This bill requires New Jersey employers to report certain sexual assault allegations to local law enforcement or county prosecutors within 24 hours of receiving a report from a consumer or employee about an assault involving another consumer or employee. Employers who fail to report face a $10,000 civil penalty. If a county prosecutor receives such a report, they must appoint a victim advocate (via the Sexual Assault Response Team) upon the accuser's request to provide information about medical, legal, and counseling services during the employer's investigation. The law applies to all employers in New Jersey, including those managing employee or consumer interactions.
This bill (A 3014) allows victims of first- or second-degree crimes and the nearest relatives of murder victims to witness the entire parole hearing for offenders, not just submit statements or testify. It amends existing law to require parole boards to notify these individuals of their right to observe the hearing and provide their contact information. Currently, victims could only submit written/videotaped statements or testify, but this bill adds the right to attend the full hearing proceedings. The change applies to inmates whose crimes meet specific severity thresholds outlined in the bill.
This bill creates an affirmative defense for individuals who commit crimes while being victims of human trafficking. It allows defendants to avoid prosecution for any offense (under New Jersey's criminal code) if they were victims of trafficking at the time and the crime was a direct result of that trafficking. The defense applies even if the trafficking case against them didn't lead to a conviction. It also requires courts to order restitution payments to trafficking victims, with funds directed to a dedicated survivor assistance fund. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee.
This bill (A 3226) prohibits public agencies from releasing personal identifying information of violent crime victims and witnesses under New Jersey's open records law. It directly affects law enforcement agencies, courts, and other public bodies that maintain records, by requiring them to withhold specific details like names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and social media handles. Key provisions add "personal identifying information of a violent crime victim or witness" to the list of confidential records, explicitly defining protected details to include home/work addresses, contact information, and identifiers. The bill does not change how crimes are prosecuted but limits public access to sensitive victim/witness data already held in official records.
This bill amends New Jersey's Crime Victim's Bill of Rights (P.L.1985, c.249) to explicitly prohibit defendants from entering a crime victim's home at any point during criminal proceedings - including investigations or discovery. It directly affects crime victims by adding a new protection: victims must be free from the risk of defendants entering their homes, with only one exception for court-approved inspections of the crime scene (e.g., if a defendant requests to view a home where a crime occurred and demonstrates a legitimate need for evidence). The law requires courts to impose strict privacy safeguards during such limited inspections, balancing defendant rights with victim safety. This change strengthens existing protections against intimidation (subsection c) and minimizes victim inconvenience (subsection d).
This bill expands New Jersey's Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) program to provide payments to dependents of victims who died from drug-induced deaths under strict liability laws. It adds "strict liability for drug-induced deaths" as a qualifying offense, allowing the VCCO to order compensation when a defendant has been charged for the drug-related death under the existing statute (P.L.1987, c.106). The bill does not change the strict liability law itself but extends compensation eligibility to these specific cases. Dependents of victims in such situations can now access financial assistance through the VCCO program.
This bill amends New Jersey's crime compensation law to allow victims of sexual assault to qualify for compensation from the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) even if they did not report the offense to police. It directly affects victims of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, or related offenses who received forensic medical services through a county sexual assault response team (SART) within nine months of the incident. The key provision removes the requirement for a police report when such medical services were provided, making compensation accessible to those who sought medical care but chose not to report to law enforcement. The change applies to cases where a SART conducted forensic exams, streamlining access to support for unreported sexual offenses.
Bill A 2205 requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Health (working with the Attorney General) to create clear, easily understandable signs for emergency rooms. These signs must display VCCO services/benefits, contact details, and how to file a compensation claim. The bill mandates posting these signs in all general hospital emergency departments and satellite emergency departments, with electronic displays permitted. It aims to make VCCO information more accessible to individuals who may qualify for victim compensation after crimes. The bill takes effect four months after enactment.
This bill requires the New Jersey Governor to notify crime victims (or their family members if the victim is deceased) at least 30 days before granting clemency (pardon, commutation, or reprieve). It mandates that the Governor issue a written report detailing the offender's name, original crime and sentence, type of clemency granted, and the reasons for the decision. The report must be published online and sent to the Legislature. This affects victims of crimes for which clemency is approved, ensuring they receive advance notice and transparency about the clemency decision.
This bill expands eligibility for compensation from New Jersey's Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) to include victims of motor vehicle crashes resulting in death or requiring ambulance removal from the scene. It also establishes a "Traffic Crash Victim's Bill of Rights," granting victims and families specific entitlements: free access to police reports and crash evidence, notification about court hearings (including license suspension cases), the right to take work leave for related hearings, protection from harassment by the other driver, and access to compensation assistance. The bill directly affects crash victims who previously did not qualify for VCCO benefits under New Jersey law. These changes aim to provide clearer access to information and support for those impacted by serious traffic crashes.
