This New Jersey bill creates a new criminal offense for landlords who harass residential tenants with the goal of forcing them to leave their homes. It defines harassment to include actions such as cutting off essential services, threatening violence, repeatedly entering the property, and filing frivolous eviction cases. The law also expands liability for members of limited liability companies that own rental properties, ensuring they can be held personally responsible for such conduct. Additionally, the bill allows victims to seek civil penalties and damages, while offering prosecutors a brief window to let landlords fix minor violations before charges proceed.
This bill amends New Jersey's Civil Rights Act to strengthen protections against constitutional violations by private individuals and government officials. It clarifies that victims can sue for damages and relief regardless of whether the violator is acting under color of law, while also allowing the Attorney General to bring civil actions on behalf of injured parties. The legislation ensures that any damages awarded in these cases are distributed to the victims and includes provisions for jury trials in Superior Court. Additionally, the bill establishes specific aggravating factors that courts may consider when deciding whether to award punitive damages.
This resolution asks the New Jersey Attorney General and Department of Education to regularly update two school safety documents that have not been significantly revised since 2007. The specific guidance includes the "School Safety and Security Manual" for schools and "Law Enforcement Directive No. 2007-1" for police agencies, both of which cover topics like lockdowns, evacuations, and emergency response. By urging these agencies to review the materials, the bill aims to ensure that school staff and law enforcement have access to the most current best practices for maintaining safety. The measure is non-binding and serves as a formal recommendation rather than a law that creates new penalties or mandates.
This bill requires New Jersey's Office of the Public Defender to provide legal representation to indigent defendants charged with criminal contempt for violating specific domestic violence restraining orders. It applies to violations that could result in jail time, such as those involving orders against contact or firearm possession, while explicitly excluding violations related to parenting time, financial compensation, counseling, rent, or temporary possession of property. The law expands the scope of mandatory legal aid to ensure these individuals have counsel during proceedings where they face potential incarceration. This change takes effect four months after the bill is enacted and addresses a recommendation from a state judicial committee.
This New Jersey bill establishes a formal framework for law enforcement agencies to use investigative genetic genealogy in solving violent crimes and identifying human remains. It creates a system where police and medical examiners must work with specialized, accredited centers to analyze DNA samples from crime scenes. The legislation also allocates $500,000 in funding to support these operations and defines specific rules for how DNA testing and data sharing should be conducted.
This bill allows inmates in New Jersey to earn additional time credits if they participate in full-time substance abuse treatment programs. Specifically, while in such a program, an inmate will receive 1.5 times the number of standard good time credits they would normally earn. These extra credits will be applied to reduce the date on which the inmate becomes eligible for parole. The law applies to inmates who are not serving mandatory minimum sentences and takes effect four months after it is signed into law.
This bill updates New Jersey laws to require criminal history record checks for all paid school employees and volunteers who have regular contact with students. It mandates that schools verify these records through state and federal databases before hiring or utilizing individuals in positions involving student interaction. The legislation specifies that candidates are permanently disqualified if their records show convictions for serious crimes, including violent offenses, drug-related crimes, and certain lesser felonies or crimes involving minor victims. Additionally, the bill ensures that individuals have the right to challenge the accuracy of any disqualifying information found in their criminal history checks.
This bill creates the New Jersey Prison Libraries Act to establish a dedicated fund within the Department of Corrections for improving library services for incarcerated individuals. The legislation appropriates $1 million to support the purchase of books, digital resources, and computers, as well as to fund programs like job training, literacy classes, and cultural events. The fund is restricted to library-related expenses and cannot be used for general prison operations, medical care, or basic needs like food and clothing.
This bill establishes a dedicated fund to receive money from a national opioid lawsuit settlement and directs up to $5 million annually to the Division of State Police for opioid-related initiatives. The legislation designates the Department of Human Services as the lead agency responsible for managing the settlement funds, overseeing how money is distributed to counties and municipalities, and ensuring compliance with legal agreements. Additionally, the bill creates a mechanism for the fund to cover legal fees and costs associated with the national opioid litigation resolution.
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.
