Kentucky Statutes 521.020 – Bribery of public servant
Current as of: 2024 | Check for updates
|
Other versions
(1) A person is guilty of bribery of a public servant when:
(a) He offers, confers, or agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit upon a public servant with the intent to influence the public servant’s vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action in his official capacity as a public servant; or
For details, see § 532.060
(b) While a public servant, he solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept any pecuniary benefit upon an agreement or understanding that his vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action as a public servant will thereby be influenced.
(2) It is a defense under this section if a person confers or agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit upon a public servant as a result of conduct of the public servant which constitutes extortion or coercion.
(3) It is no defense to a prosecution under this section that the person sought to be influenced was not qualified to act in the desired way because he had not yet assumed office, lacked jurisdiction, or for any other reason.
(4) Bribery of a public servant is a Class C felony.
Effective: July 15, 1994
History: Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 477, sec. 5, effective July 15, 1994. — Created
1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 183, effective January 1, 1975.
(a) He offers, confers, or agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit upon a public servant with the intent to influence the public servant’s vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action in his official capacity as a public servant; or
Attorney's Note
Under the Kentucky Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class C felony | between 5 and 10 years | between $1,000 and $10,000 |
Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 521.020
- Action: includes all proceedings in any court of this state. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Pecuniary benefit: means benefit in the form of money, property, commercial interests or anything else the primary significance of which is economic gain. See Kentucky Statutes 521.010
- Public servant: means :
(a) Any public officer or employee of the state or of any political subdivision thereof or of any governmental instrumentality within the state. See Kentucky Statutes 521.010
(b) While a public servant, he solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept any pecuniary benefit upon an agreement or understanding that his vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action as a public servant will thereby be influenced.
(2) It is a defense under this section if a person confers or agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit upon a public servant as a result of conduct of the public servant which constitutes extortion or coercion.
(3) It is no defense to a prosecution under this section that the person sought to be influenced was not qualified to act in the desired way because he had not yet assumed office, lacked jurisdiction, or for any other reason.
(4) Bribery of a public servant is a Class C felony.
Effective: July 15, 1994
History: Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 477, sec. 5, effective July 15, 1994. — Created
1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 183, effective January 1, 1975.