This bill (A4191) raises the criminal penalty for trespassing into a domestic violence victim's home when a restraining order is in place. It makes such trespass a third-degree crime (carrying 3-5 years in prison or a $15,000 fine) if the person enters intending to cause injury or commit a crime. The law creates a rebuttable presumption of intent to harm if the perpetrator has a restraining order against them or has been charged in a domestic violence case. This directly affects domestic violence victims protected by court orders and perpetrators violating those orders. The key change is elevating the offense level and removing the presumption against incarceration for these specific violations.
This bill allows courts to transfer ownership of a wireless phone number and its billing responsibility to victims of domestic violence or stalking who are not the account holder. Upon a victim's request and after a final restraining order is issued, the court can order the phone provider to transfer the number directly to the victim. The victim then assumes all future costs for the phone, service, and devices, and the provider must notify the court and victim within 72 hours if they cannot complete the transfer due to technical issues. The bill ensures victim contact information remains private during proceedings and requires providers to follow standard account setup procedures for the transfer.
This bill amends New Jersey's Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991 to explicitly include elder abuse and abuse of the disabled in domestic settings under the law's definition of "domestic violence." It directly affects elderly and disabled individuals who experience abuse from family members or caregivers in their homes. The key provision clarifies that existing legal protections - including restraining orders, criminal penalties, and law enforcement responses - now apply equally to elder abuse cases as they do to other domestic violence cases. This change ensures consistent legal recourse without creating new offenses, aligning the Act's scope with its original intent to protect vulnerable residents. The bill does not alter criminal statutes but makes the existing law clearer for victims and authorities.
This bill upgrades stalking against victims under 18 from a fourth-degree crime to a third-degree crime in New Jersey. It directly affects minors under 18 who are victims of stalking and individuals convicted of stalking them. Under the bill, such offenses would carry a mandatory prison term of 3 to 5 years, a $15,000 fine, or both - up from the previous fourth-degree penalty. The change modifies the existing stalking statute (P.L.1992, c.209) to specifically elevate penalties when the victim is a minor.
This bill (A4431) upgrades the offense of stalking when the victim is under 18 years old from a fourth-degree to a third-degree crime in New Jersey. It directly affects individuals who stalk minors, increasing penalties to a maximum of 3-5 years in prison or a $15,000 fine for such offenses. The key provision amends New Jersey's stalking statute (P.L.1992, c.209) to specify that stalking a minor automatically elevates the charge to third degree, regardless of prior offenses. This change applies immediately upon enactment, without requiring additional court orders or prior convictions.
This bill allows New Jersey residents to apply for special license plates featuring a purple ribbon and the phrase "Domestic Violence Awareness" on their vehicles. Vehicle owners would pay a one-time $50 application fee and an annual $10 fee, with the collected funds (after covering administrative costs) deposited into a dedicated fund. The fund, managed by the Department of Children and Families, provides annual grants to nonprofit organizations supporting domestic violence victims. The plates aim to raise public awareness while generating revenue specifically for victim services, with no state funds used for initial implementation costs.
This bill changes the process for denying firearm permits in New Jersey. It requires the chief of police or State Police superintendent to prove an applicant meets one of the disqualification reasons (like a criminal conviction or domestic violence offense) if their permit to purchase a handgun or firearms purchaser ID card is denied. Previously, applicants may have had to prove they didn't qualify for denial. The bill does not change the list of disqualifying conditions but shifts the burden of proof to the issuing authority. This directly affects individuals whose applications are rejected for firearm permits or ID cards.
This bill (A 3349) amends New Jersey law to explicitly include "emergency, transitional, and permanent housing" as a funded service for domestic violence victims through the existing "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund." The Fund, managed by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, is financed by civil penalties ($50-$500) from domestic violence convictions and other designated moneys. It directly affects victims of domestic violence by ensuring these housing needs are covered alongside existing services like shelter, food, utilities, and legal assistance. The change clarifies that housing must be funded from this dedicated account, not other general funds.
This bill requires courts to mandate domestic violence counseling for offenders convicted of domestic violence crimes or placed on probation/sentence suspension for such offenses. It applies directly to defendants found guilty of domestic violence, replacing the previous discretionary court option with a mandatory requirement. The law specifies that counseling must be provided by experts in domestic violence and requires defendants to submit proof of attendance. Additionally, completing this counseling becomes a condition for dissolving restraining orders.
This New Jersey bill (A 2784) requires courts to consider the results of a domestic violence assessment before dissolving protective orders in cases where a defendant has two or more such orders. It directly affects defendants seeking to end multiple domestic violence restraining orders and the courts handling those requests. The key mechanism mandates that defendants with two or more orders undergo a court-ordered domestic violence assessment (at their own cost), and the court must weigh the assessment findings alongside other factors like victim safety and the defendant’s history. The bill updates existing procedures to ensure courts have additional evidence about the defendant’s risk before ending protective measures.
