Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 24, 2026

S 4151: Authorizes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in places of religious worship; makes certain clarifications concerning their use in nonpublic schools.

This bill expands the authority of Class Three special law enforcement officers in New Jersey to provide security at places of religious worship, such as churches and mosques, in addition to their existing roles at schools. Under the new provisions, these officers would possess full police powers while on duty at religious sites, though they must complete specific training and certification to carry firearms. The legislation also clarifies that school districts hiring these officers for public schools must also provide them for nonpublic schools within the same district. Finally, the act allows current officers to continue their service if they complete the required training and certification within 24 months of the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4153: Codifies AG recommendations for issuing Amber Alert when family member abducts child.

This bill codifies the Attorney General's recommendations to establish a formal process for issuing Amber Alerts when a child is abducted by a family member. It directly affects law enforcement agencies, broadcast media, and the public by creating a standardized protocol for emergency notifications. The law requires that an alert be activated only if specific risk factors are present, such as threats of harm, a history of violence, or the presence of weapons, distinguishing these cases from abductions by strangers. Additionally, the bill mandates that participating media broadcast the alert repeatedly for the first three hours and includes instructions for updating the public with new information.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 1, 2026

S 4392: Establishes New Jersey Commission on Stalking Prevention and Response; makes appropriation of $93,500.

This bill creates the New Jersey Commission on Stalking Prevention and Response to address gaps in how the state handles stalking cases. The commission will consist of 25 members, including elected officials, law enforcement leaders, advocates, and survivors, who will meet to evaluate current systems and suggest improvements. To support this work, the bill allocates $93,500 in funding for the commission's operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Appropriations Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

passed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 11, 2026

A 5155: Requires expedited compliance with certain search warrants in domestic violence and stalking investigations.

This bill amends New Jersey's existing laws regarding search warrants in domestic violence and stalking cases to require law enforcement to act more quickly when executing them. It specifically updates legal definitions for terms like "wire communication," "electronic communication," and "in-progress trace" to ensure clarity during investigations. The changes aim to streamline the process for police officers and prosecutors who handle these specific types of crimes, while maintaining the legal framework for intercepting communications.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4138: Prohibits State's law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement unless action is premised upon valid judicial warrant.

This New Jersey bill prohibits state law enforcement officers from participating in civil immigration enforcement operations unless a valid judicial warrant is issued. The legislation defines a judicial warrant as one based on probable cause and issued by a federal or state judge, while a law enforcement officer is anyone with the power to arrest or convict offenders. To ensure compliance, the Attorney General must create guidelines that direct how these restrictions are implemented. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Judges Law Enforcement Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 11, 2026

A 5040: Establishes Hope Card Program to provide victims of domestic violence with restraining order quick reference wallet card; makes appropriation.

This bill creates the Hope Card Program in New Jersey to give victims of domestic violence a free, wallet-sized card that summarizes their restraining order details. The card is designed to help victims quickly show law enforcement and other authorities the protections they have when they are in danger. Courts must issue these cards within ten business days of finalizing a restraining order, and the card itself does not replace the legal order but serves as a convenient reference. The legislation also updates the state's central registry rules to allow the Hope Card information to be shared with authorized agencies for safety investigations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Appropriations Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 5007: Requires establishment of hotline for purpose of reporting certain acts of misconduct by public officials.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety to create a 24-hour toll-free hotline within 60 days for reporting misconduct by public officials. It covers state and local government employees and allows citizens to report specific issues such as bribery, corruption, and misuse of public funds. The department must investigate all credible reports and can refer cases to law enforcement or ethics commissions for further action. Additionally, the agency must prominently display the hotline number on its website to ensure public awareness.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 4, 2026

S 4071: Requires DLPS to establish and make available to law enforcement agencies training materials concerning interactions with hearing impaired; requires annual training for law enforcement and contracting with qualified interpreters.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety to create training materials and an online tutorial for law enforcement officers on interacting with hearing-impaired individuals. It mandates that all state, county, municipal, and campus police departments use these resources for annual training and must contract with qualified interpreters who can respond to requests within two hours. The legislation defines a hearing-impaired person as someone unable to understand oral communication and specifies that a qualified interpreter must be certified by recognized national or state registries.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 4, 2026

S 4103: Requires sexual assault forensic evidence to be preserved for 10 years.

This bill requires that forensic evidence collected during sexual assault investigations in New Jersey be kept for at least 10 years, extending to 10 years after a minor victim turns 18. It applies to various custodians, including law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, and healthcare facilities, and mandates that they notify victims within 30 days of collection that the evidence may be discarded after the preservation period. The law also allows county prosecutors or the Division of Criminal Justice to authorize destruction after the deadline, provided they offer the Division a chance to take custody of the items. By updating current guidelines that previously required only five years of retention, the legislation aims to ensure evidence remains available for potential future use.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 9, 2026

A 4532: Prohibits sharing automated license plate reader information for interstate investigation concerning reproductive health care services that are legal in NJ.

This New Jersey bill prohibits law enforcement agencies and other users of automated license plate readers from sharing that information with out-of-state authorities for investigations related to reproductive health care services that are legal in the state. The legislation requires any out-of-state agency requesting such data to provide a written guarantee that the information will not be used to pursue legal action against individuals seeking or providing reproductive health care. Violations of these sharing restrictions could result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 for a first offense and $5,000 for subsequent offenses. The law applies to all reproductive health services, including pregnancy-related care, contraception, and abortion, and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Women's Health

All criminal justice bills