Criminal Justice (Corrections) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2494: Creates crime of fiscal victimization against senior citizens or disabled persons.

S 2494 creates a new crime called "fiscal victimization" targeting seniors (60+) and disabled individuals (with documented physical/mental impairments). It makes it illegal to commit theft or identity theft against these groups, with strict liability - defendants cannot claim they didn’t know the victim’s status. Penalties increase by one degree (e.g., from disorderly persons to fourth-degree crime) unless the underlying crime is a first-degree offense, which could lead to 10-30 years in prison. The law requires separate sentencing for both the theft and fiscal victimization charges, and the victimization charge is dismissed if the underlying theft is dropped.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing Tags Seniors

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2174: Establishes crime of doxxing.

This bill makes it a crime to disclose someone's personal information without consent when it creates a risk of physical harm, stalking, or severe emotional distress. It specifically targets disclosures that cause a "close relation" (like family, household members, or close associates) to fear for their safety or experience mental anguish. Exceptions include reporting suspected crimes to police or sharing information about public officials' misconduct in good faith. Violations are punishable as a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine), with harsher penalties if injury or stalking occurs.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Policing Data Privacy

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3035: Imposes certain requirements on use of automated license plate readers by law enforcement agencies.

This New Jersey bill (S 3035) regulates how law enforcement agencies use automated license plate readers (ALPRs). It requires agencies to conduct annual audits of ALPR use, submit detailed annual reports to the Attorney General (including data on readings, storage, and data requests), and retain collected data for exactly two years before deleting it - unless they get special permission for cost reasons. The bill also penalizes unauthorized access to ALPR data with fines or jail time. These rules directly affect all New Jersey law enforcement agencies using ALPR technology.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1394: Concerns keyless locking mechanisms and burglar's tools.

This bill amends New Jersey's burglary law to explicitly include keyless locking mechanisms in the definition of "burglar's tools." It makes it a crime to manufacture, sell, or publish plans for tools designed to bypass keyless locks (a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to 18 months in prison or a $10,000 fine), while merely possessing such tools would be a lesser disorderly persons offense (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine). The law directly affects individuals or businesses creating or distributing tools that can access premises without physical keys. It updates existing burglary statutes to address modern keyless lock technology without changing broader burglary penalties.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 909: Increases penalties for second or subsequent stalking or harassment offenses, increases penalty for first offense of harassment.

This bill (S 909) increases penalties for repeated stalking and harassment offenses in New Jersey. It upgrades second or subsequent stalking offenses to a third-degree crime (previously fourth-degree), requiring a mandatory three-year prison sentence with no parole eligibility. Similarly, second or subsequent harassment offenses would become third-degree crimes (up from a petty disorderly persons offense), also carrying the same mandatory three-year sentence. The changes apply to all repeat offenses, not just against the same victim as current law, and affect anyone convicted of these crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Probation & Parole

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 992: Makes desecration of military monument crime of third degree.

This bill makes it a third-degree crime to deliberately damage or deface military monuments in New Jersey. It specifically targets monuments erected to honor military personnel or commemorate battles, defining "desecrate" as defacing, damaging, or polluting such sites. The law elevates penalties for harming these monuments from a disorderly persons offense to a criminal offense, with third-degree crimes carrying potential jail time. It directly affects anyone who intentionally damages these specific types of monuments, which include war memorials and military cemeteries.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Corrections Memorials & Recognition

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1020: Establishes third degree crime of gang assault.

S 1020 creates a new third-degree crime in New Jersey for "gang assault," defined as causing bodily injury to another person when aided by two or more other people actually present and with intent to cause harm. It directly affects individuals who commit violent assaults in groups of three or more, including those targeting third parties. The bill specifies that "bodily injury" includes physical pain, illness, or physical impairment, and sets penalties of 3-5 years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both. This law is modeled after a similar provision in New York state law.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 103: Establishes new offenses concerning unlawful possession and use of credit card scanners.

Bill S 103 creates new criminal offenses for the unlawful possession and use of credit card scanners in New Jersey. It makes possessing such a device without a lawful purpose a disorderly persons offense (misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 fine or 6 months in jail), and using it for unlawful purposes a second-degree crime (felony punishable by up to $150,000 fine or 5-10 years in prison). The bill directly affects individuals who handle credit card scanners without authorization, such as those attempting to steal card data. Key provisions define "credit card scanner" broadly as any device that reads, records, or transmits card information, and establish specific penalties for each violation. The law takes effect two months after enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SJR 29: Makes permanent the "Commission to Protect New Jersey Inmates from Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct."

SJR 29 makes permanent the "Commission to Protect New Jersey Inmates from Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct," which was previously established for a limited term. The bill creates a 17-member commission with legislative, state agency, and public representatives - including a former inmate, victims' advocate, and PREA expert - to examine safety issues in correctional facilities. Key duties include assessing compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), reviewing how sexual assault allegations are reported and investigated, studying staffing ratios at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, and preventing retaliation against inmates who report misconduct. The commission must submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature with findings and recommendations. This directly affects inmates in New Jersey's correctional facilities, particularly regarding their safety and access to fair investigations of misconduct by staff.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 887: Lowers monetary threshold for certain motor vehicle theft to constitute second degree crime.

This bill (S 887) lowers the monetary threshold for motor vehicle theft to qualify as a second-degree crime. Currently, motor vehicle theft is a third-degree offense (up to 5 years in prison) if the vehicle is valued under $25,000. The bill would reclassify theft of a vehicle valued at $25,000 or more as a second-degree crime (up to 10 years in prison), while vehicles under $25,000 would remain third-degree. It directly affects individuals who steal vehicles meeting this new value threshold, increasing potential penalties for higher-value vehicle thefts. The change specifically modifies New Jersey's theft statute (N.J.S.2C:20-2) to adjust the grading for motor vehicles.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections

All criminal justice bills