This bill (A 2790) proposes mandatory life imprisonment without parole for individuals convicted of murder committed during a sexual assault on a minor under 16 years old. It specifically amends New Jersey's murder statute (N.J.S.2C:11-3) to require this sentence when the murder occurs in the course of committing a sexual assault (N.J.S.2C:14-2 or N.J.S.2C:14-3) against a victim under 16. The law directly affects offenders convicted of such murders, eliminating parole eligibility for these cases. It does not change the definition of sexual assault but links the harshest murder sentencing to sexual assault crimes involving minors under 16. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
This bill creates a new pathway for certain long-term incarcerated individuals in New Jersey to seek release. It allows inmates who have served at least 20 years (or 30 years for murder convictions) and are age 60 (or 62 for murder) to receive a "Certificate of Eligibility for Rehabilitative Release" from the Corrections Commissioner. The process requires a court hearing where the individual must demonstrate they are not a danger to the community, have engaged in rehabilitation while incarcerated, and that justice warrants release - considering factors like victim input, their crime's severity, and a reentry plan. If approved, the individual receives a modified sentence and five years of parole supervision.
This bill allows New Jersey inmates participating in full-time substance abuse treatment programs to earn enhanced time credits toward parole eligibility. Specifically, it requires the corrections commissioner to award inmates 1.5 times the standard commutation (good time) credits they would normally receive during their participation in such programs. These additional credits directly reduce the inmate's parole eligibility date, meaning they become eligible for parole sooner than under standard credit calculations. The provision applies to all eligible inmates in substance abuse treatment programs, supplementing existing credit systems without altering mandatory minimum sentencing rules.
This bill establishes a 24/7 toll-free hotline for formerly incarcerated individuals in New Jersey seeking reentry support after release from custody. It requires the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with Corrections, Health, Youth Justice, and Parole officials, to create the service using existing hotline infrastructure. Operators must be certified peer recovery specialists (either by New Jersey's Addiction Professionals Certification Board or the national Association for Addiction Professionals). The hotline directly serves returning residents by providing immediate, peer-led support during their reentry transition.
This bill allows courts to retroactively reduce mandatory parole ineligibility periods for certain inmates convicted of specific drug and theft offenses before the bill's effective date. It applies to people sentenced under 11 listed offenses, including drug distribution, cargo theft, shoplifting, and certain school-related drug crimes. The process requires the Corrections Department to identify eligible inmates, prosecutors to get Attorney General approval before objecting to sentence changes, and courts to decide based on public safety risks if objections are filed. Inmates without objections receive automatic sentence adjustments without hearings, while objections trigger a hearing to assess public safety concerns.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Corrections (DOC) to submit quarterly reports to the state legislature on residential community release programs, including halfway houses. The reports must detail specific data such as reimbursement amounts, inmate demographics (violent vs. non-violent crimes), escape rates, safety measures, physical violence incidents, and disciplinary actions. Additionally, the DOC must annually analyze program effectiveness with a focus on recidivism rates and submit improvement recommendations to the legislature. The bill directly affects the DOC's reporting obligations and provides the legislature with detailed operational data on these reentry programs.
This bill (A 1764) requires county correctional facilities in New Jersey to provide specific reentry assistance to inmates sentenced to incarceration who were denied bail under recent bail reform law. At least 10 days before release, facilities must give inmates a copy of their criminal history, information about voting rights and expungement, details on employment/vocational programs, a record of their prison program participation, and a written accounting of financial obligations like fines or child support. It also mandates assistance obtaining a non-driver ID card, birth certificate (if NJ-born), Social Security card, and access to medical records. The goal is to help formerly incarcerated individuals access essential services and reduce barriers to reintegration.
This bill allows New Jersey county correctional facilities to use inmate welfare funds for reentry services that help incarcerated individuals transition to community life after release. Specifically, it permits counties to spend these funds - currently used for amenities like recreation, library materials, and commissary items - to pay staff salaries for coordinating access to benefits such as Medicaid, housing assistance, and substance abuse treatment. The policy directly affects county correctional facilities and the inmates they serve, expanding the permitted use of existing welfare funds beyond in-facility amenities. It requires no new funding, instead redirecting existing county inmate welfare resources toward post-release support.
This bill establishes a 500-foot drug-free zone around licensed child care centers in New Jersey, prohibiting the distribution, possession, or dispensing of controlled dangerous substances within that area. It directly affects individuals who sell or distribute drugs near these centers, with violations classified as a third-degree crime carrying mandatory minimum prison terms (one-third to one-half of the sentence, or one year for small marijuana amounts, or three years for other drugs). Key provisions require courts to impose parole ineligibility during these minimum terms, though judges may reduce penalties if children weren't present, violence wasn't involved, or the offense occurred outside school hours. The law also includes an affirmative defense for offenses entirely within private residences with no minors present and no profit motive. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee.
This bill requires the New Jersey State Parole Board to proactively review certain parolees serving life sentences who are currently on parole supervision. It mandates that eligible parolees - those who have served at least seven years on parole and maintained advanced supervision status for the prior two years - must be administratively reviewed for possible parole discharge. The review must occur within 60 days of the bill’s enactment, replacing the current process where a parole officer’s recommendation was required. This applies specifically to individuals sentenced under Titles 2A or 2C of New Jersey Statutes. The bill is pending and not yet law.
