This bill amends New Jersey's Megan's Law to require county prosecutors to assess a sex offender's risk of re-offense *before* the offender is released from prison, rather than after release as currently occurs. It removes the factor of "residing in a home situation that provides guidance and supervision" from the risk assessment criteria since the offender's post-release residence isn't known at the time of release. Prosecutors must now evaluate risk using factors like criminal history, psychological profiles, treatment response, and recent behavior to assign one of three notification levels: low risk (law enforcement only), moderate risk (community organizations too), or high risk (public notification). This change ensures sex offenders are properly categorized for community notification prior to their release into the community.
This New Jersey bill (A446) prohibits adults from leaving loaded firearms accessible to minors under age 18 at their home or property. It requires firearm owners to store guns securely - using locked containers, secure locations, or trigger locks - to prevent minor access, or face a misdemeanor charge. Law enforcement officers observing unsecured firearms must return later to verify proper storage. The law amends existing law (P.L.1991, c.397) to raise the minor age from 16 to 18 and adds this enforcement mechanism. Violations carry penalties of up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine.
This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to annually review all sex offenders released from prison or treatment facilities in the previous year. The review checks whether these individuals properly registered as required by law and were correctly assigned to a tier (which determines public notification levels). The Attorney General must complete this review by March 30th each year. The bill directly affects released sex offenders and the state's Attorney General's office, focusing on ensuring compliance with registration and tiering rules.
This bill (A3674) amends New Jersey's Megan's Law to require county prosecutors to assess a sex offender's risk of re-offending *before* their release from prison, rather than after release as under current law. It removes "residence situation" (e.g., whether the offender lives in a supervised home) as a risk factor, since this cannot be known prior to release. Prosecutors must now use revised factors - like criminal history, treatment response, and recent behavior - to assign a risk level (low/moderate/high) and determine community notification requirements. This change directly affects sex offenders nearing release and county prosecutors responsible for pre-release evaluations.
This bill prohibits sex offenders from holding jobs where 80% or more of duties involve contact with children, and makes it a crime to knowingly hire them for such roles. It defines "sex offender" broadly as someone convicted, adjudicated delinquent, or found not guilty by reason of insanity for sex offenses under Megan's Law. Violations carry third-degree criminal penalties (3-5 years in prison, up to $15,000 fine). The law excludes juveniles under 18 working in rehabilitative programs for other juvenile sex offenders.
This bill establishes New Jersey's Second Chance Program within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The program provides career opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals by partnering with labor organizations to identify and create employment pathways in local trades. It directly affects people recently released from prison who face significant barriers to stable work. The key mechanism requires labor organizations - defined as per federal law - to collaborate with the state in developing job placement plans, aiming to reduce recidivism through meaningful employment. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Corrections to establish minimum living standards for all prison housing units, including disciplinary housing units known as Restorative Housing Units (RHUs). The standards must meet or exceed those set by the American Correctional Association. The DOC must adopt these rules through standard administrative procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act. The law would take effect 90 days after enactment.
This New Jersey bill (A 1736) prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing masks or disguises during public interactions while performing official duties. It directly affects all state, county, and municipal officers authorized to enforce laws, including federal officers working in New Jersey. Key exceptions include undercover operations, face shields not hiding the face, medical masks with a doctor's note, and smoke protection during emergencies. Violations are classified as disorderly persons offenses, punishable by fines up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage.
This bill (A 1666) amends New Jersey law to allow people with certain past criminal convictions to serve on juries, removing an automatic disqualification. It directly affects individuals convicted of most serious crimes (indictable offenses) in New Jersey, other states, or federal court, provided they do not have a conviction for murder or aggravated sexual assault. The key change eliminates the automatic bar for these past convictions, though current incarceration for any serious offense still disqualifies someone. The bill maintains existing exceptions for murder (N.J.S.2C:11-3) and aggravated sexual assault (N.J.S.2C:14-2), and does not apply to those currently serving prison sentences.
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.
