Criminal Justice (Victims' Rights) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 296: Increases penalties for human trafficking of children.

This bill (A 296) increases penalties for human trafficking involving children under 18 in New Jersey. It expands the definition of human trafficking to cover all forms of child exploitation (both sexual and labor), not just sexual activity. Offenders face mandatory life imprisonment without parole, a $25,000 fine (funded to a victim assistance program), and restitution based on the victim’s labor value. The law directly affects individuals convicted of trafficking children, replacing current penalties that allowed parole eligibility after 20 years. This change applies to all child trafficking offenses, regardless of whether the perpetrator mistakenly believed the child was 18 or older.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1215: Expands crime of human trafficking to include individuals who benefit financially.

This bill expands New Jersey's human trafficking law to include individuals who profit financially from trafficking schemes, even if they aren't organizers, supervisors, financiers, or managers. It directly affects people who receive money or other benefits from trafficking activities, such as business owners who exploit victims or third parties facilitating exploitation. The key change adds a new subsection defining human trafficking to cover "receiving anything of value" from trafficking, while maintaining a 20-year minimum prison term and requiring restitution to victims based on their labor value. This makes it a crime to profit from trafficking without needing to prove a formal leadership role in the scheme.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking Victims' Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 16, 2026

A 1910: Makes various changes to address sexual assault and child abuse and neglect involving military personnel; addresses protection, penalties, enforcement, jurisdiction, and victim compensation matters.

This New Jersey bill updates protections for military personnel who are victims of sexual assault, child abuse, or neglect. It allows service members (including National Guard and Reserve members) to file for protective orders in any New Jersey court, regardless of where the incident occurred. The bill also removes fees for applicants, clarifies procedures for minors and victims with disabilities, and specifies that military protective orders can be used to initiate state court applications. It directly affects military victims and streamlines access to legal protections without requiring criminal charges first.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Victims' Rights Violent Crime

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2065: Increases amount of credit for incarceration resulting from default of court-imposed financial obligation or motor vehicle penalty.

This bill increases the daily credit for incarceration toward unpaid court debts from $50 to $90 per day. It directly affects individuals who default on court-imposed financial obligations, including fines, fees, restitution, or child support payments. The key provision amends New Jersey law to provide greater credit for each day served in jail due to nonpayment, reducing the total amount owed more quickly. This change applies to cases where incarceration results from failure to pay court-ordered financial obligations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Victims' Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2168: Requires AG to establish public awareness campaign concerning Crime Victim's Bill of Rights and VCCO.

This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a public awareness campaign about the Crime Victim's Bill of Rights and the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO). The campaign must include community outreach, training for agencies, and public information about VCCO services - such as eligible crimes, required claim documents, filing deadlines, and available benefits. It directly affects crime victims, their families, and organizations that serve them by making compensation resources more accessible. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment, aiming to increase understanding of victims' rights and support systems.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3232: 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 (informed consent) before obtaining genetic information from DNA samples, directly affecting individuals, newborns, crime victims, and witnesses. Exceptions include law enforcement using DNA for criminal investigations (with strict limits on victim/witness DNA), existing newborn screening programs, paternity cases, and DNA database submissions. It also restricts sharing genetic data without consent, except in specific legal circumstances like court orders, criminal proceedings, or federal identification purposes. Additionally, it mandates that individuals must be notified when genetic testing occurs and outlines new regulations for consent procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 340: Requires order of restitution to child of parent or guardian killed by drunk driver.

This bill (A 340) requires courts to order restitution payments to children who lose a parent or guardian due to a drunk driving incident. It amends New Jersey's vehicular homicide law (N.J.S.2C:11-5) to mandate that when a defendant is convicted of reckless vehicular homicide while driving under the influence (violating N.J.S.39:4-50), the court must order restitution to the child victim. The restitution covers financial losses resulting from the death and is part of the sentencing process, alongside other penalties like license suspension and imprisonment. The bill directly affects children of victims and drunk drivers convicted under these provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Victims' Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2169: Makes supplemental appropriation of $750,000 to Department of Law and Public Safety for public awareness campaign of victims' rights and VCCO assistance.

This bill allocates $750,000 from the General Fund to the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) for a public awareness campaign. The campaign will inform crime victims about their rights under the Crime Victim’s Bill of Rights and available VCCO services, including compensation assistance. The funds are a supplemental appropriation added to the existing 2023 budget for the Department of Law and Public Safety. (Procedural bill; no new laws enacted.)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Victims' Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3519: Establishes mitigating factor for sentencing of defendants who are victims of domestic violence and provides for resentencing and trauma-informed reentry support services.

This bill (A 3519) amends New Jersey's sentencing law (N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1) to establish domestic violence victim status as a specific mitigating factor in criminal sentencing. It directly affects defendants who were victims of domestic violence (defined as abuse from a current/future spouse, household member, person with shared children, or dating partner) and whose abuse contributed to their criminal behavior. Key provisions require courts to consider this factor during sentencing, provide trauma-informed reentry support services for affected individuals, and allow for resentencing in cases where this factor was not previously considered. The bill aims to address how the justice system handles cases where domestic violence was a contributing factor to criminal conduct.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Sentencing Victims' Rights

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 3345: Authorizes funding to protect safety of cooperating witnesses; expands Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to provide these witnesses with certain guarantees.

This bill, S 3345, authorizes state funding to cover relocation expenses and safety costs for people who help police by testifying in court (including confidential informants). It directly affects cooperating witnesses who face threats due to their involvement in criminal cases. The bill adds specific protections to New Jersey’s Crime Victim’s Bill of Rights, guaranteeing these witnesses "protection from harm and threats of harm arising out of their cooperation" with law enforcement. Key mechanisms include requiring the Victims of Crime Compensation Office to fund relocation and safety measures, and explicitly listing safety protection as a right under the existing bill.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

All criminal justice bills