This bill (S 1479) prohibits New Jersey public and private colleges (excluding law schools) from asking applicants about criminal history - including juvenile records - on admission applications. It creates a "Universal College Application Development Task Force" to design a standard application that excludes such questions, which all institutions must adopt. Exceptions allow institutions to ask about specific serious crimes (e.g., sexual assault, terrorism, or child exploitation) for admission decisions. Colleges may later inquire about criminal history for campus housing or activities, but must consider factors like time passed since the offense and rehabilitation.
This bill amends New Jersey's "three strikes law" to exclude crimes committed before age 18 from counting toward the two prior convictions required for life imprisonment without parole. It directly affects defendants who have prior offenses committed as juveniles (under 18), ensuring those offenses no longer trigger the harsher sentencing. The key change clarifies that only convictions for crimes committed after the age of 18 will be considered when determining eligibility for life sentences under this law. The amendment aligns the law with the existing definition of "juvenile" (under 18) and removes prior juvenile offenses from the calculation.
S 1279 establishes a 25-member "Youth Detention Task Force" to assess New Jersey's current youth detention system and recommend a better approach. The task force will evaluate existing county facilities, Youth Justice Commission-managed sites, or alternatives, considering factors like safety, rehabilitation opportunities, resources, and security. It includes legislative members, state agency heads (like the Attorney General and Youth Justice Commission Director), and public representatives from counties with and without detention facilities. The task force must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 18 months of its first meeting.
This bill (S 2292) prohibits New Jersey public entities (like state agencies, counties, and municipalities) and public employees from entering into confidential settlements for claims protected under the state's whistleblower law (Conscientious Employee Protection Act). It requires all such settlements to be made public records, including details like settlement dates, parties involved, claims described, payment amounts, and legal counsel costs. The Attorney General must publish a searchable online list of these agreements. Exceptions apply only for settlements involving national security, and the bill explicitly preserves existing protections for victim identities in juvenile sex crime cases.
This bill requires all New Jersey state, county, private, and juvenile correctional facilities to provide free voice calls, video calls, and email services for incarcerated people. It eliminates all costs for both inmates and their families by banning per-minute charges (previously up to 11 cents), surcharges, commissions, or fees on these services. Facilities must maintain current access levels and transfer any remaining prepaid funds to inmates' commissary accounts. The bill appropriates funds from the General Fund to cover implementation costs and takes effect six months after enactment.
This bill prohibits courts in New Jersey from sentencing individuals under 21 years old to life imprisonment without parole for certain serious crimes. It directly affects young offenders aged 18-20 convicted of qualifying offenses like murder, aggravated assault, or sexual offenses under specific statutes. The key provision amends sentencing law to explicitly exclude people under 21 from receiving life-without-parole sentences, aligning with a Massachusetts court ruling that found similar sentencing unconstitutional. The bill does not change sentencing for adults or for crimes committed by individuals 21 or older. It would take effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill (S 2301) changes sentencing for juveniles tried as adults in New Jersey who received 20+ years of parole ineligibility. It requires courts to consider youth-specific factors - like impulsivity, childhood trauma, or poverty - during sentencing and allows affected individuals to petition for resentencing after 10 years. At resentencing hearings, courts must evaluate whether the offense stemmed from "mitigating qualities of youth" or "irreparable corruption," using the same factors. Additionally, it mandates parole hearings at the 20-year mark, requiring the Parole Board to consider youth-related rehabilitation efforts and provide written reasoning for decisions.
This bill requires law enforcement to place underage individuals (under 18) who illegally possess alcohol or cannabis into temporary custody on a first offense, then notify their parent or guardian. For subsequent violations (second or third), it mandates written warnings for all ages, with parents notified for minors and referrals to community services (like counseling) for both the minor and their guardian. It specifies that refusing these services won’t result in legal penalties. The law applies directly to minors caught violating underage alcohol/cannabis possession rules in public places, schools, or vehicles. It does not impose fines, jail time, or court action for non-compliance with service referrals.
This bill allocates $750,000 in supplemental funding to the Office of the Public Defender’s Trial Services to Indigents program for fiscal year 2024. The funds will hire eight additional attorneys specifically dedicated to juvenile cases in Essex and Atlantic counties, where juvenile caseloads and custodial sentences have risen sharply. It directly supports juvenile defendants facing post-dispositional matters, addressing a 25-30% projected increase in cases due to expanded legal mandates. The funding targets high-volume regions to reduce backlogs and shorten custody durations, as noted in the bill’s statement. (Note: This is a funding measure, not a policy change.)
This bill allows New Jersey courts to place juveniles convicted of specific motor vehicle offenses - such as theft or unlawful taking of a vehicle (crimes that would apply to adults) - on home detention instead of incarceration. It applies only to juveniles adjudicated delinquent for these offenses and limits home detention to a maximum of 60 days. During this period, juveniles may leave home for approved activities like school, work, court appearances, or counseling, as determined by the court. The provision adds home detention as an explicit sentencing option under existing juvenile justice law, emphasizing community-based supervision over confinement.
