Criminal Justice (Corrections) in New Jersey

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

A 3742: Limits use of restrictions on telephone calls as discipline measure during incarceration.

This New Jersey bill (A 3742) limits how correctional facilities can suspend phone calls as punishment for incarcerated people. It requires facilities to allow at least one phone call every two weeks during a suspension, caps suspensions at 90 days consecutively or 180 days yearly, and prohibits suspensions in the final 60 days before release. The bill also bans suspensions for those in "Restorative Housing Units" and mandates that facilities notify emergency contacts when calls are restricted. It directly affects incarcerated individuals and their families by ensuring more consistent communication access while incarcerated.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

A 2946: "Iryna's Law"; establishes process for evaluating certain defendants in need of involuntary commitment in lieu of pretrial detention; establishes aggravating factor for offense committed in certain public places.

Iryna's Law (A 2946) creates a process for prosecutors to request mental health screenings for eligible defendants with mental illness who pose a danger to self or others, potentially avoiding pretrial jail detention. It allows prosecutors to file motions after arrest to immediately transport such defendants to a screening service, which determines if they need involuntary mental health treatment instead of pretrial detention. The law applies to defendants not previously involuntarily committed within the past three years and establishes an aggravating factor for offenses committed in certain public places. This directly affects defendants facing charges who may qualify for mental health evaluation rather than standard pretrial detention. The bill amends New Jersey's pretrial release and sentencing statutes to prioritize mental health assessment for specific cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing Mental Health

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

A 2594: Imposes certain requirements on use of automated license plate readers by law enforcement agencies.

This bill requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to follow strict rules when using automated license plate readers (ALPRs). It prohibits unauthorized access or use of ALPR data (a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to 6 months in jail or a $1,000 fine) and mandates annual audits to ensure ALPRs are used only for legitimate law enforcement purposes. Agencies must submit detailed annual reports to the Attorney General covering device counts, data readings, storage, data requests (including out-of-state/federal), and security breaches. Finally, it sets a two-year mandatory retention period for ALPR data (with limited early purging allowed for cost reasons) and requires date stamps on transferred data to maintain compliance.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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

A 2012: Requires female inmates be provided with family planning services prior to release from correctional facility.

This bill requires New Jersey correctional facilities to provide family planning services to female inmates at least 10 days before their release. It amends the 2009 "Fair Release and Reentry Act" by adding family planning services as a mandatory provision for female inmates, alongside existing requirements like medical discharge summaries and reentry program information. The law aims to support female inmates' health and successful community reintegration by ensuring access to reproductive health services prior to release. This requirement applies to all female inmates in state correctional facilities, with services to be provided in a manner consistent with clinical guidelines.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Women's Health

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

A 1279: Increases penalties for denying access to public facilities, NJT, and transportation network companies to service dogs and their handlers.

This bill increases penalties for denying access to service dogs and their handlers in public facilities, New Jersey Transit (NJT), and ride-sharing companies (like Uber or Lyft) from civil fines to criminal charges. First-time offenders face a petty disorderly persons offense (up to 30 days in jail or $500 fine), while second or subsequent violations become a disorderly persons offense (up to one year in jail or $1,000 fine). Fines collected will fund law enforcement training on service dog access rights, and the bill mandates a public awareness campaign. It directly affects businesses, public venues, and transportation providers that deny access to service dog users.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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

A 1394: Concerns parole for juvenile defendants.

This New Jersey bill amends juvenile justice laws to modify when courts may incarcerate minors. It creates a presumption against incarceration for first-time offenders committing minor crimes (fourth degree or less), requiring courts to consider specific aggravating factors (like prior offenses or severe harm) and mitigating factors (like youth under 14 or lack of prior record). The bill also sets maximum incarceration terms based on adult crime equivalents (e.g., 1 year for fourth-degree offenses) and mandates parole considerations with specific representation rules for juveniles. It directly affects juvenile defendants in New Jersey facing delinquency charges, particularly those with no prior record for minor offenses. The bill is pending in the Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 22, 2026

S 3630: Imposes various taxes and fees on operators of private prisons to offset social costs of incarceration.

This bill imposes three new fees on private prison operators in New Jersey. Operators with government contracts must pay 8% of the contract value annually, while all operators must pay $15 per inmate per day detained at their facility. Non-S corporation operators must also pay a 3% surtax on their taxable income. Revenue from these fees will fund two programs: legal services for detained and deported individuals, and community initiatives including food security, housing, job training, and youth mentorship.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Corrections Detention

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4284: Requires DOC to assign transgender inmate to State correctional facility based on inmate's gender identity and use inmate's preferred gender pronoun.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Corrections (DOC) to assign transgender and non-binary inmates to state correctional facilities based on their self-identified gender identity or expression (not their sex assigned at birth), and to use their preferred gender pronouns. During initial intake, DOC staff must ask inmates about their gender identity, transgender status, and preferred pronouns - without disciplining those who decline to answer - and must assign facilities accordingly. Staff, volunteers, and contractors who consistently fail to use preferred pronouns face discipline under existing rules. The bill directly affects transgender, non-binary, and intersex inmates within New Jersey's state correctional system.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

A 1414: Requires DOC to conduct study on quality of health care services in correctional facilities.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Corrections (DOC), working with the Department of Health, to study healthcare quality in state prisons. It mandates an evaluation of average response times for inmate health requests, frequency of medical staff visits for pain/illness care, and gaps in services across facilities. The study must identify specific shortcomings and their causes, with findings reported to the Governor and Legislature within one year. The bill directly affects incarcerated individuals by assessing the healthcare they receive, but does not change current services or funding. It is a procedural measure focused on gathering data to inform future policy decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

A 3201: Increases penalties for certain criminal offenses committed against elderly and persons with disability.

This New Jersey bill (A3201) increases criminal penalties for individuals who harm elderly people (60+) or disabled adults. It creates four offense levels: a misdemeanor for knowingly causing harm (no duty required), a fourth-degree crime for caregivers acting recklessly, a third-degree crime for abandonment/neglect, and a second-degree crime for causing harm that qualifies as abuse or neglect. Penalties range from up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine for the lowest offense to up to 10 years in prison or a $150,000 fine for the most severe violation. The law specifically applies to people with a legal duty to care for these vulnerable individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections

All criminal justice bills