This bill (S 2351) requires New Jersey's State Police to notify local law enforcement when a background check reveals someone is prohibited from purchasing firearms or ammunition under state law. It applies directly to licensed firearm dealers, who must conduct background checks for all handgun and rifle/shotgun purchases. If the check shows a prohibited person (e.g., convicted of certain crimes or domestic violence), the State Police must inform the local chief law enforcement officer. The notification ensures local police are aware of potential risks when prohibited individuals attempt to buy firearms.
This New Jersey bill (S 503) amends murder statutes to clarify that a victim's death during a stalking incident may be classified as murder under specific circumstances. It adds stalking to the list of crimes (under N.J.S.2C:11-3a(3)) where a death occurring during the crime constitutes murder, and designates stalking as an aggravating factor in sentencing (under N.J.S.2C:11-3a(4)(l)). The law directly affects stalking victims whose deaths occur during stalking incidents and defendants convicted of stalking-related homicides. It creates a legal pathway for prosecutors to charge such deaths as murder and allows courts to impose harsher sentences when stalking was involved. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
S 2429 expands New Jersey's definition of "victim of domestic violence" to include more individuals. It lowers the age threshold from 18 to 16 for victims in the first category (those abused by a spouse, former spouse, or someone they lived with, including past residence). The bill also adds a new category for adoptive parents who are victims of domestic violence by the person whose parental rights to their adopted child were terminated. These changes clarify that past household relationships qualify, ensuring broader legal protection for vulnerable individuals affected by domestic violence.
This bill makes it a crime to disclose someone's personal information without consent when it creates a risk of physical harm, stalking, or severe emotional distress. It specifically targets disclosures that cause a "close relation" (like family, household members, or close associates) to fear for their safety or experience mental anguish. Exceptions include reporting suspected crimes to police or sharing information about public officials' misconduct in good faith. Violations are punishable as a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine), with harsher penalties if injury or stalking occurs.
S 1651 requires New Jersey courts to advise domestic violence victims about counseling services for children exposed to violence in their households. It establishes a legal presumption that custody should be awarded to the domestic violence victim in appropriate cases, shifting the default in custody decisions. Key mechanisms include mandating court referrals to counseling services for affected children and requiring judges to consider the victim's safety when making custody rulings. The bill amends existing domestic violence procedures (P.L.1991, c.261) to prioritize victim safety and child well-being without adding new criminal penalties.
This bill proposes a four-year pilot program in Ocean County (or another county designated by the Attorney General) to monitor certain domestic violence offenders using electronic tracking devices. It would require court-ordered electronic monitoring only with the victim's informed consent, applying to offenders convicted of violating domestic violence restraining orders. Key provisions include court evaluations of risk factors (like prior violence or weapon access), mandatory victim notification, a $250 monitoring fee (waivable for financial hardship), and $2.5 million in state funding. The program would mandate compliance with national technology standards and establish procedures for handling device tampering or noncompliance.
New Jersey's S 2433 creates legal protections for domestic violence victims facing abusive lawsuits initiated by their abusers. The bill defines "abusive and controlling litigation" as bad-faith legal actions primarily meant to harass, intimidate, delay, or maintain contact with the victim. Courts can block such lawsuits by finding a person an "abusive and controlling litigant" if they have a history of domestic violence and file repetitive or baseless legal claims. If proven, courts must dismiss the case, award attorney fees, prohibit future lawsuits without court permission, and exempt the victim from responding to such litigation. This directly affects domestic violence victims targeted by abusers using the court system for ongoing control.
This bill creates a new criminal offense for committing domestic violence in the presence of a child under 16 years old, specifically when the perpetrator knows the child is present. It applies to individuals committing acts of domestic violence (like assault or harassment) where the child is a parent, guardian, or resource family parent. The law requires a separate conviction and sentence for this new offense alongside the underlying domestic violence charge, rather than merging the two. This change ensures offenders face distinct legal consequences for exposing children to violence, regardless of whether they're convicted of the original domestic violence act. The severity of the new charge depends on the underlying offense (e.g., fourth degree if the original was a minor offense).
New Jersey's S 978 makes it a fourth-degree crime (carrying up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine) to secretly install or use electronic tracking devices or apps to monitor another person's location with intent to facilitate unlawful acts like stalking or harassment. The bill directly affects individuals who secretly track others without consent, such as in cases of relationship surveillance. Key exemptions include parents tracking minor children, caregivers monitoring vulnerable individuals, businesses disclosing location tracking in privacy policies, and employers tracking work vehicles under specific conditions. The law creates a legal presumption that secret location tracking is intended for unlawful purposes, while excluding government entities and certain business/employer uses.
This bill (S 2622) changes New Jersey's automatic expungement rules for domestic violence arrests that don't result in conviction. Currently, courts must immediately expunge all records in such cases. The bill would grant courts discretion to delay expungement for up to six months if a county prosecutor objects, requiring the court to state its reasons on the record. It directly affects individuals arrested for domestic violence (as defined in N.J.S.2C:25-19) whose cases were dismissed, they were acquitted, or discharged without conviction. The key change is replacing automatic expungement with a court review process in domestic violence cases to prevent potential abuse of the system.
