On June 2, Governor Murphy signed A4652 into law creating the offense of inciting a public brawl and upgrading the penalties for engaging in disorderly conduct under certain circumstances. The legislation specifically targets groups of four or more with the intent to imminently engage in disorderly conduct.
Additionally, the law provides that a person who attempts to conceal their identity by wearing a mask or disguise while engaging in a course of disorderly conduct with purpose to instill fear, hinder prosecution, or avoid apprehension is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. There is an exemption for a person who wears a mask or disguise solely for medical, religious, or expressive purposes.
Inciting a public brawl is a fourth-degree crime if the person acts with the purpose to incite or produce the course of disorderly conduct. It is punishable by up to 18 months of imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A person who commits a fourth-degree crime may be eligible for entry into a pretrial intervention program (PTI).
P.L. 2025, c. 59 took effect on June 2, 2025.
Contact: Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst, eknoedler@njlm.org, x116.