of chosen freeholders

The board of chosen freeholders of any county may publicly advertise the escape of any prisoner or prisoners from any penal institution in such county, and may offer a reward not exceeding $300 for the detection and apprehension of each of such escaped prisoners. Any reward offered hereunder shall be payable only after the recapture and return of the prisoner or prisoners to the institution from which the escape was made. The amount of the reward and the expense of advertising shall be paid out of such funds of the county as may be applicable thereto. The reward shall be paid to such person or persons as the board of chosen freeholders may, in its discretion, deem entitled thereto. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:153-4 Reward by municipality for apprehension of certain persons

The governing body of any municipality, on the recommendation and request in writing of the municipal police chief or principal law enforcement officer of such municipality, approved by a judge of the Superior Court may offer a reward not exceeding $3,000.00 for the detection and apprehension of any person guilty of murder, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, arson, or other heinous crime in such municipality; the reward is to be payable after conviction out of such funds of the municipality as may be applicable thereto. The reward shall be paid to such person or persons as the municipal governing body may, in its discretion, deem entitled thereto, but no such reward may be paid to any public employee, whose duty it is to investigate or to enforce the law. L.1967,c.171,s.1; amended 1991,c.91,s.122.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:153-4.1 Acts of graffiti

The governing body of any municipality may, by ordinance, provide for the offering of rewards not exceeding $500.00 each, for the detection and apprehension of any person guilty of purposely or knowingly damaging tangible property of another by an act of graffiti in violation of N.J.S. 2C:17-3. A reward is to be payable after conviction out of those funds of the municipality made available therefor. The reward shall be paid to any person who the governing body, acting upon the recommendation of the municipal chief of police or other principal municipal law enforcement officer, may deem entitled thereto, but no reward shall be paid to any public employee whose duty it is to investigate or to enforce the law or to the employee's spouse, child or parent, living in the same household. For the purposes of this act, "act of graffiti" means the drawing, painting or the making of any inscription on a bridge, building, public transportation vehicle, rock, wall, sidewalk, street or other exposed surface on public or private property without the permission of the owner. P.L. 1987,c.45.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026