New Jersey Statutes 4:22-24. Animal fighting crimes; definitions
Attorney's Note
Under the New Jersey Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| crime of the third degree | between 3 and 5 years | up to $15,000 |
Terms Used In New Jersey Statutes 4:22-24
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- person: includes corporations, companies, associations, societies, firms, partnerships and joint stock companies as well as individuals, unless restricted by the context to an individual as distinguished from a corporate entity or specifically restricted to one or some of the above enumerated synonyms and, when used to designate the owner of property which may be the subject of an offense, includes this State, the United States, any other State of the United States as defined infra and any foreign country or government lawfully owning or possessing property within this State. See New Jersey Statutes 1:1-2
(1) Keep, use, be connected with or interested in the management of, or receive money for the admission of a person to, a place kept or used for the purpose of fighting or baiting a living animal or creature;
(2) Be present and witness, pay admission to, encourage or assist therein;
(3) Permit or suffer a place owned or controlled by him to be so used;
(4) For amusement or gain, cause, allow, or permit the fighting or baiting of a living animal or creature;
(5) Own, possess, keep, train, promote, purchase, or knowingly sell a living animal or creature for the purpose of fighting or baiting that animal or creature;
(6) Gamble on the outcome of a fight involving a living animal or creature ; or
(7) Own, possess, buy, sell, transfer, or manufacture animal fighting paraphernalia for the purpose of engaging in or otherwise promoting or facilitating the fighting or baiting of a living animal or creature —
Shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.
b. In determining whether an object is animal fighting paraphernalia, a tryer of fact may consider:
(1) the proximity of the object in time and space to any violation of this section;
(2) direct circumstantial evidence of intent of the person to deliver the object to any person whom the person in possession of the object knows, or should reasonably know, intends to use the object to violate this section;
(3) oral or written instructions concerning its use provided with, or found in the vicinity of, the object;
(4) descriptive materials accompanying the object which explain or depicts its use; and
(5) any other relevant factors.
c. For the purposes of this section:
“Animal fighting paraphernalia” means equipment, products, implements, and materials of any kind that are used, intended for use, or designed for use in the training, preparation, or conditioning of an animal for fighting, or in furtherance of animal fighting, and includes, but is not limited to, the following: breaking sticks, cat mills, treadmills, fighting pits, springpoles, veterinary medicine without a prescription therefor, treatment supplies, gaffs, slashers, heels, or any other sharp implement designed to be attached in place of the natural spur of a rooster, cock, or game fowl.
“Bait” means to attack with violence, to provoke, or to harass an animal with one or more animals for the purpose of training the animal for, or to cause an animal to engage in, a fight with or among other animals.
amended 1989, c.35, s.1; 2015, c.85, s.4; 2019, c.223, s.2.