Criminal Justice (Courts) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 11, 2026

S 1280: Makes various revisions to juvenile justice law.

This bill revises New Jersey's juvenile justice laws to prevent juveniles from being placed in adult jails solely due to turning 18. It requires courts to hold hearings for youth aged 18-20 (or older) who are on probation, parole, or face delinquency charges, determining placement based on safety risks, maturity, and facility capacity - not age alone. The law also sets population limits for juvenile detention facilities and gives the Youth Justice Commission authority to restrict admissions if facilities exceed capacity or violate safety standards. These changes directly affect juveniles transitioning from youth to adult systems, county detention facilities, and court decision-making processes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3060: Establishes a Gun Court Pilot Program in Passaic County.

S 3060 establishes a three-year Gun Court Pilot Program in Passaic County's Superior Court. The program will handle criminal cases where a gun or dangerous weapon was used in violent crimes, with judges required to have specialized expertise in criminal law and sentencing. The Administrative Office of the Courts will administer the program, monitor its impact on sentencing and court workload, and report to the legislature after 12 months and at program end. If successful, the program could be expanded statewide. The bill does not change sentencing laws but creates a specialized court structure for gun-violence cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Sentencing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2111: Requires notification of local law enforcement prior to expungement of certain mental health records of prospective firearms purchasers.

This bill requires New Jersey courts to notify local law enforcement and the Attorney General before expunging certain mental health records related to firearm eligibility. Specifically, when a person seeks to erase records that affect their ability to purchase a firearm under federal or state law, the court must serve copies of the expungement order on the county prosecutor, local police chief, and the Attorney General. This applies to records previously filed under mental health commitment or disability determinations that impact firearm background checks. The change ensures law enforcement is informed before such records are removed, aligning with federal background check requirements under the NICS Improvement Amendments Act and Brady Act.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Law Enforcement

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2933: Restricts genetic testing of newborn and crime victim DNA; permits DNA information to be obtained pursuant to warrant or court order.

This bill requires explicit permission from individuals or their representatives before collecting genetic information from DNA samples, with specific exceptions. It prohibits law enforcement from using crime victims' or witnesses' DNA to investigate unrelated family members - a practice recently reported to cause unintended consequences. Exceptions include newborn screening under existing health programs, paternity testing, DNA databases for criminal investigations, and medical research where identities remain anonymous. The law also mandates healthcare providers to inform patients about how their genetic data will be handled and protected.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

died · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 181: Concerns rights of juvenile defendants who elect to be tried as adults.

This bill (S 181) allows juveniles aged 14 or older charged with certain offenses to request, with court approval, to be tried as adults in criminal court instead of juvenile court. It requires a hearing to ensure juveniles understand the differences in sentencing and consequences before making this choice. If approved, the case proceeds under adult sentencing rules, but with a presumption that any custodial sentence is served in a juvenile facility until age 21, with limited exceptions for safety or age 21+. The bill also permits a later transfer back to juvenile court with consent if it serves the juvenile's best interests or public safety. Note: The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was approved as part of P.L.2025, c.368.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Sentencing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 290: Grants court discretion to adjust, reduce, or waive certain mandatory legal financial obligations based on ability of defendant to pay.

S 290 allows New Jersey courts to adjust, reduce, or waive criminal defendants' fines, fees, and penalties (known as legal financial obligations) based on their ability to pay, the interests of justice, or if the obligation conflicts with rehabilitation goals. It directly affects individuals convicted of crimes who face mandatory financial penalties. Courts must publicly state the specific reasons for any adjustment or waiver on the record. This bill implements a recommendation from the 2023 New Jersey Criminal Sentencing Commission to make these obligations more equitable.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2038: Creates behavioral health court pilot program.

New Jersey's S 2038 creates a pilot program for behavioral health courts, allowing eligible defendants to receive court-ordered treatment instead of prison sentences. The bill applies to individuals convicted of non-violent offenses who need behavioral health services (e.g., mental health or substance abuse treatment), have no prior violent convictions, and meet specific criteria like not possessing firearms during the offense. Courts must order participants into licensed treatment programs and monitor compliance, with probation revoked for violations (permanent revocation after a second violation). The program is limited to counties/municipalities that apply and operates as a pilot in at least two counties and five municipalities.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole Mental Health Substance Abuse

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3126: Increases amount of credit for incarceration resulting from default of court-imposed financial obligation or motor vehicle penalty.

This bill (S 3126) increases the credit toward court-imposed financial obligations for individuals jailed due to nonpayment. Specifically, it raises the daily credit from $50 to $90 for each day served in jail related to unpaid fines, restitution, child support, or other court-ordered debts. The change applies directly to people incarcerated for defaulting on these obligations without "good cause," as defined under New Jersey law. It modifies Section 2C:46-2(c) of the statute to ensure greater debt reduction per day of incarceration. This policy change aims to reduce the total debt burden more effectively for affected individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Victims' Rights

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3104: Requires expunged records to be accessible for immigration purposes.

This bill requires New Jersey to make expunged criminal records accessible to non-citizen residents who need them for immigration or naturalization applications. It amends state law to ensure that when a court grants an expungement, the records specified in that order can be provided to the person or their representative upon request for immigration purposes. Currently, expunged records are treated as nonexistent for most purposes, but this creates barriers for non-citizens needing accurate records for federal immigration proceedings. The bill specifically defines "immigration or naturalization matter" to include any U.S. immigration or citizenship-related process. This change directly affects non-citizen residents who have had criminal records expunged but require those records to support immigration status applications.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Courts Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs Sanctuary Policies

All criminal justice bills