Criminal Justice

died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3521: Provides expungement process for certain defendants who are victims of abuse if conviction is substantially related to abuse.

This bill (A3521) allows eligible individuals convicted of certain offenses to petition courts for expungement of their records if they were victims of domestic violence or substantial abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) that contributed to their conviction. It applies to most convictions except murder or sex offenses requiring Megan’s Law registration. Eligible people may file petitions after completing probation, parole, or incarceration, and courts must consider evidence like domestic violence reports, victim service records, or professional testimony to verify the abuse connection. The expungement process mirrors existing state procedures, removing barriers to employment and housing for survivors seeking to move past abuse-related convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables expungement for abuse victims convicted due to abuse, promoting reform by reducing barriers to rehabilitation and protecting civil rights for vulnerable individuals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Probation & Parole

Track

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

AJR 29: Directs AG to investigate whether pedophile organizations use the internet to encourage sex offenders to violate State law.

AJR 29 directs New Jersey's Attorney General to investigate whether pedophile organizations use the internet to encourage sex offenders to violate state laws, specifically targeting groups promoting the legalization of sexual relationships between adults and minors. The bill requires the Attorney General to examine if such organizations recruit members online or use electronic means to influence sex offenders. The investigation must be completed within one year, with results reported to the Governor and Legislature. This resolution does not create new laws but mandates a review of existing online activities by these organizations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDirects AG to investigate online pedophile groups encouraging sex offenses, enhancing law enforcement efforts against criminal activity within the criminal justice system.90% confidence

Track

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

A 3471: Requires AOC to release domestic violence central registry records to certain health care practitioners.

This bill requires New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to share domestic violence registry records with specific licensed healthcare providers. It directly affects healthcare professionals (like doctors, nurses, and therapists) who have a legal duty to warn patients about potential violence under existing law. The key change expands current access rules to allow these providers to view the registry when they have a duty to protect a patient from domestic violence. Records remain confidential and can only be used for this specific safety purpose, with violations punishable as a fourth-degree crime.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands domestic violence registry access for healthcare providers to protect victims, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of victim safety and prevention.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands healthcare providers' access to domestic violence registry to protect patients, fulfilling legal duty to warn and enhancing patient safety in care settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

Track

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

A 909: Concerns justified use of force and deadly force.

This bill revises New Jersey's self-defense laws to clarify when force or deadly force is legally justified. It removes the requirement to retreat before using force (except deadly force) to protect oneself or others from imminent unlawful force, and explicitly allows "standing your ground" when not committing a crime and in a lawful location. Deadly force is permitted to prevent death, serious injury, or specific violent crimes like murder, robbery, or aggravated assault (referencing the "Three Strikes" law). The bill repeals outdated statutes (N.J.S.2C:3-4 through N.J.S.2C:3-7) and directly affects anyone potentially using force in self-defense across the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes duty to retreat for self-defense, explicitly allowing 'standing your ground' to protect civil rights in criminal justice applications, aligning with indicators of protecting individual rights within the legal system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Violent Crime

Track

died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 954: Imposes time constraints on submission and analysis of rape kits.

New Jersey's bill A 954, the "Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act," requires law enforcement agencies to submit sexual assault forensic evidence (commonly called a "rape kit") to a designated lab within 10 business days of receipt. It mandates that labs analyze the evidence within six months of receipt, if staffing and resources allow, and establishes deadlines for agencies to report unsubmitted backlog cases (within 45 days) and arrange submission of past cases (within 180 days). Agencies must also submit a detailed analysis plan to state leaders within 120 days, including resource needs. Violations by officers incur civil penalties ($1,000-$5,000 per incident), though reasonable efforts to comply are exempt. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies and forensic labs handling sexual assault cases in New Jersey.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces rape kit backlogs via strict submission/analysis deadlines, directly advancing criminal justice reform by improving evidence processing efficiency and victim justice outcomes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

Track

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

A 1755: Requires State and county correctional facilities to offer inmates hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing.

This bill requires all New Jersey state and county correctional facilities to offer hepatitis B and C blood testing to every new inmate at the start of their sentence. Inmates cannot be forced to take the test, but facilities must provide the option. The Commissioner of Corrections must create implementing rules within six months of the bill's enactment. This directly affects all individuals entering state or county correctional facilities by expanding access to preventative health screenings during incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires correctional facilities to offer hepatitis testing, enhancing inmate health services and rehabilitation efforts within the criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hepatitis B/C testing in correctional facilities, expanding preventative health access for inmates without restricting services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

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

A 1670: Establishes "Police Body Camera Implementation Task Force" to study and make recommendations concerning use of body cameras by law enforcement agencies in this State.

This bill establishes a 17-member "Police Body Camera Implementation Task Force" to study and recommend best practices for body cameras used by law enforcement in New Jersey. The task force, including representatives from police unions, civil rights groups, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers, will examine implementation requirements and rules for accessing body camera recordings. It must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature by December 30, 2021. The bill does not mandate body cameras but aims to inform future policy decisions affecting law enforcement agencies and public safety practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes task force to study body camera best practices, enhancing police accountability and transparency in law enforcement operations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Policing

Track

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

A 362: Increases penalties for certain motor vehicle theft and carjacking offenses; establishes presumption of pretrial detention in enumerated circumstances.

This bill increases penalties for motor vehicle theft and carjacking in New Jersey. For repeat offenses, it raises fines to $1,000 (third or subsequent offenses) and allows courts to suspend driving privileges for up to 10 years. It also creates a presumption of pretrial detention for defendants charged with carjacking who commit related crimes within a short timeframe, requiring courts to hold hearings before releasing them. The fines collected will fund auto theft law enforcement efforts.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties, mandates pretrial detention presumption, and raises fines - aligns with restrictive criminal justice policies per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

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

A 2064: Eliminates statute of limitations for civil actions arising from sexual assault and other crimes and offenses of a sexual nature committed against a person 18 years of age or older.

This bill eliminates the two-year time limit for filing civil lawsuits related to sexual assault or other sexual crimes against adults aged 18 or older. It allows victims to file lawsuits at any time, regardless of when the crime occurred. The law is retroactive, meaning it can revive civil cases previously dismissed solely because the statute of limitations had expired, but it does not apply to cases dismissed for other reasons or already finalized. It specifically affects civil claims, not criminal cases, and applies to all victims 18+ who were assaulted. The change takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEliminates statute of limitations for civil sexual assault cases, protecting victims' rights to seek redress without time barriers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

Track

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

A 2196: Requires AG to collect and report law enforcement detention data; creates Racial and Identity Profiling Elimination Advisory Council.

This bill requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to collect and publicly report de-identified data on all "stops" (detentions based on articulable suspicion for on-the-spot investigation), including the reason, location, outcome, and officer-perceived race, ethnicity, gender, and age. The Attorney General must publish annual summaries of this aggregated data online, expanding current motor vehicle stop reporting to cover all stops. It also establishes a 12-member Racial and Identity Profiling Elimination Advisory Council - comprising law enforcement, community advocates, and experts - to analyze the data and issue annual recommendations for reducing profiling. The council’s report will be published online, aiming to improve transparency and inform policy changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates law enforcement data collection on stops including race/ethnicity, establishes council to eliminate profiling - enhances police accountability and promotes criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track