Establishes affirmative defense to prosecution for any crime committed by victim of human trafficking under certain circumstances.
This bill creates a legal defense for victims of human trafficking who commit crimes while being trafficked. It allows individuals to avoid prosecution for offenses (like theft or assault) committed as a direct result of their trafficking situation, provided they were trafficking victims at the time of the offense. The defense applies even if the trafficking case against them didn't result in a conviction. It directly affects people exploited through human trafficking who may have broken laws while trying to survive or escape. The law amends New Jersey's criminal code to explicitly recognize this defense, shifting focus from punishing victims to addressing their exploitation.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Last action Jan 13, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
1
Key actions
0
Committee
0
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
lower
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about A 479
Scope: NJ
Hi! I can help you understand A 479. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline