Criminal Justice (Civil Rights)

This bill removes criminal liability for New Jersey law enforcement officers who interact with underage individuals regarding alcohol or cannabis possession, unless the officer intentionally discriminates based on race, gender, religion, or other protected characteristics. Currently, officers face criminal charges for such encounters regardless of intent, but this bill changes that by requiring proof of discriminatory purpose to trigger liability. Key provisions clarify that officers cannot be charged for routine actions like issuing warnings or conducting stops without reasonable suspicion - unless they act with discriminatory intent. The change directly affects officers responding to underage possession calls and the young people involved in these encounters.