Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 5007: Requires establishment of hotline for purpose of reporting certain acts of misconduct by public officials.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety to create a 24-hour toll-free hotline within 60 days for reporting misconduct by public officials. It covers state and local government employees and allows citizens to report specific issues such as bribery, corruption, and misuse of public funds. The department must investigate all credible reports and can refer cases to law enforcement or ethics commissions for further action. Additionally, the agency must prominently display the hotline number on its website to ensure public awareness.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 1, 2026

A 5176: Repeals codification of AG directive, "Strengthening Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities."

This bill repeals a previous law that codified an Attorney General directive regarding interactions between law enforcement and immigrant communities. By removing this statute, the legislation restores the ability of New Jersey police officers to assist federal immigration authorities and engage in conduct previously restricted by the directive. The repeal also eliminates requirements for agencies to notify detained individuals of immigration requests, publish annual reports on such assistance, and inform defendants of potential immigration consequences during legal proceedings. Ultimately, the bill returns control over these specific policing and prosecutorial decisions to local authorities rather than binding them to state-mandated guidelines.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 4, 2026

S 4071: Requires DLPS to establish and make available to law enforcement agencies training materials concerning interactions with hearing impaired; requires annual training for law enforcement and contracting with qualified interpreters.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety to create training materials and an online tutorial for law enforcement officers on interacting with hearing-impaired individuals. It mandates that all state, county, municipal, and campus police departments use these resources for annual training and must contract with qualified interpreters who can respond to requests within two hours. The legislation defines a hearing-impaired person as someone unable to understand oral communication and specifies that a qualified interpreter must be certified by recognized national or state registries.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 4, 2026

S 4103: Requires sexual assault forensic evidence to be preserved for 10 years.

This bill requires that forensic evidence collected during sexual assault investigations in New Jersey be kept for at least 10 years, extending to 10 years after a minor victim turns 18. It applies to various custodians, including law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, and healthcare facilities, and mandates that they notify victims within 30 days of collection that the evidence may be discarded after the preservation period. The law also allows county prosecutors or the Division of Criminal Justice to authorize destruction after the deadline, provided they offer the Division a chance to take custody of the items. By updating current guidelines that previously required only five years of retention, the legislation aims to ensure evidence remains available for potential future use.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 9, 2026

A 4532: Prohibits sharing automated license plate reader information for interstate investigation concerning reproductive health care services that are legal in NJ.

This New Jersey bill prohibits law enforcement agencies and other users of automated license plate readers from sharing that information with out-of-state authorities for investigations related to reproductive health care services that are legal in the state. The legislation requires any out-of-state agency requesting such data to provide a written guarantee that the information will not be used to pursue legal action against individuals seeking or providing reproductive health care. Violations of these sharing restrictions could result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 for a first offense and $5,000 for subsequent offenses. The law applies to all reproductive health services, including pregnancy-related care, contraception, and abortion, and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Women's Health

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3760: Requires certain law enforcement officers be periodically vetted for evidence of personal bias.

This New Jersey bill requires police departments to conduct periodic bias checks on officers, including an initial screening upon hiring and follow-up evaluations every five years. The vetting process involves reviewing publicly available information for signs of prejudice based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristics, as well as testing for explicit and implicit bias. Officers are also screened for affiliations with extremist groups, which the bill defines as organizations that use force or threats to advance ideological agendas rooted in bias or anti-government sentiment. The Attorney General will establish specific guidelines and procedures to implement these requirements across state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3757: Requires Attorney General to revise law enforcement use of force policy; implements certain reforms.

This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to update the state's law enforcement use of force policy, directly affecting all law enforcement agencies in the state. Key provisions mandate that officers prioritize deescalation and crisis intervention techniques, use force only when proportional to the threat, and follow clear guidelines for firearm use and reporting excessive force incidents. The policy must also include specific training requirements for vulnerable populations, procedures for investigating citizen complaints, and regular reviews to ensure fairness and accountability. The revised policy must be published within seven months of the bill's enactment and will take effect eight months after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SR 80: Urges New Jersey Supreme Court to study reasonableness of lowering court fees in civil asset forfeiture cases.

This Senate resolution asks the New Jersey Supreme Court to examine whether court fees in civil asset forfeiture cases are reasonable and should be reduced. It directly affects individuals whose property has been seized by law enforcement and who may struggle to afford the costs required to challenge those seizures. The bill cites reports that filing fees sometimes exceed the value of seized property, which can prevent people from defending their rights. It also requests the creation of uniform rules for how these cases are handled across different counties. The resolution does not change any laws but instead urges the state's highest court to study the issue and potentially recommend fee adjustments.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3754: Establishes "Automotive Anti-Theft Systems Task Force."

This bill creates a new Automotive Anti-Theft Systems Task Force within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety to study ways to prevent car theft and parts theft. The task force will be made up of 16 members, including state officials, representatives from law enforcement and various industry groups, and four public members with automotive manufacturing experience. Its main job is to review current vehicle design features and security products, then submit a report with recommendations for improvements to the Governor and Legislature within six months of starting. The bill takes effect immediately but will end once the task force completes its report and submits it to state leaders.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 12, 2026

S 3908: Requires Attorney General to establish and maintain domestic extremist organization database.

This New Jersey bill requires the state Attorney General to create and maintain a publicly accessible online database of domestic extremist organizations. The database would include details such as group names, purposes, membership tactics, and known criminal activities. It defines domestic extremism as violent criminal acts motivated by political or ideological viewpoints and requires the Attorney General to consult with Homeland Security officials when establishing the system. The law would affect law enforcement agencies, military personnel, and the public who might use the database for information about such groups.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

All criminal justice bills