This bill makes it a first-degree crime for New Jersey law enforcement officers to knowingly choke another person by pressing on their throat, windpipe, or neck to hinder breathing or blood flow. It directly affects officers who use such tactics, punishable by 10-20 years in prison or up to $200,000 in fines. The law prohibits chokeholds and carotid restraints - banned by the state in 2020 except in life-threatening situations - effective immediately upon enactment.
This bill requires security personnel at gated residential communities and multi-unit buildings to allow authorized court officers (such as sheriffs, constables, or court attendants) to enter and serve legal documents on residents. Security staff must permit entry upon seeing the officer's photo ID and the legal document, without delaying or blocking access. Refusing this request would be a petty disorderly persons offense, punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $500 fine. The law directly affects security personnel at these properties and streamlines the service of process for court officers.
This bill clarifies that encouraging someone to cause bodily injury - including by filming, photographing, or recording the act - is a criminal offense under New Jersey's "endangering an injured victim" law. It directly affects individuals who record violent acts without intervening or seeking help for the victim. The key change explicitly adds filming or recording as a form of "encouragement" that constitutes the crime, which was previously unclear. The offense remains a third-degree crime punishable by up to five years in prison or a $15,000 fine, without merging with convictions for the underlying assault.
New Jersey bill A 1353 criminalizes "stealthing" by making it a third-degree crime to deliberately remove, tamper with, or use a damaged condom during sexual activity without a partner's consent. The law directly affects individuals engaging in sexual activity where consent is required, targeting actions that violate a partner's autonomy. Key provisions define the crime as occurring when someone knowingly acts without consent before or during sexual penetration involving condom tampering. Penalties include up to five years in prison or a $15,000 fine. This bill mirrors similar legislation in California (AB1033) but focuses on New Jersey's specific legal framework.
This bill amends New Jersey law to allow juveniles (minors under 18) who have been found to have broken the law for drug-related offenses to enter drug court programs instead of facing incarceration, under specific conditions. To qualify, a juvenile must have a documented substance use disorder at the time of the offense, have committed the offense while under the influence or to support their addiction, and meet other criteria like no prior violent offenses or firearm possession. The court must verify these conditions through a professional assessment and ensure appropriate treatment facilities are available before placing the juvenile on special probation. This change expands access to treatment-focused sentencing for eligible juveniles who would otherwise face mandatory incarceration for certain drug offenses.
This bill sets a maximum 11-cent-per-minute rate for inmate video visitation services in New Jersey state, county, and private correctional facilities, prohibits extra fees or commissions, and requires refunds for failed or low-quality sessions. It also bans charges for visits between inmates and attorneys, legal representatives, or clergy, and mandates that facilities allow in-person contact visits with only safety-related restrictions. Correctional facilities must follow state bidding rules when selecting video service providers and include financial penalties for unreliable service. The law applies immediately to all relevant facilities and contracts.
This bill (A3494, "Incarcerated Women's Protection Act") requires New Jersey correctional facilities to implement gender-responsive policies for female inmates. Key provisions include: mandating gender-specific risk assessments during classification, creating a Division of Women’s Services to address trauma, parenting needs, and reentry support, providing doula services for pregnant incarcerated women, establishing a PREA Compliance Unit, and forming a Special Victims Unit to investigate sexual misconduct. The bill directly affects all female inmates in state correctional facilities and requires correctional staff to undergo annual training on gender-responsive practices. These changes aim to improve safety, dignity, and access to services for incarcerated women through specific, measurable policy changes.
This bill requires specific professionals - including doctors, counselors, and medical staff - to report suspected domestic violence incidents to law enforcement when they have reasonable cause to believe a person is a victim. Failure to report such incidents would be classified as a disorderly persons offense, punishable by up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine. The law also provides legal immunity to reporters acting in good faith and mandates that institutions (like hospitals) notify their leadership to ensure reporting occurs. The bill updates New Jersey’s domestic violence registry by requiring law enforcement to forward reports to state agencies.
This bill amends New Jersey law to increase penalties for public servants who disclose domestic violence or sexual assault victims' personal information during official misconduct. Currently, such misconduct is a second-degree crime only if the benefit involved exceeds $200, otherwise it's a less severe third-degree crime. Under this bill, disclosing victims' personal information - defined as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, or other identifying details - automatically elevates the offense to a second-degree crime, regardless of the benefit's value. This change imposes stricter penalties: second-degree crimes carry 5-10 years in prison or fines up to $150,000, versus 3-5 years or $15,000 for third-degree offenses. It directly affects public servants like police, court staff, or social workers handling victim cases.
This New Jersey bill (A 619) creates a new criminal offense for "doxxing," defined as knowingly sharing someone's personal details (like address or phone number) online without consent to cause fear of harm, violence, or stalking. It specifically targets disclosures that create a serious risk of bodily injury, stalking, or severe emotional distress (mental anguish) to the person or their close relations - such as family, household members, or close associates. Exceptions apply for good-faith disclosures to the public about suspected unlawful conduct, to law enforcement, or during official investigations. Violations are a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine), escalating to a third-degree crime if serious harm occurs.
