Criminal Justice

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

A 348: Establishes threats of violence against prosecutors, law enforcement officers and their family members as second degree crime, subject to No Early Release Act sentencing.

This bill elevates threats of violence against prosecutors, law enforcement officers, or their family members to a second-degree crime (previously third-degree). It directly affects anyone making such threats, including threats against spouses, parents, children, or relatives living with the officer or prosecutor. The key provision requires offenders to serve 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act. This means, for example, a 10-year sentence would require at least 8.5 years served before parole consideration. The bill does not change sentencing ranges but mandates stricter parole eligibility for these specific threats.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill elevates threats against law enforcement to second-degree crime and mandates 85% sentence served, increasing punitive measures and restricting defendant parole eligibility.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Probation & Parole Sentencing

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

S 3279: Clarifies right of crime victim to make in-person statement directly to defendant concerning impact of crime.

This bill clarifies that crime victims in New Jersey have the right to make an in-person statement directly to the defendant about how a crime affected them during any trial, hearing, or proceeding where a victim impact statement is given. It applies to all victims involved in criminal cases where the defendant is physically able to attend. The statement must be made in addition to any written impact statement considered during sentencing or plea negotiations. The court may deny this right only if it finds the defendant is incapable of attending due to physical incapacity, injury, or illness.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies victim right to in-person impact statement during sentencing, enhancing victim voice in criminal proceedings90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Victims' Rights

Track

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

A 1706: Prohibits issuance and execution of "no-knock" warrant to be executed at residences.

This New Jersey bill (A 1706) requires law enforcement officers to knock and announce their identity and purpose before entering a residence for an arrest or search. It prohibits "no-knock" warrants at homes, mandating officers wait at least 30 seconds after announcing before entering - unless immediate danger exists. The law applies to all arrest and search warrants executed at residential properties and updates existing statutes to include these entry requirements. It directly affects police procedures when conducting home entries, aiming to increase transparency and safety for residents.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits no-knock warrants, requiring officers to announce and wait 30 seconds before entry, enhancing police accountability and protecting residential privacy per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

Track

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

A 2026: Requires DOC to provide prenatal and post-partum education and services for certain inmates.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Corrections (DOC) to provide prenatal and postpartum services to all female inmates aged 60 or younger upon entry to correctional facilities. It mandates pregnancy testing, prenatal medical care, nutrition counseling, family planning counseling, and postpartum support - including maternity clothing, adjusted housing, and reduced work schedules for those carrying pregnancies to term. The law applies to all incarcerated women who are pregnant at the time of admission, ensuring they receive comprehensive care to address high-risk pregnancy needs common in this population. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides prenatal/postpartum care for incarcerated women, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform by improving health outcomes and supporting maternal care within corrections.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates comprehensive prenatal/postpartum healthcare services for incarcerated women, expanding access to essential medical care within correctional facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Women's Health

Track

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

ACR 109: Expresses support for US and NJ law enforcement officers; urges all levels of government to take action to increase support, safety, and well-being of law enforcement officers.

ACR 109 is a symbolic resolution passed by the New Jersey legislature expressing support for U.S. and New Jersey law enforcement officers. It urges all levels of government to take action to improve officer safety and well-being through concrete steps like increasing staffing, enhancing equipment and training, strengthening penalties for assaults on officers, and expanding mental health resources. The resolution directly affects law enforcement officers nationwide by calling for systemic support measures, though it does not create new laws or funding. It was introduced in January 2026 and referred to the Assembly Public Safety Committee, reflecting bipartisan concern over rising officer assaults and mental health challenges.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly urges concrete actions to improve law enforcement officer safety and well-being, directly supporting law enforcement within criminal justice framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

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

A 1791: Establishes special probation drug court eligibility for persons with certain previous criminal convictions.

This New Jersey bill (A 1791) creates a new "special probation" option for drug and alcohol-dependent individuals convicted of certain non-violent offenses who would otherwise face mandatory prison time. It allows courts to place eligible defendants on 5 years of probation requiring treatment at a licensed facility, instead of incarceration, if they meet strict criteria: they must have been dependent at the time of the offense (committed while under influence or to support addiction), have no prior violent convictions (murder, assault, etc.), no firearm involvement, and no recent serious drug distribution offenses. The program requires professional assessment, treatment compliance, and urine testing, while excluding those with multiple prior first/second-degree crimes or violent histories. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReplaces mandatory prison with treatment-focused probation for eligible drug offenders, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration and reducing recidivism.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires treatment at licensed facility for substance abuse, advancing healthcare access for addiction treatment as alternative to incarceration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Probation & Parole Substance Abuse

Track

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

A 1665: Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force."

This bill creates the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" to research and develop proposals addressing generational harms from New Jersey's role in slavery and systemic racial discrimination. The task force will examine historical and current disparities affecting Black communities, including voter disenfranchisement, youth incarceration rates, housing discrimination, wealth gaps, and school segregation. It will produce a report with policy recommendations for state-based reparations based on documented harms. The bill directly affects Black residents of New Jersey who face these systemic inequities, as outlined in the legislative findings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExamines youth incarceration rates and systemic racial disparities, directly addressing criminal justice reform through reparations policy recommendations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

Track

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

A 2765: Requires certain law enforcement officers to complete human trafficking training.

This bill (A 2765) requires specific groups to complete human trafficking training as a condition of employment or licensing. Law enforcement officers responding to domestic violence or sexual assault cases must complete training developed by the Police Training Commission. Hotels/motels must provide one-time training to owners, operators, and staff (linked to license maintenance), while healthcare facility employees must complete similar training (tied to facility licensing). Judges and court staff must also complete awareness training on human trafficking impacts and victim rights. The bill mandates these trainings be reviewed every two years.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates human trafficking training for law enforcement officers handling domestic violence/sexual assault cases, enhancing victim response and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

Track

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

A 3011: Prohibits the use of drones by law enforcement entities.

This bill prohibits New Jersey law enforcement agencies from using drones for surveillance or other law enforcement activities, affecting police departments and officers statewide. Exceptions include drone use authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for counter-terrorism threats or by the forest fire service for wildfire monitoring (with a 350-foot altitude limit). It also bans drones for enforcing building and land-use regulations under state codes. Violating the ban can lead to civil lawsuits and the exclusion of illegally gathered evidence in court.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement drone surveillance to protect civil rights (privacy), aligning with criminal justice reform goals of limiting over-policing.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly prohibits law enforcement drone surveillance, restricting a technology application that impacts data privacy and digital rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing Emerging Technology

Track

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

A 2809: Creates new offense of theft by financial exploitation of vulnerable person.

This bill creates a new crime called "theft by financial exploitation of a vulnerable person" in New Jersey. It directly affects senior citizens and people with disabilities who are exploited financially by individuals in positions of trust (like caregivers, financial advisors, or family members). The law requires separate criminal sentences for this new offense and any underlying financial crime (such as fraud or embezzlement), preventing convictions from merging. It amends existing statutes to define "vulnerable person," "position of trust," and clarify sentencing, without changing penalty levels. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Public Safety Committee (introduced January 13, 2026).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense to protect vulnerable people from financial exploitation, requiring separate sentencing to strengthen legal safeguards against financial crimes targeting seniors/disabled individuals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

Track