Criminal Justice (Policing)

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

A 3011: Prohibits the use of drones by law enforcement entities.

This bill prohibits New Jersey law enforcement agencies from using drones for surveillance or other law enforcement activities, affecting police departments and officers statewide. Exceptions include drone use authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for counter-terrorism threats or by the forest fire service for wildfire monitoring (with a 350-foot altitude limit). It also bans drones for enforcing building and land-use regulations under state codes. Violating the ban can lead to civil lawsuits and the exclusion of illegally gathered evidence in court.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement drone surveillance to protect civil rights (privacy), aligning with criminal justice reform goals of limiting over-policing.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly prohibits law enforcement drone surveillance, restricting a technology application that impacts data privacy and digital rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing Emerging Technology

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

A 1169: Requires AG to establish ballistics analysis device pilot program in certain municipalities.

This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a 90-day pilot program in the 10 municipalities with the highest violent crime rates (based on Uniform Crime Report data). Each participating police department would receive a ballistics scanning device to immediately analyze cartridge cases at crime scenes and access investigative reports. After the pilot, agencies must submit usage reports to the Attorney General, who will then recommend to the Governor and Legislature whether to make the program permanent with annual funding. The bill directly affects local law enforcement agencies in high-crime areas by providing new investigative tools and establishing a process for evaluating their long-term use.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides police with ballistics scanning technology to improve crime scene investigations in high-violence areas, enhancing law enforcement effectiveness within criminal justice system.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Violent Crime

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

A 3534: Requires data collection and issuance of report on drug evidence testing by New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences.

This bill requires the New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences to collect specific data for six months on drug evidence testing conducted by law enforcement. It mandates recording details like whether field tests were performed, their results, whether lab analysis followed, and instances where field tests may have been incorrect. The Office must then issue a report to the legislature within 90 days, analyzing false positive rates and trends related to drug field test reliability. The data collection applies to all drug evidence specimens gathered during investigations of controlled substance violations. This is a data-gathering measure, not a policy change, aimed at understanding current testing practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates data collection on drug field test reliability to reduce false positives, enhancing evidence accuracy and accountability in criminal cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Policing

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

A 2443: Requires transfer of certain excess animal control funds to prosecutors, municipalities, police departments, and Police Training Commission for enforcement of animal cruelty laws and training of humane law enforcement officers.

This bill redirects unspent animal control funds that municipalities and the state have held for over three years. Instead of returning to general funds, excess municipal funds are sent to county prosecutors (40%) and redistributed to municipalities (60%). Excess state funds go to the State Police (40%), county humane law enforcement officers (50%), and the Police Training Commission (10%). These funds must be used exclusively for enforcing animal cruelty laws and training law enforcement officers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill redirects funds to enforce animal cruelty laws (criminal enforcement) and train law enforcement officers, directly supporting law enforcement within criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1070: Makes supplemental appropriation of $3 million to NJ Division of State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.

This bill (A 1070) provides a $3 million supplemental appropriation to the New Jersey Division of State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. The funds are designated to cover specific operational costs including advanced training, equipment, vehicle purchases, software licenses, and staff mental health initiatives for the unit. The bill also requires any unspent funds from the previous fiscal year to carry forward for the same purpose. Note: This bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was already approved under P.L.2025, c.331.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides $3M supplemental appropriation for ICAC unit operations, directly funding public safety program costs per budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds ICAC unit for child exploitation investigations, strengthening law enforcement capabilities within criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds staff mental health initiatives within ICAC Unit, directly supporting mental health services per bill summary.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds ICAC unit to combat internet crimes against children, directly enhancing cybersecurity operations and protecting digital safety for minors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Policing Mental Health

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

A 2776: Requires Attorney General to revise law enforcement use of force policy; implements certain reforms.

This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to revise the state's law enforcement use of force policy, which hasn't been updated since 2001. The revised policy must include specific requirements like mandating de-escalation techniques, ensuring force is proportional to the situation, requiring officers to report excessive force they witness, and establishing clear firearm use guidelines. It directly affects all New Jersey law enforcement agencies and officers who must follow the updated policy. The Attorney General must publish the revised policy within seven months of the bill's enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates de-escalation, proportional force, and reporting excessive force - directly enhances police accountability and aligns with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Policing

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

A 3204: Requires law enforcement agencies to obtain court order prior to use of imaging surveillance device.

This bill requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to obtain a court order before using imaging surveillance devices that can see inside buildings (like through walls using radar or infrared). It directly affects police departments and the residents whose homes or properties might be scanned. To get the court order, law enforcement must submit a written application detailing the target, purpose, location, duration, and proof that other investigative methods were tried and failed or would be too dangerous. The bill aims to prevent warrantless surveillance by mandating judicial oversight for this technology.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires judicial oversight for invasive surveillance, protecting privacy rights and enhancing law enforcement accountability in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires court order for imaging surveillance, enhancing privacy protections against invasive tech use in homes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing

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

A 1421: Establishes Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together Program.

This bill establishes the ARRIVE Together Program to provide mental health crisis response alternatives to law enforcement. It requires law enforcement agencies (including state police, county police, and municipal departments) to partner with licensed mental health providers who can respond to calls involving mental health or substance use crises instead of police-only interventions. The program mandates confidentiality for all personal health information collected during responses and protects mental health providers from civil liability for good-faith actions taken during crisis interventions. The law applies directly to law enforcement agencies, mental health service providers, and individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises during emergency calls.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill replaces police-only responses with mental health crisis alternatives, reducing law enforcement escalation in non-violent situations and advancing criminal justice reform through de-escalation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates mental health crisis response program, expanding access to services instead of police intervention, directly supporting mental health services per topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Mental Health

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

A 2192: Establishes Automobile Theft Prevention Authority; appropriates $2 million.

This bill (A2192) creates the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety, funded by a $2 million appropriation. The authority, governed by a 7-member board (including the Attorney General, state police, prosecutors, an insurance representative, and public members), aims to coordinate statewide efforts to prevent, combat, and reduce automobile theft. Key mechanisms include developing prevention strategies, funding law enforcement programs, and auditing funded initiatives to ensure effectiveness. The authority will report annually to the Governor and Legislature on its activities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2 million for new authority, directly increasing state spending on auto theft prevention. Explicit budget allocation aligns with funding essential programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates law enforcement authority to combat auto theft, directly supporting criminal justice through prevention funding and coordination. Focuses on public safety within law enforcement, a core criminal justice component.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Law Enforcement Policing

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

A 2164: Establishes pilot program in certain municipalities to make grants available to non-profit organizations to perform outreach regarding VCCO.

This bill establishes a 3-year pilot program in New Jersey’s six highest-crime municipalities (per state police data) to provide grants to non-profit organizations for outreach about the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO). The grants would help non-profits inform crime victims about accessing state compensation for expenses related to crimes. The Department of Law and Public Safety would administer the program and require a post-pilot report to the Governor and Legislature, recommending whether to continue, expand, or make the program permanent. The initiative directly aims to improve access to victim compensation services in communities most affected by crime.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds non-profits to help crime victims access state compensation, directly supporting victim services within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Victims' Rights

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