A 248 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Establishes rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention for child sexual abuse and child endangerment.

This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that defendants charged with specific child-related offenses must be held in pretrial detention unless they prove otherwise. It directly affects individuals accused of child sexual abuse (sexual assault or criminal sexual contact with a minor) or endangering a child's welfare when the victim is a minor. Under the bill, courts must presume pretrial detention is necessary for these cases without requiring the prosecutor to prove it, shifting the burden to the defendant to demonstrate why release would be safe. The presumption applies only to the exact offenses listed in the bill text, such as N.J.S.2C:14-2 (sexual assault with minor victim) and N.J.S.2C:24-4 (endangering welfare of a child). Defendants may challenge this presumption at a hearing but remain detained pending appeal.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026
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Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
lower
0 primary · 2 co-sponsors

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