Rules of Court · Part 3 · New Jersey

R. 3:14-1 New Jersey Rules of Court, R. 3:14-1: Venue, rendered as code with every cross-reference linked

Venue

the rule, verbatim; Code adds line numbers, links on every cross-reference and the list of rules that cite this one

An offense shall be prosecuted in the county in which it was committed, except that

(a) If it is uncertain in which one of 2 or more counties the offense has been committed or if an offense is committed in several counties prosecution may be had in any of such counties.

(b) If a person dies in one county as a result of an offense committed in any other county or counties, the prosecution may be had in any of such counties.

(c) Whenever the body of any person who died as a result of an offense is found in any county, prosecution may be had in such county, regardless of where the offense was committed.

(d) Whenever a person dies within the jurisdiction of this State as a result of an offense committed outside the jurisdiction of this State, or dies outside the jurisdiction of this State as a result of an offense committed within the jurisdiction of this State, the prosecution shall be had in the county in which the death occurred or the offense was committed.

(e) An accessory may be prosecuted as such either in the county in which the offense to which he or she is an accessory is triable or the county in which he or she became such accessory.

(f) Any person charged with receiving stolen property may be prosecuted in any county in which the stolen property is possessed.

(g) Prosecutions for acts of forgery, fraud, theft by deception, or theft by unlawful disposition may be had either in the county in which such offense was committed or in the county in which the offender last resided.

(h) Prosecutions for nonsupport may be had either in the county in which the spouse, statutory partner or any child resided at the time of the nonsupport or in the county in which the spouse or statutory partner resides when the prosecution is begun.

(i) The county of venue for purposes of trial of indictments returned by a State Grand Jury shall be designated by the Assignment Judge appointed to impanel and supervise the State Grand Jury or Grand Juries pursuant to R. 3:6-11(b).

Note: Source-R.R. 3:6-1; paragraph (k) adopted July 17, 1975 to be effective September 8, 1975; paragraph (g) amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; paragraphs (e) and (f) deleted, former paragraph (g) redesignated as paragraph (e), former paragraph (h) amended and redesignated as paragraph (f), former paragraph (i) amended and redesignated as paragraph (g), former paragraph (j) amended and redesignated as paragraph (h), and former paragraph (k) redesignated as paragraph (i) July 27, 2015 to be effective September 1, 2015.

Verbatim rule text, unmarked. Nothing here is a summary.

rule 3:14-1 "Venue" {
An offense shall be prosecuted in the county in which it was committed, except that
(a) If it is uncertain in which one of 2 or more counties the offense has been committed or if an offense is committed in several counties prosecution may be had in any of such counties.
(b) If a person dies in one county as a result of an offense committed in any other county or counties, the prosecution may be had in any of such counties.
(c) Whenever the body of any person who died as a result of an offense is found in any county, prosecution may be had in such county, regardless of where the offense was committed.
(d) Whenever a person dies within the jurisdiction of this State as a result of an offense committed outside the jurisdiction of this State, or dies outside the jurisdiction of this State as a result of an offense committed within the jurisdiction of this State, the prosecution shall be had in the county in which the death occurred or the offense was committed.
(e) An accessory may be prosecuted as such either in the county in which the offense to which he or she is an accessory is triable or the county in which he or she became such accessory.
(f) Any person charged with receiving stolen property may be prosecuted in any county in which the stolen property is possessed.
(g) Prosecutions for acts of forgery, fraud, theft by deception, or theft by unlawful disposition may be had either in the county in which such offense was committed or in the county in which the offender last resided.
(h) Prosecutions for nonsupport may be had either in the county in which the spouse, statutory partner or any child resided at the time of the nonsupport or in the county in which the spouse or statutory partner resides when the prosecution is begun.
(i) The county of venue for purposes of trial of indictments returned by a State Grand Jury shall be designated by the Assignment Judge appointed to impanel and supervise the State Grand Jury or Grand Juries pursuant to R. 3:6-11(b).
Note: Source-R.R. 3:6-1; paragraph (k) adopted July 17, 1975 to be effective September 8, 1975; paragraph (g) amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; paragraphs (e) and (f) deleted, former paragraph (g) redesignated as paragraph (e), former paragraph (h) amended and redesignated as paragraph (f), former paragraph (i) amended and redesignated as paragraph (g), former paragraph (j) amended and redesignated as paragraph (h), and former paragraph (k) redesignated as paragraph (i) July 27, 2015 to be effective September 1, 2015.
}
referenced_by: 5:2-1
source: njcourts.gov // verbatim; changed 2025-09-26; corpus harvested 2026-09-02

R. 3:14-2 → · chapter 3:14 · all rules

The Rules of Court are a government edict and carry no copyright; the text above is the Judiciary’s own publication, unchanged. Structure, links and highlighting are ours and carry no legal weight. Read the rule on njcourts.gov before you rely on it; amendments take effect each September 1.