Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

S 3274: Establishes "Task Force on Scams and Fraud."

This bill establishes a 15-member "Task Force on Scams and Fraud" within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety. The task force will study scams targeting residents - particularly seniors and vulnerable populations - review current fraud prevention efforts, and develop recommendations to improve coordination between government, law enforcement, and businesses. It must submit a final report with findings and suggestions to the Governor and Legislature within one year of formation, after which the task force will expire. The bill directly affects New Jersey residents by creating a structured process to address scam-related harms through a cross-sector working group.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates task force to study scams targeting seniors and improve fraud prevention coordination between law enforcement and government, strengthening criminal justice efforts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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

A 3712: Requires Attorney General to establish model duty-to-intervene policy for law enforcement officers; requires entities that employ law enforcement officers to adopt duty-to-intervene policy.

This New Jersey bill (A3712) requires all law enforcement agencies to adopt a mandatory "duty-to-intervene" policy. The policy compels officers to stop colleagues from committing unjustified force, civil rights violations, or other criminal acts during duty. Agencies must either use the Attorney General’s model policy or get approval for a comparable one, and report all intervention incidents quarterly to the Attorney General. Failure to intervene could result in disciplinary action under the policy. The law aims to create standardized accountability for officer conduct.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires law enforcement to intervene in misconduct, enhancing accountability and protecting civil rights per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Policing

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

A 2594: Imposes certain requirements on use of automated license plate readers by law enforcement agencies.

This bill requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to follow strict rules when using automated license plate readers (ALPRs). It prohibits unauthorized access or use of ALPR data (a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to 6 months in jail or a $1,000 fine) and mandates annual audits to ensure ALPRs are used only for legitimate law enforcement purposes. Agencies must submit detailed annual reports to the Attorney General covering device counts, data readings, storage, data requests (including out-of-state/federal), and security breaches. Finally, it sets a two-year mandatory retention period for ALPR data (with limited early purging allowed for cost reasons) and requires date stamps on transferred data to maintain compliance.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts misuse of ALPRs, mandates accountability audits, and protects civil rights through penalties for unauthorized access - aligns with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects data privacy by prohibiting unauthorized ALPR data access, mandating audits, and requiring annual reports to prevent misuse. Directly aligns with 'protects data privacy' indicator.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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

A 3514: Adds training concerning coercive control to domestic violence training for judges and law enforcement officers.

This bill requires judges, law enforcement officers, and court personnel in New Jersey to receive updated training on domestic violence, specifically adding instruction about "coercive control." Coercive control refers to patterns of controlling behavior, such as isolating victims from support networks, monitoring their movements, threatening immigration status, or making false reports to authorities. The training must cover recognizing these indicators, understanding trauma, safety planning, and racial bias impacts. Existing training curricula for these groups will be revised to include these requirements, ensuring consistent, informed responses to domestic violence cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds mandatory training on coercive control for law enforcement/judges in domestic violence cases, enhancing victim protection and system accountability within criminal justice.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly includes 'threatening immigration status' as coercive control tactic in domestic violence training, protecting immigrant victims by ensuring law enforcement recognizes this abuse method.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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

A 3859: Authorizes development and operation of computer system which would allow electronic access to outstanding arrest warrant information.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeThe bill creates a public tool for checking and resolving outstanding warrants, promoting transparency and reducing barriers to resolving legal issues - aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism and improving system access...80% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 3486: Establishes database containing information on traffic stops by certain law enforcement officers.

S 3486 requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a public, searchable database tracking all traffic stops by state and local law enforcement officers. Law enforcement agencies must submit quarterly reports including driver demographics (race, age, gender), stop details (violation type, search conducted), outcomes (citation, arrest, property seizure), and officer information. The database, accessible on the Department of Law and Public Safety website, covers every traffic enforcement interaction - even those resulting only in oral warnings. This law directly affects law enforcement agencies (who must report data) and the public (who can access the records for oversight purposes).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates public database tracking traffic stops with demographic data to enhance law enforcement accountability, a key criminal justice reform indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4313: Allows persons who qualify under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to become law enforcement and corrections officers.

This bill amends New Jersey law to allow individuals with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status to work as law enforcement and corrections officers. It replaces the existing requirement that officers must be U.S. citizens with a new standard permitting those granted DACA relief under federal immigration law. The change applies to all state and county correctional officers, police departments, and juvenile corrections roles, without altering other existing requirements like English proficiency, high school diplomas, background checks, or moral character standards. This directly affects DACA-eligible individuals seeking public safety careers in New Jersey.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands law enforcement/corrections workforce eligibility to DACA recipients, promoting inclusive criminal justice system participation without restricting existing standards.92% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationAllows DACA recipients to work in state law enforcement by removing citizenship barriers, directly supporting immigrant integration and DACA protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement Policing DACA & Dreamers Driver Licenses & IDs Sanctuary Policies

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died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 481: Upgrades to third degree crime for cyber-harassment of public servant or family member of public servant; establishes Office of Cyber-Harassment Support in DLPS; appropriates funds.

This bill (A 481) upgrades penalties for cyber-harassment targeting public servants or their family members, raising it from a fourth-degree to a third-degree crime. It also establishes the Office of Cyber-Harassment Support within the Department of Law and Public Safety to provide victim assistance, develop educational programs, and coordinate with law enforcement and schools on cyber-harassment prevention. Key provisions include creating accessible reporting systems for victims, requiring school-based cyber ethics education, and collaborating with social media platforms to address harmful content. Note: The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, after being superseded by enacted legislation (P.L.2025, c.303).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes victim support services and prevention programs for cyber-harassment targeting public servants, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Office of Cyber-Harassment Support to develop school-based educational programs and coordinate with schools on prevention, directly advancing educational initiatives within K-12 context.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEstablishes Office of Cyber-Harassment Support to enhance cybersecurity measures, victim assistance, and prevention programs, directly strengthening digital safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Social Media

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

A 1279: Increases penalties for denying access to public facilities, NJT, and transportation network companies to service dogs and their handlers.

This bill increases penalties for denying access to service dogs and their handlers in public facilities, New Jersey Transit (NJT), and ride-sharing companies (like Uber or Lyft) from civil fines to criminal charges. First-time offenders face a petty disorderly persons offense (up to 30 days in jail or $500 fine), while second or subsequent violations become a disorderly persons offense (up to one year in jail or $1,000 fine). Fines collected will fund law enforcement training on service dog access rights, and the bill mandates a public awareness campaign. It directly affects businesses, public venues, and transportation providers that deny access to service dog users.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill imposes criminal penalties for denying service dog access, funds law enforcement training on civil rights compliance, protecting disabled individuals' rights within criminal justice framework.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates access for service dogs in NJT (public transit) and ride-sharing, enhancing transportation accessibility for disabled users.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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

A 3232: Restricts genetic testing of newborn and crime victim DNA; permits DNA information to be obtained pursuant to warrant or court order.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires informed consent for DNA collection, protecting civil rights of individuals (newborns, crime victims) within criminal justice system, aligning with reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires informed consent for genetic testing, protecting patient rights in healthcare services like newborn screening.80% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires informed consent for genetic data collection and restricts unauthorized sharing, directly protecting genetic data privacy under technology policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

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