Criminal Justice

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

A 331: Prohibits award of custody or visitation rights to persons convicted of certain sex crimes against minors.

This bill prohibits courts from awarding custody or visitation rights to individuals convicted of specific sex crimes against minors, including criminal sexual contact, luring children, human trafficking involving minors, lewdness, or promoting child prostitution. It expands existing law to cover additional offenses beyond sexual assault, requiring courts to deny such rights unless clear and convincing evidence shows it is in the child’s best interest. The law applies to all minor children, including those who were victims or born from the crime. Courts must delay enforcement for 10 days to allow appeals, but it does not terminate parental rights or affect child support obligations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts offender access to minors by denying custody/visitation post-conviction, enhancing victim protection within criminal justice framework.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Violent Crime

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

ACR 24: Establishes "Joint Committee on Human Trafficking."

ACR 24 establishes a bipartisan "Joint Committee on Human Trafficking" in New Jersey to study and evaluate the state's current human trafficking initiatives, programs, and support services. The six-member committee (three Senate appointees, three Assembly appointees, with no more than two from the same party) will consult state agencies like the Attorney General's Human Trafficking Unit and academic experts to identify improvements and effective solutions. The committee must hold public meetings, document its work, and submit annual reports with findings and legislative recommendations to legislative leaders. This resolution creates a procedural body to oversee and improve anti-trafficking efforts without changing existing laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeACR 24 creates a committee to evaluate and improve human trafficking initiatives, directly advancing criminal justice reform through enhanced program assessment and coordination.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 3365: Concerns private entities that own, operate or manage correctional facilities or jails.

This bill prohibits private companies from owning, operating, or managing New Jersey correctional facilities or jails after its effective date, unless they already had a valid contract with a government agency before the law passed. It specifically bans public agencies (like counties or the state) from entering new contracts with private entities for jail operations, renewing existing contracts, or extending their terms after the law takes effect. The law applies to all secure facilities used for housing people in custody, including prisons, jails, and similar facilities. It takes effect immediately upon enactment. The bill directly affects private correctional companies and public agencies responsible for jail operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans private management of correctional facilities, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce profit-driven incentives and promote public oversight in corrections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 24, 2026

A 4476: Authorizes the court to issue restraining orders to defendants charged with a crime as a condition of release on bail.

This bill requires New Jersey courts to issue restraining orders as a standard condition when releasing defendants charged with crimes on bail. It applies to people charged via warrant, summons, or juvenile complaints, barring them from specific places (like residences, workplaces, or schools) related to the crime or where witnesses/family members are located. The court must issue these orders unless the defendant proves by clear evidence they have a legitimate need to be there (e.g., living there) or the order would cause undue hardship. Exceptions are limited, and orders must clearly specify prohibited areas and any entry conditions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates restraining orders for victim/witness safety, aligns with reform goals of preventing reoffending and protecting civil rights in court proceedings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Juvenile Justice

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

A 391: Establishes New Jersey Human Trafficking Criminal Registry; requires establishment of educational curricula related to human trafficking.

This bill establishes the New Jersey Human Trafficking Criminal Registry, requiring the Attorney General to create an online database with details about individuals convicted of specific human trafficking offenses (including trafficking, aiding trafficking, or advertising commercial sexual abuse of minors). The registry categorizes people by status (incarcerated, on parole, in community release programs, or out-of-state parolees) and includes names, sentences, addresses, and criminal history. It also mandates one-time training for police on trafficking identification and for hotel/motel staff and healthcare workers on recognizing and responding to suspected trafficking cases. These training requirements must be completed within specific timeframes by affected employees and are tied to license maintenance.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates registry to track human trafficking offenders, enhancing law enforcement transparency and public safety protections in criminal justice context.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Policing Probation & Parole

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

A 2000: Clarifies court procedure for considering expungement applications when no objections are filed.

This bill clarifies New Jersey's expungement process for individuals seeking to clear criminal records. It requires courts to automatically consider unopposed expungement petitions on the 61st day after filing if prosecutors and law enforcement (State Police, Attorney General, county prosecutors) fail to file objections within a 60-day review period. The bill mandates an electronic filing system for petitions and requires these agencies to verify criminal history records within 60 days. It directly affects people applying for expungement, courts, and law enforcement agencies by reducing delays when no objections are raised. The change ensures expungement petitions move forward without unnecessary waiting when all parties confirm no issues exist.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomates expungement for unopposed cases, reducing barriers to reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing

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

ACR 71: Urges U.S. President and Congress to enact "Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement Act of 2025."

New Jersey's Assembly Concurrent Resolution 71 (ACR 71) is a resolution urging the U.S. President and Congress to pass the federal "VISIBLE Act" (S.2212), which would require immigration enforcement officers to display visible identification during public enforcement actions. The resolution does not create new law but advocates for a federal requirement that officers show their agency name, last name, or badge number - while prohibiting non-medical face coverings during public enforcement - unless for covert operations or environmental hazards. It also calls for accountability measures, including disciplinary actions for non-compliance and annual reports to Congress and civil rights offices. This resolution directly affects U.S. immigration enforcement officers (e.g., CBP, ICE) and aims to increase transparency amid concerns about impersonation of federal agents.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires visible ID for immigration officers during enforcement, enhancing accountability - aligns with criminal justice reform indicators.92% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRequires visible ID for immigration officers during enforcement, enhancing transparency and protecting immigrant rights during interactions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 3327: Requires notice to be provided by municipal court to applicant for public defender of fee and process to waive fee for inability to pay.

This bill requires municipal courts in New Jersey to inform applicants for public defender services about the $200 application fee (capped by existing law) and the process to request a fee waiver if they cannot afford it. It directly affects individuals applying for public defender representation in municipalities that require such a fee under current law. The bill mandates that courts provide this notice to all applicants, ensures no additional fees can be charged beyond the $200 limit, and reinforces that waivers must be granted if applicants demonstrate the fee would be an unreasonable burden. The notice requirement applies to all municipalities with such fee ordinances, aiming to clarify eligibility for fee waivers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnsures fee waiver access for indigent defendants, promoting fair court access and defendant rights in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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

A 759: Requires AG to study law enforcement use of facial recognition technology and issue report with recommendations for Statewide policy.

This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to study how law enforcement agencies currently use facial recognition technology and issue a report with recommendations for statewide policy within six months. The report must assess the technology's accuracy, summarize existing law enforcement usage (including for police reports), and propose guidelines for its future use. It applies to all state and local police departments. The study does not create new laws but aims to inform potential future policy decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates study of facial recognition use to inform policy, promoting law enforcement accountability and civil rights protections in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates AG study of law enforcement facial recognition use to assess accuracy and privacy impacts, aiming to inform protective statewide policies on technology deployment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Emerging Technology

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 11, 2026

A 2240: Requires law enforcement to notify State Parole Board when parolee violates domestic violence restraining order.

This bill requires New Jersey law enforcement to notify the State Parole Board when a parolee violates a domestic violence restraining order. It directly affects parolees under supervision who breach such orders, as well as law enforcement officers and the Parole Board. The key mechanism mandates officers to check the domestic violence central registry (which now includes parole status) and immediately alert the Parole Board if a parolee is charged with violating a domestic violence order. This ensures the Parole Board is informed to address potential violations of parole conditions. The bill amends existing statutes to streamline this notification process for safety and accountability.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates law enforcement to notify Parole Board of parolee DVRO violations, enhancing accountability and victim protection within criminal justice supervision.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Probation & Parole

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