Criminal Justice

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

A 1472: Establishes deadlines for publishing quarterly crime data, issuance of annual report by Attorney General.

This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to publish quarterly crime data collected from local police departments within six months of each quarter's end, making it publicly available on the Department of Law and Public Safety website. It also mandates that the Attorney General submit an annual crime data report to the Governor and Legislature no later than 13 months after the reporting period ends. These deadlines apply to data collected under existing laws (P.L. 1966, c.37 and P.L.2007, c.303), addressing the current lack of specified timelines for public disclosure. The bill directly affects the Attorney General's office and ensures greater transparency for New Jersey residents regarding crime statistics.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public crime data transparency, enhancing police accountability and enabling data-driven criminal justice reform efforts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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

A 2374: Requires law enforcement develop protocol for social media in certain circumstances.

This bill requires New Jersey's State Police and all local police departments that use social media to post about missing persons or wanted persons to create and follow a clear protocol for removing those posts. Specifically, the protocol must mandate removal within six months after the person is found (for missing persons) or after arrest/dismissal (for wanted persons). The law aims to prevent outdated posts from causing real harm, such as job denials or unnecessary scrutiny for individuals no longer missing or wanted. It directly affects law enforcement agencies that publicly share this information online, ensuring their social media content stays current.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires removal of outdated social media posts to prevent harm, protecting civil rights and enhancing police accountability in law enforcement practices.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates removal of outdated social media posts about missing/wanted persons to prevent privacy harms, directly protecting data privacy as per topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Social Media

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2852: Extends anti-SLAPP protections to complainants of sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination.

This bill extends New Jersey's anti-SLAPP protections (legal safeguards against lawsuits meant to silence people) to individuals who report sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination under state law. It ensures that people making good-faith complaints about these issues cannot be sued for reporting them, requiring courts to pause such cases and potentially dismiss them if the lawsuit lacks merit. The law also allows complainants who successfully defend against these lawsuits to recover legal fees and costs. It directly affects anyone filing reports under New Jersey’s sexual offense laws (N.J.S.2C:24-4) or anti-discrimination statutes (N.J.S.10:5-1 et seq.).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends anti-SLAPP protections to sexual assault/harassment complainants, enabling victims to report without fear of retaliatory lawsuits, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends anti-SLAPP protections to workers reporting harassment/discrimination, preventing retaliatory lawsuits and strengthening reporting rights under labor protections.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Violent Crime Employment Discrimination

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died · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2177: Requires AG to report data regarding shootings that did not result in bodily injury.

This bill requires New Jersey county prosecutors to collect and report specific data about firearm-related incidents where no one suffered bodily injury. Prosecutors must provide details like incident location, date, charges filed, and whether the firearm use was lawful, regardless of case outcome. They must submit this data quarterly for three years to the Attorney General, who will compile and publish a public report online after the reporting period ends. The bill directly affects county prosecutors and the Attorney General’s office, focusing on gathering standardized data on non-injury firearm incidents.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires data collection on non-injury firearm incidents to enhance transparency and accountability in prosecutorial handling of cases.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1691: Revises "Administrative Procedure Act" concerning socio-economic impact statements for proposed rule-making.

This bill (S 1691) requires New Jersey state agencies to prepare and publicly share specific impact statements before adopting new rules. It mandates agencies to include socio-economic impact assessments, jobs impact analyses, agricultural industry effects, housing affordability evaluations, smart growth development reviews, and racial/ethnic community justice impact statements. These statements must be published in the New Jersey Register and made available online alongside proposed rules. The bill directly affects all state agencies creating new regulations and ensures the public receives clear, accessible information about potential economic and community impacts before rules take effect.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly requires 'racial/ethnic community justice impact statements' in rule-making, directly addressing racial disparities in criminal justice systems and promoting reform.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates housing affordability evaluations in agency impact statements, requiring consideration of housing costs and accessibility in rule-making.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2642: Revises definition of health care professional in aggravated assault statute to match definition under "Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act."

This bill (S 2642) updates New Jersey's aggravated assault statute to align the definition of "health care professional" with the definition in the "Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act." It specifically expands the protected group to include health care workers employed at licensed facilities, licensed health care professionals (under Titles 26 or 45), volunteers, supportive services staff, and employees performing direct patient care duties. The change ensures these individuals are explicitly covered under the aggravated assault provisions when they are clearly identifiable while performing their duties. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on defining who qualifies for enhanced legal protections during work.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands legal protection for health care workers under aggravated assault statute, enhancing safeguards against violence per the Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands legal protection for health care professionals by broadening assault statute definition, directly strengthening safeguards for medical professionals in healthcare policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2483: Adds new civil penalties and increases surcharges imposed on domestic violence offenders; establishes "Domestic Violence Victims' Legal Assistance Fund."

This bill increases penalties for domestic violence offenders in New Jersey. It adds a new $1,500 civil penalty (payable $500 yearly for three years) and raises a surcharge on convictions from $100 to $500. All money from these penalties and surcharges flows into the new "Domestic Violence Victims' Legal Assistance Fund." The fund directly supports organizations providing victims with legal advocacy, medical referrals, and other direct services, with no mention of how the fund will be administered beyond its designated purpose.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds victim legal services via new penalties/surcharges, directly supporting victims' access to advocacy and medical referrals within criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates penalties/surcharges to fund medical referrals for domestic violence victims, directly supporting healthcare access services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2807: Establishes New Jersey Community Learning Program in DOE to provide comprehensive after school programs in certain communities; dedicates portion of State cannabis revenue to support program.

This bill establishes a New Jersey Community Learning Program within the Department of Education to fund comprehensive after-school programs in specific "impact districts" - communities with high historical rates of cannabis-related arrests, poverty, and unemployment. It directly affects school districts in these designated areas, requiring them to create after-school programs offering academic support and enrichment during non-school hours. The program will be funded entirely by dedicating a portion of New Jersey’s cannabis tax revenue to a new "Community Learning Assistance Fund," with funds distributed annually to impact districts to cover all program costs. Districts must submit detailed program plans for approval by the Education Commissioner before implementation, and funding is contingent on annual state appropriations from the cannabis revenue fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds after-school programs using dedicated cannabis tax revenue, allocating existing tax funds to public education services without increasing taxes.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeTargets communities with high historical cannabis-related arrests, uses cannabis revenue for after-school programs to address root causes of crime, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds after-school programs in high-need districts via cannabis revenue, providing academic support and enrichment per DOE requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Drug Policy

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 359: Makes supplemental appropriation of $75,000 to Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund.

This bill adds $75,000 in supplemental funding to New Jersey's Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund. The money, drawn from the General Fund, will directly support victims of human trafficking by funding services, awareness programs, and educational training materials. Administered by the Attorney General's Office, the fund uses these resources to provide direct aid to survivors and support prevention efforts as established under prior law (P.L.2013, c.51). The appropriation is non-lapsing, meaning the funds remain available until fully used for these designated purposes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds $75k supplemental appropriation from General Fund to Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund, increasing public service funding for victim support services.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds human trafficking victim services and prevention, directly supporting criminal justice reform through victim assistance and survivor aid under Attorney General oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Human Trafficking

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SJR 32: Directs AG to investigate whether pedophile organizations use the internet to encourage sex offenders to violate State law.

SJR 32 directs New Jersey's Attorney General to investigate whether pedophile organizations use the internet to recruit members and encourage sex offenders to violate state laws protecting minors. The resolution specifically examines if these groups promote the legalization of adult-minor sexual relationships, which would undermine New Jersey's age-of-consent laws. The Attorney General must report findings to the Governor and Legislature within one year. This is a procedural resolution (not a law) with no direct impact on citizens, focusing solely on initiating an investigation into online activities of such organizations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill directs AG to investigate pedophile organizations encouraging sex offenses against minors and undermining age-of-consent laws, strengthening enforcement of child protection laws within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

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