# N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-2: "Indigent defendant" defined

> New Jersey · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-2

## Section

- **Citation:** N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-2
- **Heading:** "Indigent defendant" defined
- **Jurisdiction:** New Jersey
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** NJ Code / Title 2A / Chapter 158A / Section 158A-2

## Text

As used herein "indigent defendant" means a person who is formally charged with the commission of an indictable offense, and who does not have the present financial ability to secure competent legal representation, as determined by the factors in section 14 of P.L. 1967, c. 43 (C. 2A:158A-14), and to provide all other necessary expenses of representation. Amended by L. 1987, c. 170, s. 1.

## Nearby sections

- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-1 Declaration of state policy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-1.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-2 "Indigent defendant" defined](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-2.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-3 Establishment of the Office of the Public Defender.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-3.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-4 Public defender; appointment; term; salary; vacancy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-4.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-5 Duties of public defender.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-5.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-5.2 Offenses and violations; legal representation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-5.2.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-5.3 Office of the Public Defender, unit established, representation, parole revocation, violation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-5.3.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-6 Deputy and assistant public defenders; appointment; salary](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-6.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-7 Powers, responsibilities of public defender](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-7.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-8 Lawyers to represent defendants on case basis; selection](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-8.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-9 Case workload; division; employment of counsel](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-9.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-10 Contracts authorizing private or public organizations to execute functions of public defender](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-10.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-11 Duties of staff members and others engaged on case basis](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-11.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-12 Attorney-client privilege](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-12.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-2. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.