This bill establishes a three-year pilot program for Integrated Domestic Violence Courts in Camden, Essex, Hudson, and Middlesex counties. The courts will combine domestic violence cases with related family matters (like divorce and child custody) and criminal cases under a single judge to improve victim safety and case efficiency. Judges assigned to these courts must have specialized expertise in domestic violence law, family law, and criminal sentencing. The program will be monitored by the Administrative Office of the Courts, with reports due 12 months after launch and at the program’s conclusion to evaluate effectiveness.
"Stephanie's Law" requires New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to create a publicly accessible domestic violence registry. This registry will list individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes, subject to final restraining orders, or found in contempt of such orders, including their name, aliases, physical description, photo, vehicle details, and last known address. Law enforcement officers must search both this public registry and the existing private registry during arrests to check for domestic violence restraining orders. Individuals wrongly listed can petition for removal, and those listed must update their address within five days of a change.
This bill adds a new sentencing consideration in New Jersey for defendants who were victims of abuse. It allows courts to weigh whether a defendant was subjected to substantial physical, sexual, or psychological abuse (including domestic violence) that contributed to their crime, applying to most offenses except murder or certain sex offenses requiring registration. The court must consider evidence of the abuse presented during trial or plea proceedings - even if the defendant didn’t raise it as a defense - and may reduce sentences or order resentencing for eligible individuals. This change aims to account for trauma-driven criminal behavior in sentencing decisions.
This bill expands New Jersey's legal definition of domestic violence to explicitly include psychological abuse and economic abuse. It adds two new categories to the existing definition: (1) psychological abuse that causes fear or distress impacting daily life, and (2) economic abuse that restricts a person's ability to access money, property, goods, or services. The change directly affects victims protected under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, broadening legal recourse for non-physical forms of control. The amendment applies to all individuals meeting the act's victim criteria, including those in dating relationships or with shared children.
This New Jersey bill (A 3017) creates a rebuttable presumption requiring pretrial detention for defendants charged with specific serious crimes, including first-degree murder, crimes carrying life imprisonment, or offenses involving domestic violence against minors. It directly affects individuals facing these charges by shifting the burden to them to prove they should be released, rather than prosecutors proving they must be detained. Key provisions mandate a court hearing within three days of a prosecutor’s motion, where defendants can challenge the detention using a "preponderance of evidence" standard, and require courts to consider bail or conditions only if the presumption is successfully rebutted. The law aims to balance public safety and court appearance risks while streamlining detention decisions for high-risk cases.
This bill increases penalties for domestic violence offenders in New Jersey. It adds a new $1,500 civil penalty (payable $500 yearly for three years) and raises a surcharge on convictions from $100 to $500. All money from these penalties and surcharges flows into the new "Domestic Violence Victims' Legal Assistance Fund." The fund directly supports organizations providing victims with legal advocacy, medical referrals, and other direct services, with no mention of how the fund will be administered beyond its designated purpose.
This bill would create a publicly accessible online registry of individuals convicted of domestic violence offenses in New Jersey, separate from existing records. It requires courts to mandate counseling (6 months to 2 years depending on offense history), community service (minimum 1 year), and increased fines ($500 to $5,000 per offense) for convicted offenders. The registry would include personal details like name, physical description, vehicle info, and address, with removal options after 2-20 years based on offense count (excluding severe cases like homicide or sexual assault). The bill is pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee as of January 2026.
This bill (S 197) expands pretrial detention authority for defendants who violate protective orders issued under New Jersey's "Victim's Assistance and Survivor Protection Act." It specifically allows prosecutors to seek pretrial detention for contempt violations related to protective orders in cases involving domestic violence, crimes against minors, human trafficking, or endangering a child's welfare. Key mechanisms include requiring a court hearing within three business days of a prosecutor's motion, establishing a rebuttable presumption of detention for certain violations (like domestic violence), and mandating that courts consider whether any release conditions could ensure court appearance and community safety. The bill directly affects defendants accused of violating protective orders in these specific victim-sensitive cases, altering the process for determining pretrial release.
S 1210 protects tenants who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking from housing discrimination by prohibiting landlords from terminating tenancies, refusing lease renewals, or denying rentals based on their victim status. Landlords must accept documentation like restraining orders, medical records, or certifications from domestic violence specialists to verify a tenant’s status. Victims can sue landlords who violate this law for damages, attorney fees, and court costs. The law applies broadly to residential rentals but does not prevent evictions for other valid reasons, such as unpaid rent or property damage.
S 2601 ("Stephanie's Law") requires New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to create a publicly accessible domestic violence registry. The registry includes individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes, those with final restraining orders against them, or those found in contempt of such orders. It will contain detailed personal information (name, aliases, photo, vehicle details, address) for public search, with a process for removal if someone was wrongly listed. Law enforcement must search both this new public registry and the existing non-public central registry during arrests to check for active restraining orders. This bill aims to enhance public safety by providing accessible information about individuals with domestic violence histories.
