Criminal Justice (Corrections)

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

A 3306: Establishes suspension of collection of motor vehicle surcharges for certain incarcerated persons.

This bill suspends the collection of motor vehicle surcharges for individuals incarcerated for more than 90 days during the three-year period when surcharges are typically assessed. It directly affects drivers convicted of certain traffic offenses who are imprisoned for extended periods, including those incarcerated for 90+ days while surcharges are due. The key provision requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to automatically halt surcharge collection during incarceration and for at least 90 days after release. This change modifies existing collection rules without altering surcharge amounts or eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSuspends surcharges for incarcerated individuals, reducing financial barriers post-release and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to lower recidivism.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

A 3650: Creates behavioral health court pilot program.

This bill (A 3650) creates a behavioral health court pilot program in New Jersey, allowing courts to place eligible defendants in treatment instead of jail. It directly affects individuals convicted of non-violent offenses who need behavioral health services (mental health or substance abuse treatment), meet specific eligibility criteria (e.g., no prior violent convictions, no firearm involvement, and a professional assessment confirming treatment need). Key mechanisms include court-ordered behavioral health special probation (1-3 years), mandatory treatment at licensed facilities, regular progress reporting by providers and probation departments, and consequences for violations (including potential probation revocation). The pilot would operate in at least two counties and five municipalities that apply to participate.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDiverts non-violent offenders to behavioral health treatment instead of jail, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - core criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates court-ordered behavioral health treatment for eligible defendants, expanding access to mental health/substance abuse services instead of incarceration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Firearms Mental Health Substance Abuse

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

A 618: Concerns false public alarms involving places of worship.

This bill increases penalties for false alarms targeting places of worship in New Jersey. It amends the state's false alarm law to make such incidents a second-degree crime (carrying 5-10 years in prison or fines up to $150,000), while raising the minimum civil penalty from $2,000 to $5,000 (or actual response costs, whichever is higher). The law specifically defines "place of worship" as a building seating over 50 people used permanently for religious services by a recognized 501(c)(3) organization. It directly affects individuals who falsely report emergencies at churches, synagogues, or temples, and requires law enforcement to report such incidents annually. The bill aims to deter false alarms that disrupt religious gatherings and strain emergency resources.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for false alarms targeting places of worship, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing (5-10 years prison, $150k fines), opposing reform-focused criminal justice principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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

A 2026: Requires DOC to provide prenatal and post-partum education and services for certain inmates.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Corrections (DOC) to provide prenatal and postpartum services to all female inmates aged 60 or younger upon entry to correctional facilities. It mandates pregnancy testing, prenatal medical care, nutrition counseling, family planning counseling, and postpartum support - including maternity clothing, adjusted housing, and reduced work schedules for those carrying pregnancies to term. The law applies to all incarcerated women who are pregnant at the time of admission, ensuring they receive comprehensive care to address high-risk pregnancy needs common in this population. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides prenatal/postpartum care for incarcerated women, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform by improving health outcomes and supporting maternal care within corrections.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates comprehensive prenatal/postpartum healthcare services for incarcerated women, expanding access to essential medical care within correctional facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Women's Health

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

A 1791: Establishes special probation drug court eligibility for persons with certain previous criminal convictions.

This New Jersey bill (A 1791) creates a new "special probation" option for drug and alcohol-dependent individuals convicted of certain non-violent offenses who would otherwise face mandatory prison time. It allows courts to place eligible defendants on 5 years of probation requiring treatment at a licensed facility, instead of incarceration, if they meet strict criteria: they must have been dependent at the time of the offense (committed while under influence or to support addiction), have no prior violent convictions (murder, assault, etc.), no firearm involvement, and no recent serious drug distribution offenses. The program requires professional assessment, treatment compliance, and urine testing, while excluding those with multiple prior first/second-degree crimes or violent histories. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReplaces mandatory prison with treatment-focused probation for eligible drug offenders, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration and reducing recidivism.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires treatment at licensed facility for substance abuse, advancing healthcare access for addiction treatment as alternative to incarceration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Probation & Parole Substance Abuse

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

A 1665: Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force."

This bill creates the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" to research and develop proposals addressing generational harms from New Jersey's role in slavery and systemic racial discrimination. The task force will examine historical and current disparities affecting Black communities, including voter disenfranchisement, youth incarceration rates, housing discrimination, wealth gaps, and school segregation. It will produce a report with policy recommendations for state-based reparations based on documented harms. The bill directly affects Black residents of New Jersey who face these systemic inequities, as outlined in the legislative findings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExamines youth incarceration rates and systemic racial disparities, directly addressing criminal justice reform through reparations policy recommendations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

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

A 3453: Requires Corrections Ombudsperson review criminal investigations under certain circumstances.

This bill (A 3453) requires New Jersey's Corrections Ombudsperson to review criminal investigations conducted by correctional facilities to ensure they were accurate, unbiased, and thorough. It directly affects inmates who may report concerns about investigations, the Department of Corrections (which must provide investigation details), and the Ombudsperson's office (which gains this specific review duty). The key provision adds a requirement to the Ombudsperson's existing responsibilities, mandating they assess the quality of criminal investigations - without investigating alleged criminal behavior themselves - to protect inmates' rights. This change is part of broader oversight duties under existing laws and aims to improve accountability in correctional facility investigations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates Corrections Ombudsperson review of facility investigations for accuracy/bias, enhancing accountability and oversight in corrections per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 30, 2026

A 4077: Imposes various taxes and fees on correctional service businesses to offset social costs of incarceration.*

This bill imposes three new fees on private prison operators in New Jersey to fund social support programs. It charges an 8% fee on the value of public contracts (section 2), a $15 daily fee per inmate (section 3), and a 3% surtax on taxable income (section 4). All revenue flows into two dedicated funds: one for legal services supporting detained individuals and another for community programs like job training and housing (sections 2e and 3e). The bill directly affects private prison companies operating under state contracts, with fees applying during active contracts or inmate stays.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes taxes on private prisons to fund legal services and community programs, directly increasing public spending on social support through dedicated revenue streams.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds legal services and community programs (job training, housing) to reduce recidivism and support reintegration - directly advancing criminal justice reform through rehabilitation-focused investment.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill directs 3% surtax revenue to community housing programs via dedicated fund (section 3e), explicitly funding housing as part of allocated programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

A 3158: Creates crime of victimization of a senior citizen or a person with disability.

This New Jersey bill (A3158) creates a new criminal offense called "victimization" for committing any crime listed in Chapters 11-18 of Title 2C (such as assault or theft) against a senior citizen (62+) or a person with a disability. The offense is graded one level higher than the underlying crime (e.g., a fourth-degree crime for a disorderly persons offense) and requires separate sentencing, meaning the victimization charge does not merge with the original crime. If the underlying crime was first or second degree, the sentence includes mandatory post-incarceration parole supervision (5 or 3 years, respectively). The bill directly affects seniors and disabled individuals by adding enhanced penalties for crimes committed against them.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates higher penalties for crimes against vulnerable groups, expanding criminalization per indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4339: Establishes presumption of pretrial detention for persons who commit carjacking, theft of motor vehicle, or burglary.

This bill adds carjacking, theft of a motor vehicle, and burglary to New Jersey's list of offenses triggering a rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention. Under the law, individuals charged with these specific crimes must be held in jail before trial unless they can prove to the court that some combination of bail or release conditions would reasonably ensure their return to court and public safety. The bill amends existing pretrial detention statutes (P.L.2014, c.31) to include these offenses, expanding the circumstances where courts must assume detention is necessary. This change directly affects defendants facing these charges in New Jersey, without altering the standard for rebutting the presumption or the appeal process.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates pretrial detention for specific offenses, reducing defendant release options and increasing incarceration before trial, aligning with 'reduces defendant rights' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

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