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.
This bill establishes the New Jersey Human Trafficking Criminal Registry, requiring the Attorney General to create an online database with details about individuals convicted of specific human trafficking offenses (including trafficking, aiding trafficking, or advertising commercial sexual abuse of minors). The registry categorizes people by status (incarcerated, on parole, in community release programs, or out-of-state parolees) and includes names, sentences, addresses, and criminal history. It also mandates one-time training for police on trafficking identification and for hotel/motel staff and healthcare workers on recognizing and responding to suspected trafficking cases. These training requirements must be completed within specific timeframes by affected employees and are tied to license maintenance.
This bill creates a new criminal offense for marketing fentanyl in ways specifically designed to appeal to minors, targeting manufacturers, distributors, or sellers. It prohibits tactics like packaging resembling candy, food, or popular characters, using minor-targeted advertising, or violating FDA/DEA packaging rules. Violators face a minimum 30-year prison sentence with no parole eligibility, and prior fentanyl distribution convictions create a strong presumption of guilt. The law directly affects businesses or individuals distributing fentanyl with marketing strategies targeting youth, aiming to deter such practices through severe penalties.
This bill requires New Jersey law enforcement to notify the State Parole Board when a parolee violates a domestic violence restraining order. It directly affects parolees under supervision who breach such orders, as well as law enforcement officers and the Parole Board. The key mechanism mandates officers to check the domestic violence central registry (which now includes parole status) and immediately alert the Parole Board if a parolee is charged with violating a domestic violence order. This ensures the Parole Board is informed to address potential violations of parole conditions. The bill amends existing statutes to streamline this notification process for safety and accountability.
This bill increases penalties for carjacking and establishes a presumption of pretrial detention for specific offenses. It upgrades carjacking to a first-degree crime with mandatory 10-30 year sentences and a 5-year parole ineligibility period (N.J.S. 2C:15-2). For theft by deception involving a motor vehicle when the victim is a minor, it adds penalties under N.J.S. 2C:20-4 and creates a court presumption requiring pretrial detention if charged with either carjacking or this theft offense. The presumption means courts must assume detention is necessary unless the defendant proves otherwise, applying to cases involving carjacking (per P.L.1993, c.221) or theft from minors.
This bill (A 1787) extends the duration of wage replacement payments for specific public safety workers injured during official duties from six to 12 months. It directly affects correctional officers, parole officers, human services police, campus police, medical security officers, and civilian employees working with inmates, who suffer serious bodily injury from assaults by those under their supervision or custody. The bill requires employers to provide supplemental payments so injured workers receive their full net wage (combined with workers' compensation) for up to 12 months, while protecting existing fringe benefits. It amends existing law (P.L.2017, c.93) to update the timeframe and ensure continued income support during recovery.
This bill elevates threats of violence against prosecutors, law enforcement officers, or their family members to a second-degree crime (previously third-degree). It directly affects anyone making such threats, including threats against spouses, parents, children, or relatives living with the officer or prosecutor. The key provision requires offenders to serve 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act. This means, for example, a 10-year sentence would require at least 8.5 years served before parole consideration. The bill does not change sentencing ranges but mandates stricter parole eligibility for these specific threats.
This New Jersey bill (A 1791) creates a new "special probation" option for drug and alcohol-dependent individuals convicted of certain non-violent offenses who would otherwise face mandatory prison time. It allows courts to place eligible defendants on 5 years of probation requiring treatment at a licensed facility, instead of incarceration, if they meet strict criteria: they must have been dependent at the time of the offense (committed while under influence or to support addiction), have no prior violent convictions (murder, assault, etc.), no firearm involvement, and no recent serious drug distribution offenses. The program requires professional assessment, treatment compliance, and urine testing, while excluding those with multiple prior first/second-degree crimes or violent histories. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
This New Jersey bill (A3158) creates a new criminal offense called "victimization" for committing any crime listed in Chapters 11-18 of Title 2C (such as assault or theft) against a senior citizen (62+) or a person with a disability. The offense is graded one level higher than the underlying crime (e.g., a fourth-degree crime for a disorderly persons offense) and requires separate sentencing, meaning the victimization charge does not merge with the original crime. If the underlying crime was first or second degree, the sentence includes mandatory post-incarceration parole supervision (5 or 3 years, respectively). The bill directly affects seniors and disabled individuals by adding enhanced penalties for crimes committed against them.
This bill changes how New Jersey courts handle sentencing for people with drug or alcohol dependency who commit certain crimes. It allows courts to place eligible individuals on "special probation" instead of prison time, requiring them to complete licensed substance use treatment (including medication-assisted treatment) and undergo regular drug/alcohol testing. To qualify, offenders must have committed their current crime while under the influence or to support their addiction, not possess firearms, have no prior convictions for violent offenses (like murder or sexual assault), and be assessed as needing treatment. The bill directly affects drug/alcohol dependent offenders convicted of specific non-violent crimes who would otherwise face mandatory prison sentences, and it modifies court procedures for approving treatment-based probation.
