Criminal Justice (Corrections) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1862: Requires annual review of all released sex offenders to determine if they were registered and tiered.

This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to annually review all sex offenders released from prison or involuntary commitment the previous year. The review checks whether these individuals properly registered as required by law and were correctly assigned to a tier (which determines public notification levels). This annual verification process must be completed by March 30th each year, directly affecting released sex offenders and the state's enforcement system. The law aims to ensure compliance with registration and tiering requirements for all eligible individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1357: Prohibits leaving loaded firearm within easy access of minor under age of 18; requires law enforcement officers who observe unsecured firearms to conduct follow-up.

This bill (S 1357) raises New Jersey’s minor age threshold for firearm access from 16 to 18, prohibiting firearm owners from leaving loaded guns within easy reach of minors under 18 at their premises. It requires owners to securely store firearms - using locked containers, secure locations, or trigger locks - to avoid a disorderly persons offense (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine) if a minor accesses the weapon. Law enforcement officers observing unsecured firearms must return to verify proper storage. The law applies to all firearm owners with minors under 18 on their property, excluding lawful minor firearm use under existing law. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Law Enforcement

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 761: Requires mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for leaving scene of accident resulting in serious bodily injury.

This bill requires a mandatory 3-year prison sentence with no parole eligibility for drivers who leave the scene of a motor vehicle accident causing serious bodily injury. It directly affects drivers convicted of leaving accident scenes under New Jersey law (specifically amending N.J.S.2C:12-1.1). The key provision eliminates judicial discretion for third-degree offenses in these cases, mandating a minimum 3-year term and prohibiting suspended sentences or parole. The bill also clarifies that this conviction does not merge with separate assault charges, requiring consecutive sentences for multiple offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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 Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Policing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2838: Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force."

S 2838 establishes the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" to research and develop recommendations addressing generational harms caused by New Jersey's historical role in slavery and ongoing systemic racial discrimination. The task force will examine specific issues like racial wealth gaps (where Black families have a median net worth of $5,900 vs. $309,000 for white families), housing discrimination, mass incarceration, and voting disparities affecting Black residents. It will produce a report with policy proposals for state-based reparations, focusing on systemic inequities documented in the bill, such as Black children being 30 times more likely to be incarcerated than white children. The bill directly affects Black communities in New Jersey facing persistent racial disparities in housing, education, and criminal justice.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1547: Increases prison time for certain persons convicted of a motor vehicle offense when license suspended for DUI.

This bill (S 1547) increases penalties for drivers convicted of operating a vehicle while their license is suspended due to a DUI offense, specifically targeting repeat violations. It raises the jail sentence for third or subsequent offenses from 10 days to "not less than 30 days or more than 180 days" when the violation occurs within five years of a prior similar conviction. The bill directly affects individuals with multiple DUI-related license suspensions who drive while suspended. It amends New Jersey's vehicle code to strengthen penalties for these specific repeat offenses, without changing other provisions like fines or registration revocation. The bill was introduced in January 2026 and referred to the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Corrections Traffic Safety

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 971: Upgrades crime of stalking when stalking activity is carried out or assisted by installation or use of communication or location monitoring program or device on cellular phone or wireless mobile device.

This bill (S 971) upgrades stalking charges when perpetrators use monitoring devices or apps on a victim’s phone to track location or intercept communications. It directly affects victims of stalking and stalkers who misuse technology like location trackers or communication-monitoring apps installed on the victim’s device. The key change makes such stalking a third-degree crime (up to 5 years in prison) instead of a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months), applying when the stalking involves accessing the victim’s phone data or location through installed programs or devices. The law targets common tools like pre-installed apps or downloadable trackers, not general phone use.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Telecommunications

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3069: Expands expungement eligibility; eliminates cap on number of convictions person may expunge; eliminates limitation on number of times person may be granted expungement.

This New Jersey bill (S 3069) expands eligibility for criminal record expungement by removing two key restrictions: it eliminates the previous cap on the number of convictions a person may have expunged, and it removes the limit on how many times someone can receive expungement. The bill directly affects New Jersey residents with criminal records who previously faced barriers due to these caps. Key provisions include treating certain marijuana-related offenses as disorderly persons violations (not crimes) for expungement purposes, and allowing applications after five years from the most recent conviction, payment of fines, or release from incarceration. The bill aims to make the expungement process more accessible for individuals with multiple convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 447: Upgrades burglary of residence to crime of second degree.

This bill upgrades burglary of a residence (a dwelling or structure adapted for overnight accommodation) to a second-degree crime, regardless of whether the burglar was armed or caused injury. Currently, such burglaries are typically third-degree unless specific aggravating factors exist. The change means offenders convicted of entering a home unlawfully will face a second-degree charge, requiring them to serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before parole eligibility under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act (NERA). This directly affects individuals convicted of residential burglary, increasing potential prison time compared to the current third-degree classification. The bill amends New Jersey law to automatically classify these offenses as second-degree burglary under Section 2C:18-2(b)(3).

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 455: Makes certain amendments to expungement statutes to reduce filing burdens and expand eligibility.

This bill (S 455) is mislabeled in its title; the actual text amends **special probation rules for substance use disorder cases**, not expungement statutes. It creates a new "special probation" option for individuals with substance use disorders convicted of certain offenses (excluding serious violent crimes), requiring a court to assess their condition, confirm the offense was drug/alcohol-related, and ensure no prior violent convictions. If approved, offenders must enter licensed residential or nonresidential treatment (including medication-assisted therapy) with regular drug testing, replacing incarceration. The bill directly affects people with substance use disorders who meet strict eligibility criteria, aiming to reduce prison time by prioritizing treatment over punishment. *(Note: The bill's title incorrectly references "expungement" despite the text focusing solely on probation and treatment programs.)*

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Probation & Parole Substance Abuse

All criminal justice bills