Criminal Justice (Policing)

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 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 298: Broadens riot and disorderly conduct; enhances penalties for public monument destruction; addresses riot victim assaults; creates crime of promotion of violent, disorderly assembly.

This New Jersey bill (A 298) expands definitions of riot and disorderly conduct, increasing penalties for related offenses. It makes it a third-degree crime to participate in riots involving weapons or causing property damage/injury (previously fourth-degree), and creates a new fourth-degree crime for desecrating public monuments during riots. The bill also enhances penalties for assaulting specific protected groups, including police, firefighters, school staff, and emergency medical personnel, during riot-related incidents. It directly affects individuals engaging in violent assemblies, damaging public monuments, or attacking designated personnel during such events.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminal definitions, increases penalties for riots/assaults on officers, creates new offenses - strengthens punitive measures over reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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

A 2927: Creates offense of impersonating first responder; grades offense one degree higher than underlying offense.

This bill creates a new criminal offense for impersonating a first responder (including police, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel) to commit another crime. It directly affects individuals who falsely claim to be first responders to facilitate illegal acts, such as exploiting emergencies like wildfires. The penalty for this offense is one degree higher than the underlying crime (e.g., a fourth-degree crime if the underlying act was a disorderly persons offense), except when the underlying crime is first-degree. The law aims to deter exploitation of crisis situations where public trust in responders is critical.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offense for impersonating first responders, increasing penalties per bill summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Tags Public Safety

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

A 1835: Requires AG to repeal law enforcement directive restricting law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to repeal a 2018 directive (No. 2018-6) that limited local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The directive previously prohibited police from sharing certain information with immigration officials - such as notifying them about detained individuals' release dates or extending detention solely based on immigration requests - when immigration enforcement was the sole purpose. The bill directly affects state, county, and local police departments by removing these restrictions on sharing information with federal immigration authorities. It aims to restore full cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies, as specified in the directive's current provisions. The repeal would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill repeals a 2018 directive restricting law enforcement cooperation with immigration authorities, removing a reform that protected civil rights in criminal justice by limiting immigration-focused detentions.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRepeals 2018 directive limiting law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities, enabling greater sharing of detainee information and extending detention for immigration purposes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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

A 2590: Establishes "MarcAnthony's Law;" criminalizes use of defaced or stolen firearm to injure police officer; enhances penalties for defacing firearm.

This bill, if passed, would criminalize using a defaced or stolen firearm to harm police officers in New Jersey. It creates two new offenses: using such a firearm to cause *serious* injury would be a first-degree crime (enhanced penalties), while causing *less severe* injury would be a second-degree crime. The law defines "defaced" as removing identification marks (like serial numbers), excluding normal wear or damage. It also ensures these convictions don't merge with other charges the offender intended to commit. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee (introduced January 2026).

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new offenses and enhances penalties for using defaced firearms against police, expanding criminalization and increasing sentencing severity per indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Policing

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

A 2136: Establishes crime of selling or purchasing marijuana from unlicensed businesses.

New Jersey's A 2136 creates new criminal penalties for unlicensed marijuana sales and purchases. It makes it a third-degree crime (up to 5 years in prison or $15,000 fine) for owners of unlicensed businesses that manufacture, distribute, or dispense marijuana, and a second-degree crime (up to 10 years or $150,000 fine) for leaders of multi-location illegal networks. The bill also imposes a misdemeanor charge (up to 6 months or $1,000 fine) for knowingly buying marijuana from unlicensed businesses. Enforcement allows state police and the Attorney General to shut down violating businesses and seize illegally sold marijuana. This bill supplements existing law (CREAMMA) by adding specific penalties for unlicensed commercial activity, not personal use.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal penalties for unlicensed marijuana sales, expanding criminalization with prison terms and fines instead of reforming drug policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Policing

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 575: Requires local government notification of sex offender registration and prohibits sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers or playgrounds.

This bill requires local police to notify municipal governing bodies when a sex offender (convicted of a crime against a minor under 18) registers with the state. It prohibits such offenders from living within 500 feet of schools, childcare centers, or playgrounds, unless specific exceptions apply (like existing residences, facilities, or court-approved exemptions). The law aims to enhance public safety by creating buffer zones around child-occupied locations, while requiring municipalities to be informed of new registrations. Exceptions include offenders residing at correctional facilities, those with pre-existing homes, or those granted exemptions by parole boards or courts. The bill takes effect six months after enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeProhibits sex offenders from living near schools, reducing their rights and expanding restrictions under criminal justice policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Policing Probation & Parole

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3171: Establishes crime of selling or purchasing marijuana from unlicensed businesses.

This bill creates new criminal penalties for selling or buying marijuana from unlicensed businesses in New Jersey. It makes it a third-degree crime (up to 5 years in prison or $15,000 fine) for unlicensed business owners to manufacture, distribute, or dispense marijuana, and a second-degree crime (up to 10 years or $150,000 fine) for leaders of multi-location illegal networks. Purchasing from unlicensed sources becomes a disorderly persons offense (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine). The New Jersey State Police can shut down violating businesses and seize illegal marijuana.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new crimes with prison terms (up to 10 years) for unlicensed marijuana transactions, directly increasing penalties rather than advancing reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Policing

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2380: Removes requirement that certain special law enforcement officers turn in firearm at end of shift.

S 2380 removes a requirement that certain special law enforcement officers (specifically Class Two and Class Three officers meeting residency, hours worked, and training criteria) turn in their firearms at the end of each shift. Instead, these officers may carry permitted firearms off-duty if they have completed required training (280 hours of instruction plus annual qualification) and hold a permit from their chief of police or county sheriff. The bill maintains that officers must use only locally supplied firearms during shifts and retain permits on their person when carrying weapons off-duty. This change directly affects special officers employed full-time by municipalities over 300,000 population who meet the training and permit conditions. The policy modifies existing firearm-handling rules without altering officer duties or supervision requirements.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves firearm turn-in requirement for officers, weakening oversight protocols without enhancing accountability or reform measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Policing

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