Issue · Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice

Every criminal justice bill, vote, and legislator stance in New Jersey, automatically classified by Maddy, our AI policy reader.

Total bills
20
2026-2027 Regular Session
Top supporter
Paul Sarlo
100% support rate
Top opponent
Mike Testa
0% support rate
Ranked legislators
10
5 support · 5 oppose
Key legislators

Who's moving criminal justice in New Jersey

Legislators moving criminal justice in New Jersey
Legislator Party Stance Support rate Decisive votes
Paul Sarlo
Paul Sarlo Senate · District 36
D
Strong +
100% 14
Renee Burgess
Renee Burgess Senate · District 28
D
Strong +
100% 14
Joe Danielsen
Joe Danielsen House · District 17
D
Strong +
100% 13
Balvir Singh
Balvir Singh House · District 7
D
Strong +
100% 12
Bob Smith
Bob Smith Senate · District 17
D
Strong +
100% 12
Mike Testa
Mike Testa Senate · District 1
R
Strong −
0% 14
Antwan McClellan
Antwan McClellan House · District 1
R
Strong −
0% 11
Paul Kanitra
Paul Kanitra House · District 10
R
Strong −
0% 11
Carmen Amato
Carmen Amato Senate · District 9
R
Strong −
0% 10
Dawn Fantasia
Dawn Fantasia House · District 24
R
Strong −
0% 10
Showing 11–20 of 20 bills

All criminal justice bills

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 1760: Directs DOLWD to identify, and post on website, employment opportunities with minimal barriers to entry for persons returning to workforce after imprisonment.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to identify and publicly post on its website employment opportunities with minimal entry barriers for people returning to work after incarceration. It directly affects formerly incarcerated individuals who face employment challenges like employer stigma and lack of educational opportunities. The key mechanism is DOLWD's ongoing duty to list jobs that have low barriers to entry and high demand. The bill aims to improve reintegration into the workforce by making accessible job listings available to this population, without specifying how employers will be engaged or how success will be measured.
in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 2007: Requires certain providers to perform intimate partner violence screenings and all health care professionals to take certain actions to prevent perpetrators of intimate partner violence from obtaining copies of victim's medical record.

This New Jersey bill requires licensed healthcare providers (including doctors, nurses, and midwives) to conduct regular, private screenings for intimate partner violence during patient visits, using evidence-based guidelines. If a provider identifies potential abuse, they must document findings, provide immediate resources for victims (like local support services), and ensure patients can revoke access to their medical records for alleged abusers under federal privacy laws. The bill mandates that healthcare professionals advise victims during the same visit about removing perpetrators from their authorized medical record access list. The state departments of Children and Families and Health must maintain and update a biennial resource list for providers on victim support services. It directly affects healthcare providers and patients experiencing abuse by current or former intimate partners.
passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 2205: Requires signs to be posted in emergency rooms regarding VCCO.

Bill A 2205 requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Health (working with the Attorney General) to create clear, easily understandable signs for emergency rooms. These signs must display VCCO services/benefits, contact details, and how to file a compensation claim. The bill mandates posting these signs in all general hospital emergency departments and satellite emergency departments, with electronic displays permitted. It aims to make VCCO information more accessible to individuals who may qualify for victim compensation after crimes. The bill takes effect four months after enactment.
in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 2256: Concerns "Sexual Violence Restorative Justice Pilot Program."

This bill establishes a three-year "Sexual Violence Restorative Justice Pilot Program" administered by New Jersey's Attorney General to provide trauma-informed restorative justice services for survivors of sexual violence, including those who chose not to report the crime to police. It requires the Attorney General to partner with organizations specializing in trauma care (not affiliated with law enforcement) to design and run the program, emphasizing survivor autonomy - participants may join or leave at any time - and mandates strict confidentiality for all communications related to the program, protecting them from use in court. The program will serve survivors statewide (replacing the prior requirement for specific county locations) and must be evaluated within 90 days of completion, with a report recommending whether to continue, expand, or make it permanent. The bill amends existing law by removing the requirement to compensate partner organizations and updating service delivery parameters.
passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 2312: Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images.

This bill creates a new criminal offense for creating, sharing, or possessing digital content depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of children - including computer-generated or manipulated images that appear to show minors. It specifically targets items where a child (under 18) is identifiable by face, likeness, or distinguishing features, or where a person is manipulated to look like a minor ("purported child"). The law prohibits distributing such content via the internet or file-sharing programs, and makes possessing it with intent to share a crime. It directly affects individuals who produce, distribute, or share these materials online, regardless of whether the child is real or digitally altered.
signed · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 25, 2026

A 4071: Codifies AG directive, "Strengthening Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities."

This bill codifies New Jersey's Attorney General's "Strengthening Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities" directive into law. It directly affects all New Jersey state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officers by prohibiting them from: (1) stopping or detaining people based solely on immigration status, (2) asking about immigration status except during specific criminal investigations, and (3) sharing personal information with federal immigration authorities for immigration enforcement purposes. The law clarifies that officers' primary duty is enforcing state criminal laws, not federal immigration law, and emphasizes that this does not prevent enforcing state criminal laws. The goal is to build trust in immigrant communities and ensure law enforcement resources focus on public safety rather than immigration enforcement.
signed · New Jersey · Senate Mar 25, 2026

S 3114: Requires law enforcement officer to reveal facial identity during certain public interactions and to present sufficient identification prior to arresting or detaining person.

New Jersey's S 3114, the "Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act," requires police officers and other law enforcement personnel to reveal their faces and show official identification before detaining or arresting someone during public interactions. Officers must wear non-concealing uniforms, display a photo ID card, show a numbered badge, or verbally state their name and agency. Exceptions include undercover work, medical masks (with physician approval), smoke protection during emergencies, or when safety or an investigation is at risk. The law applies to all state, county, and municipal officers and takes effect immediately.
in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 9, 2026

A 4532: Prohibits sharing automated license plate reader information for interstate investigation concerning reproductive health care services that are legal in NJ.

This New Jersey bill prohibits law enforcement agencies and other users of automated license plate readers from sharing that information with out-of-state authorities for investigations related to reproductive health care services that are legal in the state. The legislation requires any out-of-state agency requesting such data to provide a written guarantee that the information will not be used to pursue legal action against individuals seeking or providing reproductive health care. Violations of these sharing restrictions could result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 for a first offense and $5,000 for subsequent offenses. The law applies to all reproductive health services, including pregnancy-related care, contraception, and abortion, and takes effect immediately upon passage.
in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4218: Provides rental and lease protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

This bill protects tenants who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking from housing discrimination. Landlords cannot evict, refuse to renew, or deny rentals based on a tenant’s victim status. To qualify, tenants must provide documentation like restraining orders, law enforcement records, medical reports, or certifications from domestic violence specialists. Violating this law could lead to civil lawsuits where victims recover damages, attorney fees, and court costs. The bill amends New Jersey's eviction statutes to explicitly prohibit housing decisions based on victim status.
in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 3503: Requires State entities purchase five percent of goods and services from Central Nonprofit Agency; requires Division of Purchase and Property establish training protocols for all purchasing agents; grants Central Nonprofit Agency right of first refusal.*

This bill requires all New Jersey state agencies, counties, municipalities, school districts, and other local government entities to purchase at least 5% of their goods and services from the Central Nonprofit Agency (CNA), which supports rehabilitation facilities. It grants the CNA a "right of first refusal" for any goods/services typically bought through cooperative purchasing catalogs, provided they can match prices within 15% of fair market value. The bill also mandates that the Division of Purchase and Property create training protocols for all purchasing agents to ensure awareness of the CNA program, with annual reporting on compliance by all affected entities. These requirements apply to all state and local government bodies authorized to make purchases.
Showing 11 to 20 of 20 bills