Criminal Justice (Corrections) in New Jersey

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

A 618: Concerns false public alarms involving places of worship.

This bill increases penalties for false alarms targeting places of worship in New Jersey. It amends the state's false alarm law to make such incidents a second-degree crime (carrying 5-10 years in prison or fines up to $150,000), while raising the minimum civil penalty from $2,000 to $5,000 (or actual response costs, whichever is higher). The law specifically defines "place of worship" as a building seating over 50 people used permanently for religious services by a recognized 501(c)(3) organization. It directly affects individuals who falsely report emergencies at churches, synagogues, or temples, and requires law enforcement to report such incidents annually. The bill aims to deter false alarms that disrupt religious gatherings and strain emergency resources.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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

A 2026: Requires DOC to provide prenatal and post-partum education and services for certain inmates.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Corrections (DOC) to provide prenatal and postpartum services to all female inmates aged 60 or younger upon entry to correctional facilities. It mandates pregnancy testing, prenatal medical care, nutrition counseling, family planning counseling, and postpartum support - including maternity clothing, adjusted housing, and reduced work schedules for those carrying pregnancies to term. The law applies to all incarcerated women who are pregnant at the time of admission, ensuring they receive comprehensive care to address high-risk pregnancy needs common in this population. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Corrections Women's Health

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

A 1791: Establishes special probation drug court eligibility for persons with certain previous criminal convictions.

This New Jersey bill (A 1791) creates a new "special probation" option for drug and alcohol-dependent individuals convicted of certain non-violent offenses who would otherwise face mandatory prison time. It allows courts to place eligible defendants on 5 years of probation requiring treatment at a licensed facility, instead of incarceration, if they meet strict criteria: they must have been dependent at the time of the offense (committed while under influence or to support addiction), have no prior violent convictions (murder, assault, etc.), no firearm involvement, and no recent serious drug distribution offenses. The program requires professional assessment, treatment compliance, and urine testing, while excluding those with multiple prior first/second-degree crimes or violent histories. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Probation & Parole Substance Abuse

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

A 1665: Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force."

This bill creates the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" to research and develop proposals addressing generational harms from New Jersey's role in slavery and systemic racial discrimination. The task force will examine historical and current disparities affecting Black communities, including voter disenfranchisement, youth incarceration rates, housing discrimination, wealth gaps, and school segregation. It will produce a report with policy recommendations for state-based reparations based on documented harms. The bill directly affects Black residents of New Jersey who face these systemic inequities, as outlined in the legislative findings.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

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

A 3453: Requires Corrections Ombudsperson review criminal investigations under certain circumstances.

This bill (A 3453) requires New Jersey's Corrections Ombudsperson to review criminal investigations conducted by correctional facilities to ensure they were accurate, unbiased, and thorough. It directly affects inmates who may report concerns about investigations, the Department of Corrections (which must provide investigation details), and the Ombudsperson's office (which gains this specific review duty). The key provision adds a requirement to the Ombudsperson's existing responsibilities, mandating they assess the quality of criminal investigations - without investigating alleged criminal behavior themselves - to protect inmates' rights. This change is part of broader oversight duties under existing laws and aims to improve accountability in correctional facility investigations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections

passed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 30, 2026

A 4077: Imposes various taxes and fees on correctional service businesses to offset social costs of incarceration.*

This bill imposes three new fees on private prison operators in New Jersey to fund social support programs. It charges an 8% fee on the value of public contracts (section 2), a $15 daily fee per inmate (section 3), and a 3% surtax on taxable income (section 4). All revenue flows into two dedicated funds: one for legal services supporting detained individuals and another for community programs like job training and housing (sections 2e and 3e). The bill directly affects private prison companies operating under state contracts, with fees applying during active contracts or inmate stays.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

A 3158: Creates crime of victimization of a senior citizen or a person with disability.

This New Jersey bill (A3158) creates a new criminal offense called "victimization" for committing any crime listed in Chapters 11-18 of Title 2C (such as assault or theft) against a senior citizen (62+) or a person with a disability. The offense is graded one level higher than the underlying crime (e.g., a fourth-degree crime for a disorderly persons offense) and requires separate sentencing, meaning the victimization charge does not merge with the original crime. If the underlying crime was first or second degree, the sentence includes mandatory post-incarceration parole supervision (5 or 3 years, respectively). The bill directly affects seniors and disabled individuals by adding enhanced penalties for crimes committed against them.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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

A 4339: Establishes presumption of pretrial detention for persons who commit carjacking, theft of motor vehicle, or burglary.

This bill adds carjacking, theft of a motor vehicle, and burglary to New Jersey's list of offenses triggering a rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention. Under the law, individuals charged with these specific crimes must be held in jail before trial unless they can prove to the court that some combination of bail or release conditions would reasonably ensure their return to court and public safety. The bill amends existing pretrial detention statutes (P.L.2014, c.31) to include these offenses, expanding the circumstances where courts must assume detention is necessary. This change directly affects defendants facing these charges in New Jersey, without altering the standard for rebutting the presumption or the appeal process.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

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

A 1786: Concerns eligibility, procedures, and post-program relief for certain drug or alcohol dependent persons sentenced to special probation, or regular probation which as a condition of such requires substance use disorders treatment.

This bill changes how New Jersey courts handle sentencing for people with drug or alcohol dependency who commit certain crimes. It allows courts to place eligible individuals on "special probation" instead of prison time, requiring them to complete licensed substance use treatment (including medication-assisted treatment) and undergo regular drug/alcohol testing. To qualify, offenders must have committed their current crime while under the influence or to support their addiction, not possess firearms, have no prior convictions for violent offenses (like murder or sexual assault), and be assessed as needing treatment. The bill directly affects drug/alcohol dependent offenders convicted of specific non-violent crimes who would otherwise face mandatory prison sentences, and it modifies court procedures for approving treatment-based probation.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Probation & Parole Substance Abuse

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

A 1903: Prohibits retaliation against inmates in State correctional facilities who report sexual abuse; criminalizes retaliation and failure to report abuse.

This bill protects inmates in New Jersey state correctional facilities who report sexual abuse, harassment, or violence by staff. It requires the Corrections Commissioner to create a confidential, fee-free system for inmates to file complaints anonymously, with language access and clear information about reporting options. The bill prohibits staff from retaliating against reporting inmates through transfers, job changes, or other punitive actions, and mandates victim advocate support. It criminalizes both retaliation against inmates and staff failing to report abuse, punishable as a fourth-degree crime with up to 18 months in prison or a $10,000 fine.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Victims' Rights

All criminal justice bills