Criminal Justice in New Jersey

died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2279: Requires AG to report data regarding shootings that did not result in bodily injury.

This bill (A2279) requires New Jersey county prosecutors to collect and report data on all firearm-related incidents where no physical harm occurred. Prosecutors must submit specific details - including location, time, charges, and whether the firearm was used lawfully - for every such incident, regardless of case outcome. They would provide this data quarterly for three years to the Attorney General, who would then compile and publish a public report on the Department of Law's website. The law aims to create standardized data on non-injury shootings, which currently lack consistent reporting. (Note: The bill was withdrawn after being superseded by P.L.2025, c.365.)

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Firearms

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

A 466: Imposes $0.25 surcharge on alcoholic beverages to be dedicated to Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund.

This bill proposes adding a $0.25 fee to the price of each alcoholic beverage sold in restaurants and bars located in New Jersey municipalities with 200 or more existing or inactive liquor licenses. The fee would be collected by license holders and deposited into the Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund (AEREF), which currently supports alcohol-related programs. The AEREF uses funds from existing sources (like manufacturer taxes and drunk driver fees) to allocate 75% to rehabilitation, 15% to enforcement, and 10% to education across the state’s 21 counties. This bill would create a new revenue stream for the AEREF by requiring the fee on drinks sold in high-density license areas. The bill is currently in committee review and not yet law.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 3341: Establishes greater discretion in court concerning child support related license suspension and credit reporting.

This bill (S 3341) gives courts more discretion when deciding whether to suspend licenses (like driver's or professional licenses) for people who owe child support. It requires the Probation Division to send written notice to the obligor (the parent owing support) with 30 days to pay arrears, provide health coverage, or request a hearing before license suspension. If the obligor doesn't respond, courts can now suspend licenses without a hearing but must first verify the notice was properly delivered and that the Probation Division made a "diligent effort" to locate the obligor. The bill directly affects parents who owe child support and changes the process for license suspension, not the core requirement of six months of arrears.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole

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

A 1952: Provides that defendant who participated in diversion program for certain marijuana offenses on prior occasion may again participate under certain circumstances.

This bill allows individuals previously enrolled in New Jersey's diversion programs for specific marijuana offenses to participate again under certain conditions. It directly affects people charged with marijuana-related disorderly persons offenses who have prior participation in programs for similar past offenses (like possession, use, or paraphernalia violations involving marijuana). The key change amends the law to remove automatic disqualification for repeat participation when the prior program involved marijuana offenses specifically, rather than all drug offenses. This clarifies that prior participation in marijuana-focused diversion programs does not prevent future eligibility for similar programs under the same circumstances.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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

A 1793: Establishes "Recovery Tax Credit Program"; incentivizes hiring and continued employment of certain individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.

This New Jersey bill (A 1793) creates a "Recovery Tax Credit Program" that provides tax incentives to employers who hire and retain individuals recovering from substance use disorders. Employers must become "certified" by meeting requirements like partnering with recovery providers and offering qualifying health insurance. Certified employers can claim tax credits up to $2,000 per eligible employee (based on hours worked, minimum 500 hours), with a total annual budget cap of $2 million. The program directly affects employers in New Jersey and individuals in recovery who meet the defined eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Insurance Substance Abuse

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

ACR 72: Memorializes Congress and President to enact legislation establishing certain gun control measures.

ACR 72 is a New Jersey legislative resolution requesting Congress and the President to enact specific federal gun control measures. It calls for requiring background checks on all gun sales (including at gun shows), reinstating and strengthening the assault weapons ban, funding smart gun technology research and a federal gun buyback program targeting assault weapons, and repealing the Dickey Amendment to allow CDC research on gun violence. This resolution does not create new law but formally urges the federal government to adopt these policies. It is directed at Congress and the President, with no direct impact on New Jersey residents or state law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Firearms Violent Crime

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

A 3226: Prohibits release of personal identifying information of violent crime victims and witnesses under State's open public records law.

This bill (A 3226) prohibits public agencies from releasing personal identifying information of violent crime victims and witnesses under New Jersey's open records law. It directly affects law enforcement agencies, courts, and other public bodies that maintain records, by requiring them to withhold specific details like names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and social media handles. Key provisions add "personal identifying information of a violent crime victim or witness" to the list of confidential records, explicitly defining protected details to include home/work addresses, contact information, and identifiers. The bill does not change how crimes are prosecuted but limits public access to sensitive victim/witness data already held in official records.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Victims' Rights Violent Crime

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

A 3823: Establishes rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention of defendant charged with aggravated assault of law enforcement officer.

This bill creates a rebuttable presumption that defendants charged with aggravated assault on law enforcement officers must be held in pretrial detention. It directly affects individuals facing this specific charge, requiring prosecutors to file a motion for detention rather than the court independently determining risk. The key mechanism establishes that the court must presume detention is necessary unless the defendant provides evidence to the contrary at a hearing. This changes existing procedures by adding aggravated assault on officers to the list of offenses where detention is presumed, without requiring the prosecution to prove exceptional circumstances.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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

A 2464: Requires DOLWD and DHS to conduct assessment of community rehabilitation programs and community businesses.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) and Department of Human Services (DHS) to assess whether employment opportunities through community rehabilitation programs and businesses - such as call centers, work crews, AbilityOne contracts, and rehabilitation facility programs - meet federal "competitive integrated employment" standards under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It directly affects people with disabilities seeking jobs in these settings by ensuring their employment options are evaluated for compliance with WIOA's criteria, including interaction with non-disabled coworkers in typical work environments. The law mandates case-by-case assessments to determine if programs qualify as "competitive integrated employment," while prohibiting disqualification solely based on program type (e.g., AbilityOne or rehabilitation facility contracts). This creates a formal process for agencies to verify that employment options provide equitable opportunities aligned with federal guidelines.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workforce Development Tags People with Disabilities

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

A 620: Requires DHS to establish program to assist children with incarcerated non-custodial parents in enrolling in safety net programs.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services to create a program helping children under 18 with incarcerated non-custodial parents access safety net benefits. The program must collaborate with Corrections and Courts to identify affected children, then contact their custodial parent or guardian at least three times (including one written contact) to explain available benefits like food assistance, healthcare (NJ FamilyCare), and childcare subsidies. It mandates tracking applications and providing eligibility decisions within 30 days of submission. The bill directly affects children in these situations by connecting them to existing state support programs they might otherwise miss.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Tags Children

All criminal justice bills