Penal Law § 215.35

Tampering with physical evidence; definitions of terms · as in force on May 31, 2026

§ 215.35 Tampering with physical evidence; definitions of terms.

The following definitions are applicable to section 215.40:

1. "Physical evidence" means any article, object, document, record or other thing of physical substance which is or is about to be produced or used as evidence in an official proceeding.

2. "Official proceeding" means any action or proceeding conducted by or before a legally constituted judicial, legislative, administrative or other governmental agency or official, in which evidence may properly be received.

Official sourcehttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/215.35

In plain English

These definitions govern § 215.40.

(1) Physical evidence is a tangible article, object, document, record, or other thing used or about to be used as evidence in an official proceeding.
(2) An official proceeding is one before a legally created judicial, legislative, administrative, or other government agency or official that may properly receive evidence. ★

Marked in the text: penalties, time limits, sums of money. Editorial emphasis added by this edition; it does not appear in the statute as enacted.

In print

This provision appears in Volume 4 — The Court Clerk: Penal Law; Volume 1 — The Court Officer in Plain English; Volume 3 — The Court Officer: Penal Law; Volume 3 — Your Career: Penal Law in Plain English.