Criminal Justice

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 124: Upgrades simple assault to aggravated assault for State-employed civil investigators.

This bill changes New Jersey law to classify simple assault against state-employed civil investigators as aggravated assault. It directly affects civil investigators working for state departments or agencies when they are clearly identifiable as performing their duties. The key provision adds a new category (1)(l) to the aggravated assault definition, automatically upgrading simple assault to aggravated assault in these specific cases. This is a classification change only - no new penalties are created, but the offense would be treated more seriously under existing law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeUpgrades assault against state investigators to aggravated assault, increasing penalties for attacks on law enforcement personnel, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of stricter sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 406: Amends felony murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated assault statutes to include death or bodily injury occurring during commission of auto theft.

This New Jersey bill (A 406) amends three criminal statutes to explicitly include "theft of a motor vehicle" (car theft) as a qualifying crime under felony murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated assault laws. It expands existing provisions so that if someone causes death or serious bodily injury while committing or fleeing after a car theft, the offense will be prosecuted as murder (not a lesser charge) under N.J.S.2C:11-3, or aggravated manslaughter under N.J.S.2C:11-4. This directly affects individuals who cause injury or death during car thefts, potentially elevating their charges and penalties. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee after introduction on January 13, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by classifying auto theft-related deaths as murder, increasing penalties under felony murder statutes without reform considerations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 309: "Jillian's Law", mandates institutional commitment for certain persons found not competent to stand trial.

"Jillian's Law" amends New Jersey law to require institutional commitment (not outpatient treatment or release) for defendants found incompetent to stand trial who are deemed dangerous to themselves or others. It removes the court's option to place such defendants in outpatient settings or release them, mandating institutional custody only for the period needed to determine if they might regain competence. The bill maintains the existing 3-month review process for fitness and requires courts to weigh factors like the defendant's regaining competence and the nature of the charges before dismissing cases. It directly affects defendants in criminal cases found incompetent who pose a danger, ensuring they remain in secure facilities until their fitness can be reassessed.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates institutional commitment over outpatient treatment for dangerous incompetent defendants, restricting defendant rights and removing court discretion per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 835: Increases penalty for harboring or concealing certain sex offenders.

This bill increases penalties for knowingly harboring or concealing a sex offender who has not complied with New Jersey's registration requirements under Megan's Law. It requires a minimum prison term without parole eligibility for anyone who shelters such an offender, with parole ineligibility lasting three years for a third-degree offense (3-5 years prison) or one year for a fourth-degree offense (up to 18 months prison). The law specifically targets individuals who knowingly aid sex offenders avoiding registration, raising the offense level from a potential disorderly persons charge to a serious criminal penalty. This directly affects people who provide shelter or assistance to non-compliant sex offenders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory prison terms without parole for harboring sex offenders, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing and expanded criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1825: Grants full police status to special agents in Department of Treasury; authorizes special agents to carry firearms at all times.

This bill grants full police powers and the authority to carry firearms at all times to special agents in New Jersey's Department of Treasury. It directly affects these Treasury special agents, expanding their role beyond tax enforcement to include standard police duties like arrests and investigations. Key provisions require them to complete approved police training and establish them as peace officers under state law, enabling warrantless arrests for tax law violations and seizure of related contraband. The bill amends existing statutes to formally include Treasury special agents in the list of authorized firearm carriers under state law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands law enforcement powers without accountability, enabling warrantless arrests for tax violations and increasing criminalization of tax offenses.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 893: Upgrades simple assault to aggravated assault when committed against registered security officer.

This bill amends New Jersey's assault law to upgrade simple assault against registered security officers to aggravated assault. It directly affects licensed security officers who are clearly identifiable while performing their duties. The key change adds security officers to the list of protected individuals under the aggravated assault statute (specifically subsection b(5)(l)), meaning assaulting them would now carry harsher penalties than a simple assault. This policy change increases legal consequences for violence targeting security personnel, aligning them with protections previously extended to law enforcement, firefighters, and other first responders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill upgrades simple assault against security officers to aggravated assault, expanding criminalization by increasing penalties for this specific offense.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2874: Clarifies spitting in law enforcement officer's food or drink constitutes aggravated assault; requires certain sanctions on restaurant employees who commit this crime.

This bill clarifies that spitting on a law enforcement officer's food or into their beverage is a third-degree aggravated assault, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a mandatory $15,000 fine. It directly affects restaurant employees who commit this act and requires restaurant employers to immediately suspend such employees upon criminal charges and terminate them if convicted. Employers who fail to comply face civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation. The bill defines "restaurant" broadly but excludes mobile vendors and temporary food events.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by classifying spitting on officer's food as aggravated assault with mandatory prison/fine, increasing penalties rather than supporting reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3815: Upgrades burglary of a residence as a crime of the second degree; upgrades it to a crime of the first degree if committed while armed.

This bill (A 3815) proposes to reclassify burglary of a residence. It upgrades burglary of a dwelling or structure adapted for overnight accommodation to a second-degree crime (currently third degree in most cases), and further upgrades it to a first-degree crime if the perpetrator is armed with a weapon or explosives. The change directly affects individuals committing burglaries in homes or similar living spaces, increasing penalties: second-degree burglary carries 5-10 years in prison, while first-degree burglary (with weapons) carries the same term. The bill also aligns sentencing for these offenses with a new requirement that 85% of the sentence must be served before parole eligibility. This is a proposed legislative change, not yet enacted.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases burglary penalties to second/third degree with longer prison terms, aligning with stricter sentencing policies that oppose criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1047: Requires notification to collective bargaining unit of law enforcement officer prior to release of certain information to public.

This bill (A 1047) requires New Jersey’s Attorney General, the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, or their designee to notify a law enforcement officer’s union (collective bargaining unit) before releasing specific information to the public following incidents involving a death during police encounters or custody. It applies to officer identities, body camera recordings, incident reports, and other investigation details. The notification must occur prior to any public disclosure mandated under current law, superseding prior directives about such releases. The bill does not change disclosure rules but adds a procedural step for union notification. (Amends P.L.2019, c.1, §2)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires union notification before public disclosure of incident details, delaying transparency and weakening law enforcement oversight as per criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires union notification before public disclosure of officer incident details, directly supporting collective bargaining rights for law enforcement workers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Collective Bargaining

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2111: Establishes separate crime of porch piracy, "Porch Theft Task Force," and public awareness campaign; appropriates funds.

This bill creates a new criminal offense for stealing delivered packages from residential properties ("residential package theft"), classifying it as a third-degree crime for thefts under $75,000 or a second-degree crime for $75,000 or more. It establishes a "Porch Theft Task Force" within the Department of Law and Public Safety to coordinate law enforcement, cargo carriers (like USPS), and data collection on package thefts, with mandatory reports to the governor and legislature. The bill also mandates a public awareness campaign to educate residents on prevention and reporting, funded by an appropriation from the General Fund. The law directly affects residents receiving deliveries, law enforcement agencies, and cargo carriers, with stricter sentencing for repeat offenders including mandatory minimum prison terms.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for a 'Porch Theft Task Force' and public awareness campaign, directly advancing state budget allocations for law enforcement initiatives.95% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for package theft with tiered sentencing, expanding criminalization rather than reforming justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Corrections Law Enforcement Sentencing

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