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Legislation toughening the penalties for anyone found guilty of corrupting or influencing a jury hearing serious criminal cases was signed into law Saturday by Acting Gov. Richard Codey.

Codey signed the bill while Gov. Jon Corzine is out of state. He was joined at a signing in Roseland by Essex County Prosecutor and Attorney General Designate Paula Dow and Essex Sheriff Armando Fontoura.

The legislation (A-3526) is part of a larger anti-crime initiative intended, among other things, to target gang activity and is consistent with the state's recent penalty upgrades for the crime of tampering with witnesses or informants. The law will upgrade the crime of tampering with a jury to a first degree offense if an individual uses threat or force against an official involved in the proceedings of crimes included in the "No Early Release Act." Under a first degree crime, the upgraded penalty will carry a term of imprisonment of 10-20 years and a fine of up to $200,000.

The No Early Release Act includes crimes of a more serious nature, including: murder; aggravated manslaughter or manslaughter; vehicular homicide; aggravated assault; disarming a law enforcement officer; kidnapping; aggravated sexual assault; sexual assault; robbery; carjacking; aggravated arson; burglary; extortion; strict liability for drug induced deaths; terrorism; producing or possessing chemical weapons, biological agents or nuclear or radiological devices; and racketeering when it is a crime of the first degree.

Corrupting or influencing a jury will continue to be a crime of the second degree if the defendant uses force or the threat of force and the conduct occurs in connection with a crime that is not listed in the No Early Release Act. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of 5-10 years and a fine of up to $150,000. Otherwise, corrupting or influencing a jury will remain a crime of the third degree without a presumption of non-imprisonment. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of 3-5 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

The bill was unanimously approved by both houses of the Legislature. It was sponsored by Codey (D-Essex) as Senate president, Sen.Bill Baroni (R- Mercer), and Assembly members John McKeon (D-Essex), Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen), Mila Jasey (D-Essex), and Cleopatra Tucker (D-Essex).

"A trial by jury is one of the bedrocks of our democracy," Codey said. "Victims, especially those of a serious crime, deserve to know that we are doing everything in our power to protect the integrity of the judicial system. Anyone convicted of threatening a juror deserves to have the book thrown at them."

"This law will make it clear that anyone who attempts to thwart justice by preying on jurors will be held accountable with some of the toughest jury protections in the nation," Baroni said.

"Our justice system is built around the premise that the truth, above all, must prevail," McKeon said. "Anyone who would purposefully act to undermine the ability of the judges and juries to reach the proper, fair and correct decision must be held accountable."

The law goes into effect immediately.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM