This bill provides an additional $358.8 million in funding for New Jersey state agencies and local governments for fiscal year 2026. The money is allocated to various departments, including support for domestic violence housing, prison consolidation savings, school infrastructure, and mosquito control. Specific provisions also authorize a supplemental appropriation for the Cannabis Regulatory Fund and allow nonprofit organizations to host the state's AI supercomputer. Overall, the legislation amends the existing FY2026 Appropriations Act to distribute these funds across education, health, public safety, and other state services.
This New Jersey bill mandates that inmates with 24 months or more remaining on their sentences participate in a virtual reality life skills simulator program within Department of Corrections facilities. The program is designed to teach practical skills such as resume writing, budgeting, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation through immersive simulations. Inmates who successfully complete this training will become eligible for additional time credits toward their release. The legislation also updates existing workforce training laws to include this new virtual reality component as a required part of inmate education.
This bill requires the New Jersey Department of Corrections and the Youth Justice Commission to stop charging fees when families send money electronically to incarcerated individuals and youth. It mandates that all correctional facilities, including private ones, allow deposits through online platforms, mobile apps, or phone calls without transaction costs. To fund this change, the legislation authorizes the state to provide necessary money from the General Fund to both agencies. The rules must apply uniformly across all facilities in the state, and the law will take effect thirteen months after being passed.
This New Jersey bill requires that a jury, instead of a judge, decide whether certain defendants qualify as persistent offenders eligible for extended prison sentences. The legislation specifically targets repeat offenders involved in persistent stolen motor vehicle crimes and organized retail theft, defining these individuals as those with at least two prior convictions for similar offenses committed within a ten-year window. By shifting this determination to a jury, the bill ensures that a group of peers evaluates the evidence regarding a defendant's criminal history before imposing stricter penalties. This change applies to cases where the current crime and prior convictions meet specific timing and severity criteria outlined in the statute.
This bill requires law enforcement officers in New Jersey to immediately notify the State Parole Board if a person charged with violating a domestic violence restraining order is currently on parole. The legislation mandates that officers check a new central registry to identify parolees and ensures the Parole Board Chairman is informed whenever a contempt charge is filed against someone under supervision. Additionally, the bill establishes procedures for setting bail and handling contempt proceedings, including a requirement that second or subsequent nonindictable domestic violence contempt offenses result in a minimum 30-day jail sentence. These changes aim to improve communication between law enforcement and the parole system to address domestic violence violations more effectively.
This bill allows incarcerated voters in New Jersey who are not convicted of serious felonies to request and receive mail-in ballots. It requires the Secretary of State and the Department of Corrections to work together to provide ballot applications and ensure ballots are sent to the inmate's detention facility. The law also mandates that if an inmate is moved to a different location, the Department of Corrections must deliver the ballot to the new site. Importantly, the bill does not restore voting rights to those convicted of indictable offenses, and any ballots sent to individuals who become ineligible after submitting a request are automatically voided.
This bill requires New Jersey's Office of the Public Defender to provide legal representation to indigent defendants charged with criminal contempt for violating specific domestic violence restraining orders. It applies to violations that could result in jail time, such as those involving orders against contact or firearm possession, while explicitly excluding violations related to parenting time, financial compensation, counseling, rent, or temporary possession of property. The law expands the scope of mandatory legal aid to ensure these individuals have counsel during proceedings where they face potential incarceration. This change takes effect four months after the bill is enacted and addresses a recommendation from a state judicial committee.
This bill allows inmates in New Jersey to earn additional time credits if they participate in full-time substance abuse treatment programs. Specifically, while in such a program, an inmate will receive 1.5 times the number of standard good time credits they would normally earn. These extra credits will be applied to reduce the date on which the inmate becomes eligible for parole. The law applies to inmates who are not serving mandatory minimum sentences and takes effect four months after it is signed into law.
This bill creates the New Jersey Prison Libraries Act to establish a dedicated fund within the Department of Corrections for improving library services for incarcerated individuals. The legislation appropriates $1 million to support the purchase of books, digital resources, and computers, as well as to fund programs like job training, literacy classes, and cultural events. The fund is restricted to library-related expenses and cannot be used for general prison operations, medical care, or basic needs like food and clothing.
This bill, known as the New Jersey Prison Libraries Act, creates a special fund within the Department of Corrections to support library services for incarcerated individuals. The legislation establishes a $1 million appropriation and allows the department to use these funds for hiring librarians, upgrading library infrastructure, acquiring diverse reading materials, and offering educational programs like job training and digital literacy. The bill explicitly restricts the use of these funds to library-related activities, prohibiting their use for general prison operations, medical care, or basic necessities like food and clothing.
