This bill (S 77) expands New Jersey's stalking protection law to allow **any alleged victim of stalking**, regardless of age or mental capacity, to directly apply for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the alleged stalker. Currently, only specific groups (children under 18, developmentally disabled individuals, or adults with mental disabilities that impair understanding) could have a parent or guardian file for a TRO. The bill removes this limitation, enabling all victims to seek emergency TROs without waiting for a criminal conviction, with a court hearing required within 10 days to determine if the order should continue. The standard for continuing the TRO is a "preponderance of evidence," not criminal guilt, and the order remains in effect until the defendant is convicted or the victim requests dismissal.
S 1109 requires all New Jersey judges and court staff to complete a minimum of three hours of annual training on handling domestic violence and sexual assault cases. At least 1.5 hours must cover sexual violence topics like survivor impact, risk factors, and legal standards. This applies to judges at all levels - including municipal courts - which previously had no minimum training requirement. The bill mandates training content on case procedures, protection orders, community resources, and dynamics of both domestic violence and sexual offenses. It amends existing law to establish these specific requirements, ensuring consistent education for judicial personnel statewide.
This bill updates New Jersey's domestic violence restraining order laws. It ensures that a restraining order remains effective even if the person who filed it (the plaintiff) dies, continuing protection for others named in the order. Prosecutors must also notify all protected individuals when a defendant charged with domestic violence is released from custody. These changes directly affect domestic violence victims, their families, and law enforcement handling these cases. The law aims to maintain safety protections without requiring new court proceedings after a plaintiff's death.
This bill (S 1439) would require a drunk driver convicted of causing a fatal accident to pay financial restitution directly to a minor child if the victim was the child’s parent or guardian. Specifically, it adds a new provision to New Jersey’s vehicular homicide law, mandating that drivers violating DUI laws (N.J.S. 39:4-50) must cover the child’s losses through court-ordered restitution - on top of existing criminal penalties and other restitution. The bill applies only to cases where the driver was intoxicated at the time of the fatal crash and the deceased was the child’s legal guardian. It is currently pending in the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee.
S 1651 requires New Jersey courts to advise domestic violence victims about counseling services for children exposed to violence in their households. It establishes a legal presumption that custody should be awarded to the domestic violence victim in appropriate cases, shifting the default in custody decisions. Key mechanisms include mandating court referrals to counseling services for affected children and requiring judges to consider the victim's safety when making custody rulings. The bill amends existing domestic violence procedures (P.L.1991, c.261) to prioritize victim safety and child well-being without adding new criminal penalties.
This bill proposes a four-year pilot program in Ocean County (or another county designated by the Attorney General) to monitor certain domestic violence offenders using electronic tracking devices. It would require court-ordered electronic monitoring only with the victim's informed consent, applying to offenders convicted of violating domestic violence restraining orders. Key provisions include court evaluations of risk factors (like prior violence or weapon access), mandatory victim notification, a $250 monitoring fee (waivable for financial hardship), and $2.5 million in state funding. The program would mandate compliance with national technology standards and establish procedures for handling device tampering or noncompliance.
This New Jersey bill (S 2665) changes how driver's licenses can be suspended for unpaid child support. It requires the Probation Division to send written notice (via certified mail) to individuals owing six months of child support or failing to provide court-ordered health coverage, giving them 30 days to pay or provide proof before license suspension. The bill adds a requirement for a hearing if the person requests one within 45 days, and explicitly removes license suspension as a penalty for other unpaid financial obligations like fines or restitution. It directly affects people with outstanding child support arrearages who fail to respond to notice.
New Jersey's S 200 would allow juveniles (under 18) to be tried as adults for terrorism and human trafficking offenses, regardless of their age. Currently, juveniles must be at least 15 to face adult prosecution for most serious crimes; this bill removes that age requirement specifically for terrorism and human trafficking. The court must still determine probable cause that the juvenile committed the offense (as an adult would) and that the circumstances and severity warrant the waiver. This change applies only to these two offenses and does not alter the waiver process for other crimes.
New Jersey's S 2433 creates legal protections for domestic violence victims facing abusive lawsuits initiated by their abusers. The bill defines "abusive and controlling litigation" as bad-faith legal actions primarily meant to harass, intimidate, delay, or maintain contact with the victim. Courts can block such lawsuits by finding a person an "abusive and controlling litigant" if they have a history of domestic violence and file repetitive or baseless legal claims. If proven, courts must dismiss the case, award attorney fees, prohibit future lawsuits without court permission, and exempt the victim from responding to such litigation. This directly affects domestic violence victims targeted by abusers using the court system for ongoing control.
This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that defendants charged with certain child sexual abuse or endangerment crimes must be held in pretrial detention, unless they can prove otherwise. It directly affects individuals accused of specific offenses including endangering the welfare of a child (N.J.S.2C:24-4), sexual assault with minor victims, or criminal sexual contact with minor victims. Under the bill, courts must assume no bail or release conditions would ensure court appearance or community safety for these cases, shifting the burden to the defendant to rebut the presumption. Defendants must actively challenge the detention order at a hearing, and appeals are handled urgently while detention continues pending resolution. This changes the default from presuming release (as in most cases) to presuming detention for these specific child-related offenses.
