Criminal Justice

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

A 3011: Prohibits the use of drones by law enforcement entities.

This bill prohibits New Jersey law enforcement agencies from using drones for surveillance or other law enforcement activities, affecting police departments and officers statewide. Exceptions include drone use authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for counter-terrorism threats or by the forest fire service for wildfire monitoring (with a 350-foot altitude limit). It also bans drones for enforcing building and land-use regulations under state codes. Violating the ban can lead to civil lawsuits and the exclusion of illegally gathered evidence in court.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement drone surveillance to protect civil rights (privacy), aligning with criminal justice reform goals of limiting over-policing.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly prohibits law enforcement drone surveillance, restricting a technology application that impacts data privacy and digital rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing Emerging Technology

Track

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

A 2809: Creates new offense of theft by financial exploitation of vulnerable person.

This bill creates a new crime called "theft by financial exploitation of a vulnerable person" in New Jersey. It directly affects senior citizens and people with disabilities who are exploited financially by individuals in positions of trust (like caregivers, financial advisors, or family members). The law requires separate criminal sentences for this new offense and any underlying financial crime (such as fraud or embezzlement), preventing convictions from merging. It amends existing statutes to define "vulnerable person," "position of trust," and clarify sentencing, without changing penalty levels. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Public Safety Committee (introduced January 13, 2026).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense to protect vulnerable people from financial exploitation, requiring separate sentencing to strengthen legal safeguards against financial crimes targeting seniors/disabled individuals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

Track

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

A 1169: Requires AG to establish ballistics analysis device pilot program in certain municipalities.

This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a 90-day pilot program in the 10 municipalities with the highest violent crime rates (based on Uniform Crime Report data). Each participating police department would receive a ballistics scanning device to immediately analyze cartridge cases at crime scenes and access investigative reports. After the pilot, agencies must submit usage reports to the Attorney General, who will then recommend to the Governor and Legislature whether to make the program permanent with annual funding. The bill directly affects local law enforcement agencies in high-crime areas by providing new investigative tools and establishing a process for evaluating their long-term use.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides police with ballistics scanning technology to improve crime scene investigations in high-violence areas, enhancing law enforcement effectiveness within criminal justice system.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Violent Crime

Track

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

A 3453: Requires Corrections Ombudsperson review criminal investigations under certain circumstances.

This bill (A 3453) requires New Jersey's Corrections Ombudsperson to review criminal investigations conducted by correctional facilities to ensure they were accurate, unbiased, and thorough. It directly affects inmates who may report concerns about investigations, the Department of Corrections (which must provide investigation details), and the Ombudsperson's office (which gains this specific review duty). The key provision adds a requirement to the Ombudsperson's existing responsibilities, mandating they assess the quality of criminal investigations - without investigating alleged criminal behavior themselves - to protect inmates' rights. This change is part of broader oversight duties under existing laws and aims to improve accountability in correctional facility investigations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates Corrections Ombudsperson review of facility investigations for accuracy/bias, enhancing accountability and oversight in corrections per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

passed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 30, 2026

A 4077: Imposes various taxes and fees on correctional service businesses to offset social costs of incarceration.*

This bill imposes three new fees on private prison operators in New Jersey to fund social support programs. It charges an 8% fee on the value of public contracts (section 2), a $15 daily fee per inmate (section 3), and a 3% surtax on taxable income (section 4). All revenue flows into two dedicated funds: one for legal services supporting detained individuals and another for community programs like job training and housing (sections 2e and 3e). The bill directly affects private prison companies operating under state contracts, with fees applying during active contracts or inmate stays.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes taxes on private prisons to fund legal services and community programs, directly increasing public spending on social support through dedicated revenue streams.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds legal services and community programs (job training, housing) to reduce recidivism and support reintegration - directly advancing criminal justice reform through rehabilitation-focused investment.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill directs 3% surtax revenue to community housing programs via dedicated fund (section 3e), explicitly funding housing as part of allocated programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

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

A 1370: Requires AG to release bias incident data monthly.

This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to release bias incident data to the public every month, instead of only annually as currently required. It directly affects municipal and county law enforcement agencies, which must continue submitting quarterly reports on bias-related crimes to the Attorney General. The data - covering incidents based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or ethnicity - will be posted monthly on the Department of Law and Public Safety's website. The bill defines "bias incident" as suspected or confirmed violations of New Jersey's bias intimidation laws (C.2C:16-1). This change makes real-time data on bias crimes more accessible to the public.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires monthly release of bias incident data (race, religion, etc.), enhancing police accountability through transparency in reporting hate crimes and bias-motivated acts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

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

A 459: Establishes "Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services Pilot Program" for certain defendants.

This bill establishes a "Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services Pilot Program" to connect eligible pretrial defendants with community-based support services like substance abuse treatment, mental health care, and case management. It requires courts to consider these services as part of release conditions for defendants who qualify for pretrial release but need additional support to safely remain in the community. The program would be delivered through approved community providers and aims to reduce unnecessary detention while ensuring court appearance and public safety. The bill is pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee after introduction on January 13, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes pretrial community support services to reduce recidivism and improve rehabilitation, directly advancing criminal justice reform by prioritizing treatment over incarceration for eligible defendants.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates courts to connect defendants with mental health care as part of pretrial release conditions, directly improving access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 12, 2026

AR 112: Urges President and Congress to enact "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023."

This New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 112) urges the U.S. President and Congress to pass the federal "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023" (H.R.895/S.140). It highlights that organized retail crime - where groups steal large quantities of goods to resell - costs U.S. retailers an estimated $100 billion in 2023, increases violence against retail workers (with 75% reporting physical assaults), and forces price hikes on consumers. The resolution supports the federal bill’s two main provisions: strengthening federal money laundering laws to target theft rings and creating a DHS Center to collaborate with retailers on crime prevention and reporting. As a resolution, it does not create new laws but formally advocates for federal action on this issue.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill urges federal action against organized retail crime, directly addressing law enforcement aspects of criminal justice through legislative support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentHighlights 75% of retail workers report physical assaults from organized retail crime, framing it as a workplace safety issue to justify supporting the federal bill.85% confidence

Track

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

A 3748: Makes supplemental appropriation of $3,000,000 to Division on Civil Rights.

This bill provides an additional $3 million in state funding to New Jersey's Division on Civil Rights specifically for upgrading the New Jersey Bias Investigation Access System (NJ BIAS). The system tracks bias crimes reported by state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. The funding ensures consistent and uniform reporting of bias incidents across all law enforcement levels. This is a procedural appropriation (not a new policy), directly supporting the operational capacity of law enforcement agencies to document bias crimes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides $3M supplemental appropriation for operational capacity of civil rights division, increasing state budget allocation for bias crime tracking system.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds NJ BIAS system to track bias crimes, enhancing law enforcement accountability and civil rights protection within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Civil Rights Law Enforcement

Track

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

A 3058: Establishes Deepfake Technology Unit in DLPS; appropriates $2 million.

This bill establishes New Jersey's Deepfake Technology Unit within the Division of Criminal Justice to combat AI-generated deceptive media (deepfakes). The unit will provide law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts with technical expertise, training, and evidence analysis to detect and investigate deepfakes - defined as AI-manipulated videos, audio, or images that falsely depict people or events. It requires the unit to issue annual reports on detection methods, technological advances, and policy recommendations, and appropriates $2 million from the General Fund to cover operational costs. The unit directly supports state and local agencies in addressing a growing threat to public safety and legal integrity.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2 million for Deepfake Technology Unit, increasing government spending on public safety service per budget management focus.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes Deepfake Unit within Division of Criminal Justice to enhance law enforcement's ability to detect and investigate AI-generated deceptive media, strengthening investigative capabilities in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates Deepfake Technology Unit to combat AI deception via cybersecurity measures, enhancing detection and investigation capabilities for digital media threats.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Law Enforcement Artificial Intelligence

Track