This bill (A 679) proposes changing how certain drug distribution offenses are categorized in New Jersey law. It would allow offenses involving controlled dangerous substances to be graded based on the number of "units" (e.g., pills, bags, or individual items) rather than the total weight of the substance. This change would directly affect individuals charged with drug distribution, potentially altering sentencing severity for cases involving small quantities measured in units. The bill amends specific sections of New Jersey's controlled substances statutes (N.J.S.2C:35-2 and N.J.S.2C:35-5) to implement this unit-based grading system. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process.
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 adds a new sentencing consideration in New Jersey for defendants who were victims of abuse. It allows courts to weigh whether a defendant was subjected to substantial physical, sexual, or psychological abuse (including domestic violence) that contributed to their crime, applying to most offenses except murder or certain sex offenses requiring registration. The court must consider evidence of the abuse presented during trial or plea proceedings - even if the defendant didn’t raise it as a defense - and may reduce sentences or order resentencing for eligible individuals. This change aims to account for trauma-driven criminal behavior in sentencing decisions.
This bill changes sentencing for human trafficking convictions in New Jersey. It makes human trafficking crimes (including labor exploitation and sexual trafficking of adults or children) punishable as first-degree offenses, requiring a minimum 20-year prison sentence with no parole eligibility for 20 years. Convicted traffickers must also pay restitution to victims based on New Jersey's prevailing wage laws, and fines collected will fund a survivor assistance program. The law directly affects traffickers convicted under these provisions, increasing penalties and ensuring victims receive financial compensation.
This bill amends New Jersey's pretrial risk assessment tool (PSA) to require courts to explicitly consider firearms as a public safety risk. It directly affects defendants charged with firearm offenses by changing how courts evaluate their risk level during pretrial hearings. The key provision adds firearm-related factors to the PSA's assessment criteria, ensuring cases involving firearms - especially modified weapons or "ghost guns" - are properly weighted as violent risks. This change responds to a 2024 report highlighting gaps in how current assessments handle firearm dangers. The bill does not alter sentencing or create new penalties but adjusts the risk evaluation process used by courts.
This bill eliminates the automatic presumption that defendants charged with sex offenses against minors can be released before trial. It directly affects individuals accused of sexual crimes involving victims under 18, requiring courts to weigh public safety and victim protection rather than assuming release is appropriate. Key provisions mandate that judges must consider specific risks (like community safety and victim contact) before ordering pretrial release, and if release is granted, it must include strict conditions such as avoiding the victim and complying with supervision. The bill does not change sentencing but alters pretrial detention decisions for these specific offenses. The bill was introduced on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
This bill prohibits prosecutors from offering negotiated plea agreements that reduce prison time or fines for burglary convictions when a firearm was involved. It directly affects defendants charged with burglary who used a firearm during the crime, requiring them to face the full second-degree penalty rather than a reduced sentence through plea bargaining. The law amends New Jersey's burglary statute to specify that such plea agreements are ineligible if the defendant was "armed with or displays what appears to be explosives or a deadly weapon" during the offense. The bill defines "firearm" broadly to include handguns, rifles, shotguns, and certain air guns, but does not change the underlying burglary charges or penalties.
ACR 13 proposes a constitutional amendment to restore the death penalty in New Jersey for specific murder convictions, reversing a 2007 law that abolished it. The amendment requires the legislature to create new laws specifying that death sentences can only be imposed if a jury or judge finds "no doubt" that aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating factors, and if no juror or judge has lingering doubt. It also sets strict deadlines: the New Jersey Supreme Court must issue death penalty appeal rulings within 150 days, and final appeals must be filed within one year after U.S. Supreme Court decisions. This would directly affect individuals convicted of certain intentional murders, altering both the legal standard for sentencing and the timeline for appeals.
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 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.
