Allows juvenile to be tried as adult for committing homicide against law enforcement officer; designated as "Joseph's Law."
This bill, "Joseph's Law," requires that juveniles (under 18) accused of intentionally killing a law enforcement officer while the officer was on duty - such as while in uniform, showing authority, or due to their job status - be tried in adult court. It mandates automatic waiver of juvenile jurisdiction for these cases, unless a court finds the prosecutor abused discretion in seeking the waiver. The bill also directs the Attorney General to create statewide guidelines to ensure consistent application of this rule across New Jersey. This change specifically applies to homicides against officers acting in their official capacity, excluding accidental deaths like those from vehicle collisions.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced May 5, 2025
Last action May 5, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
1
Key actions
0
Committee
0
May 5, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Heather Simmons
DDemocratic
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