This bill (A4431) upgrades the offense of stalking when the victim is under 18 years old from a fourth-degree to a third-degree crime in New Jersey. It directly affects individuals who stalk minors, increasing penalties to a maximum of 3-5 years in prison or a $15,000 fine for such offenses. The key provision amends New Jersey's stalking statute (P.L.1992, c.209) to specify that stalking a minor automatically elevates the charge to third degree, regardless of prior offenses. This change applies immediately upon enactment, without requiring additional court orders or prior convictions.
This bill allows New Jersey municipalities to earn bonus credits toward their affordable housing requirements by including transitional housing reserved for veterans. Specifically, municipalities receive one credit and one bonus credit for each bedroom in such housing occupied by low- or moderate-income veterans for at least 10 years. Transitional housing is defined as housing with supportive services helping homeless veterans move to permanent housing within 24 months. The bill applies to veterans discharged from active military service (excluding certain court-martial discharges) who are New Jersey residents. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.
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.
This bill expands New Jersey law to allow victims and witnesses of human trafficking to testify via closed-circuit television in criminal trials, directly affecting those involved in human trafficking cases. Courts may order such testimony after a hearing, requiring proof of "severe emotional or mental distress" if testifying in person, while ensuring the defendant can cross-examine and observe the witness's demeanor. The law specifies that minors' audio testimony recordings cannot be part of the public record or appeal, protecting them from potential stigma, while adults' recordings generally become part of the record unless the court orders otherwise. It also clarifies that victims, prosecutors, defendants, or judges can request this testimony method.
This bill amends New Jersey's Crime Victim's Bill of Rights (P.L.1985, c.249) to explicitly prohibit defendants from entering a crime victim's home at any point during criminal proceedings - including investigations or discovery. It directly affects crime victims by adding a new protection: victims must be free from the risk of defendants entering their homes, with only one exception for court-approved inspections of the crime scene (e.g., if a defendant requests to view a home where a crime occurred and demonstrates a legitimate need for evidence). The law requires courts to impose strict privacy safeguards during such limited inspections, balancing defendant rights with victim safety. This change strengthens existing protections against intimidation (subsection c) and minimizes victim inconvenience (subsection d).
This bill requires courts to mandate domestic violence counseling for offenders convicted of domestic violence crimes or placed on probation/sentence suspension for such offenses. It applies directly to defendants found guilty of domestic violence, replacing the previous discretionary court option with a mandatory requirement. The law specifies that counseling must be provided by experts in domestic violence and requires defendants to submit proof of attendance. Additionally, completing this counseling becomes a condition for dissolving restraining orders.
This New Jersey bill (A 2784) requires courts to consider the results of a domestic violence assessment before dissolving protective orders in cases where a defendant has two or more such orders. It directly affects defendants seeking to end multiple domestic violence restraining orders and the courts handling those requests. The key mechanism mandates that defendants with two or more orders undergo a court-ordered domestic violence assessment (at their own cost), and the court must weigh the assessment findings alongside other factors like victim safety and the defendant’s history. The bill updates existing procedures to ensure courts have additional evidence about the defendant’s risk before ending protective measures.
This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a model ordinance restricting where convicted sex offenders (with moderate/high reoffense risk) can live near schools or child-focused areas. Municipalities adopting this exact model ordinance will receive free legal defense from the Attorney General if challenged in court. The model cannot force offenders to relocate or violate constitutional travel rights. It directly affects municipalities seeking to enforce such restrictions and convicted sex offenders subject to registration requirements. The Attorney General must issue the model within 90 days and defend all identical ordinances at no cost to the municipality.
This bill (A 2530) creates a civil lawsuit option for victims of stalking in New Jersey. It allows individuals who experienced stalking (defined as conduct causing reasonable fear for personal safety or a minor child's safety) to sue stalkers in civil court, even if no criminal charges were filed. Victims may seek compensatory damages for losses, punitive damages to punish the stalker, and recovery of attorney fees and costs. The lawsuit must be filed within two years of the last stalking incident, aligning with New Jersey's personal injury statute of limitations.
This bill requires New Jersey courts to mandate professional domestic violence counseling for offenders convicted of domestic violence crimes who are subject to court-ordered restrictions on contact with victims, family members, or pets. It applies to individuals sentenced with conditions restricting their contact with protected parties, including those placed on probation or having sentences suspended. The court must order offenders to complete counseling with a licensed mental health professional and provide documentation of attendance, and the offender cannot have their protection order lifted until counseling is completed. This policy change directly affects domestic violence offenders in New Jersey court cases involving contact restrictions.
