Criminal Justice (Corrections) in New Jersey

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

A 2761: Requires Division of Parole to establish residency restrictions for certain sex offenders.

This New Jersey bill (A 2761) requires the Division of Parole to establish statewide residency restrictions for high-risk sex offenders. It prohibits these offenders - specifically those sentenced to life parole for crimes involving minors under 18 - from living within 500 feet of schools, child care centers, or playgrounds. Exceptions apply if the offender is in a correctional facility, receiving mental health treatment, had an existing residence before the law, or if a parole board or court grants a specific exemption. Parole officers must enforce these restrictions when approving residences for these offenders.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole

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

A 1704: Establishes crime of strangulation chokehold.

This bill makes it a first-degree crime for specific law enforcement personnel - including police officers, correctional staff, and probation officers - to use a chokehold that blocks breathing or causes serious injury or death while on duty. It defines "chokehold" broadly to include any pressure on the throat or windpipe that hinders breathing. Violators face up to 20 years in prison, a $200,000 fine, or both. The law directly affects sworn law enforcement and correctional staff, clarifying and strengthening existing restrictions on chokehold use.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

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

A 1683: Establishes crime of law enforcement officer choking another person; designated as George Floyd's Law.

This bill makes it a first-degree crime for New Jersey law enforcement officers to knowingly choke another person by pressing on their throat, windpipe, or neck to hinder breathing or blood flow. It directly affects officers who use such tactics, punishable by 10-20 years in prison or up to $200,000 in fines. The law prohibits chokeholds and carotid restraints - banned by the state in 2020 except in life-threatening situations - effective immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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

A 2635: Requires personnel at gated communities and multi-unit complexes to allow service of process.

This bill requires security personnel at gated residential communities and multi-unit buildings to allow authorized court officers (such as sheriffs, constables, or court attendants) to enter and serve legal documents on residents. Security staff must permit entry upon seeing the officer's photo ID and the legal document, without delaying or blocking access. Refusing this request would be a petty disorderly persons offense, punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $500 fine. The law directly affects security personnel at these properties and streamlines the service of process for court officers.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

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

A 4169: Clarifies that encouraging another person to cause bodily injury, by filming, photographing, or otherwise recording injury-causing act, is form of crime of endangering injured victim.

This bill clarifies that encouraging someone to cause bodily injury - including by filming, photographing, or recording the act - is a criminal offense under New Jersey's "endangering an injured victim" law. It directly affects individuals who record violent acts without intervening or seeking help for the victim. The key change explicitly adds filming or recording as a form of "encouragement" that constitutes the crime, which was previously unclear. The offense remains a third-degree crime punishable by up to five years in prison or a $15,000 fine, without merging with convictions for the underlying assault.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime

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

A 654: Prohibits certain sex offenders from working in ice cream trucks and amusement parks.

This bill (A 654) prohibits individuals convicted of sex offenses against minors under 18 from working in specific roles: as employees or volunteers at amusement parks (permanent facilities with public rides) or selling frozen desserts from street vending trucks. It directly affects sex offenders meeting the specified criteria, banning them from these employment settings. Violating this ban is a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to 18 months in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. The law aims to restrict certain sex offenders from positions where they might interact with children in public venues.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

A 1098: Establishes offense of criminal mischief committed on historical sites.

This bill amends New Jersey's criminal mischief statute (N.J.S.2C:17-3) to specifically criminalize knowingly damaging, interfering with, or tampering with historic places or sites. It defines "historic place or site" as structures approved for the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, identified in local master plans as historically significant, or officially recognized by the State Agriculture Development Committee. Damaging such sites becomes a third-degree crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both. The law directly affects individuals who intentionally harm protected historic properties, including buildings, monuments, or structures meeting the defined criteria.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

A 1353: Criminalizes act of "stealthing"; removing or tampering with a condom during sexual activity without consent of one's sexual partner.

New Jersey bill A 1353 criminalizes "stealthing" by making it a third-degree crime to deliberately remove, tamper with, or use a damaged condom during sexual activity without a partner's consent. The law directly affects individuals engaging in sexual activity where consent is required, targeting actions that violate a partner's autonomy. Key provisions define the crime as occurring when someone knowingly acts without consent before or during sexual penetration involving condom tampering. Penalties include up to five years in prison or a $15,000 fine. This bill mirrors similar legislation in California (AB1033) but focuses on New Jersey's specific legal framework.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

A 3657: Prohibits circumventing security measures for certain online ticket sales.

This bill (A 3657) prohibits using software, devices, or technology to bypass security measures on online ticket websites that ensure fair ticket purchasing. It directly affects online ticket sellers (like venues, sports teams, or theaters) and anyone using tools to circumvent their security systems. The key provision bans both creating or providing such tools and employing them to gain unfair access to tickets. Violations are punishable as a fourth-degree crime, carrying potential penalties of up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

A 4396: Permits juveniles to be admitted to drug court program under certain circumstances.

This bill amends New Jersey law to allow juveniles (minors under 18) who have been found to have broken the law for drug-related offenses to enter drug court programs instead of facing incarceration, under specific conditions. To qualify, a juvenile must have a documented substance use disorder at the time of the offense, have committed the offense while under the influence or to support their addiction, and meet other criteria like no prior violent offenses or firearm possession. The court must verify these conditions through a professional assessment and ensure appropriate treatment facilities are available before placing the juvenile on special probation. This change expands access to treatment-focused sentencing for eligible juveniles who would otherwise face mandatory incarceration for certain drug offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Juvenile Justice Substance Abuse

All criminal justice bills