This New Jersey bill (A 3859) creates a public online tool allowing individuals to check if they have an outstanding arrest warrant. The system, managed by the state courts, lets users voluntarily enter personal details via the judiciary website to verify warrant status. If a warrant is found, the tool provides details about the charge, the responsible law enforcement agency, and steps to resolve it (like paying fines or scheduling court appearances). The bill aims to help people learn about warrants before being arrested, which often happens without their knowledge. The system must interface with existing court databases and include security features developed with state police and IT experts.
This bill (A 786) clarifies court procedures for temporarily detaining defendants who violate pretrial release conditions or commit new crimes while on release. It requires courts to find "clear and convincing evidence" that no bail or conditions would ensure court appearance or public safety before revoking release, and mandates consideration of risk assessments for new offenses. The bill specifically prevents revocation for marijuana-related violations (e.g., possession under N.J.S.2C:35-10 or 2C:35-5). It directly affects defendants on pretrial release who face new charges or breach release terms, ensuring consistent application of existing standards. The changes align with a 2023 criminal justice reform recommendation.
This New Jersey bill strengthens protections for crime victims by ensuring their location remains confidential in stalking and domestic violence cases. It requires courts to automatically issue restraining orders upon a stalking conviction (Section 3), prevents victim locations from appearing on documents accessible to defendants, and extends these protections to children, developmentally disabled individuals, and vulnerable adults (Section 2). The bill also mandates confidentiality for domestic violence cases (Section 9) and applies to all stalking-related court documents (Section 4). These changes directly affect victims of stalking, domestic violence, and their legal representatives, while limiting defendants' access to sensitive location information.
This bill requires explicit permission (informed consent) before obtaining genetic information from DNA samples, directly affecting individuals, newborns, crime victims, and witnesses. Exceptions include law enforcement using DNA for criminal investigations (with strict limits on victim/witness DNA), existing newborn screening programs, paternity cases, and DNA database submissions. It also restricts sharing genetic data without consent, except in specific legal circumstances like court orders, criminal proceedings, or federal identification purposes. Additionally, it mandates that individuals must be notified when genetic testing occurs and outlines new regulations for consent procedures.
S 3268 prohibits stores, restaurants, and other public venues from using facial recognition technology on customers, except when needed for genuine safety reasons like preventing violence. It defines "facial recognition" as software that identifies people by face or tracks their movements/emotions, and "legitimate safety purpose" as actions that reduce risks to life or safety. Businesses violating this law face fines up to $20,000 per offense or court-ordered penalties. The bill applies to any public place selling goods or services, including entertainment venues.
This bill requires the New Jersey Supreme Court to automatically dismiss unresolved municipal court charges, complaints, and arrest warrants for specific low-level offenses that have remained pending for five years or longer. It applies to offenses like shoplifting under $200, minor assault, disorderly conduct, and possession of small amounts of marijuana (50g or less), but excludes violations of municipal ordinances. The bill also mandates that the state's Administrative Office of the Courts conduct two studies within six months: one on expanding existing dismissal programs and another on implementing a voluntary surrender program for non-violent offenses. These provisions aim to reduce court backlogs and eliminate outdated legal actions against individuals.
SJR 81, sponsored by Senator Kristin M. Corrado, proposes amending New Jersey's Rules of Evidence to allow prompt reports of sexual assault or employment discrimination to be admitted in court as an exception to the hearsay rule. This means victims' timely reports (made soon after the incident) could be used as evidence without requiring the reporter to testify, helping courts assess credibility and investigative context. The change specifically targets cases involving sexual assault or workplace discrimination, where such reports are currently often excluded as hearsay. The resolution must be approved by the Governor and adopted by the New Jersey Supreme Court to take effect.
This bill would allow judges to admit evidence of a defendant's prior domestic violence, child abuse, or sexual assault offenses in related criminal cases. It directly affects prosecutors and victims in these specific cases by providing additional evidence to support prosecutions when victim testimony is unreliable or unavailable. Currently, New Jersey's evidence rules block such prior acts, making cases harder to prove despite statistics showing 63,058 annual domestic violence reports. The change aligns New Jersey with states like California that permit this evidence to strengthen prosecutions without requiring multiple trials.
This bill (A 340) requires courts to order restitution payments to children who lose a parent or guardian due to a drunk driving incident. It amends New Jersey's vehicular homicide law (N.J.S.2C:11-5) to mandate that when a defendant is convicted of reckless vehicular homicide while driving under the influence (violating N.J.S.39:4-50), the court must order restitution to the child victim. The restitution covers financial losses resulting from the death and is part of the sentencing process, alongside other penalties like license suspension and imprisonment. The bill directly affects children of victims and drunk drivers convicted under these provisions.
This bill prohibits students convicted of or adjudicated for certain sexual assaults (including aggravated sexual assault or sexual contact) from attending the same school building as their victim or riding the same school bus used by the victim. It directly affects public school students in grades K-12 who commit these offenses and are sentenced by a court. The key mechanism requires courts to mandate these prohibitions as part of sentencing, probation, or other legal dispositions. The policy change ensures physical separation between the offender and victim within school facilities and transportation.
