Criminal Justice

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

A 1075: Requires fees for certain firearms permit applications be deposited into General Fund rather than VCCO account.

Bill A-1075 would change where fees for certain firearm permits are deposited. Currently, fees paid by applicants for handgun purchase permits and firearms purchaser identification cards go into the Violent Crime Control and Enforcement (VCCO) account. This bill redirects those fees into the state’s General Fund instead. It directly affects individuals applying for these firearm permits who pay the associated fees. The change applies to the specific permit types covered under New Jersey Statutes 2C:58-3 and 2C:58-4.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRedirects VCCO fees to General Fund, reducing dedicated funding for violent crime control programs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Violent Crime

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

A 220: "Weston's Law"; extends crime of human trafficking to include recruiting or coercing juvenile to join gang or drug trafficking scheme.

Weston's Law extends New Jersey's human trafficking statute to include recruiting or coercing a juvenile to join a gang or drug trafficking scheme. This change allows prosecutors to seek waiver of juvenile jurisdiction for such cases, meaning the court may refer the case to adult court without the juvenile's consent if the juvenile was 15 or older and the act would constitute a serious crime if committed by an adult. The bill updates the juvenile waiver process to explicitly list human trafficking as a qualifying offense alongside crimes like murder, robbery, and drug trafficking. The court must consider factors such as the juvenile's age, maturity, and prior record before deciding to waive jurisdiction.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by allowing adult prosecution of juveniles for gang/drug recruitment, restricting juvenile protections and increasing mandatory sentencing pathways.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Human Trafficking Juvenile Justice

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

A 1098: Establishes offense of criminal mischief committed on historical sites.

This bill amends New Jersey's criminal mischief statute (N.J.S.2C:17-3) to specifically criminalize knowingly damaging, interfering with, or tampering with historic places or sites. It defines "historic place or site" as structures approved for the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, identified in local master plans as historically significant, or officially recognized by the State Agriculture Development Committee. Damaging such sites becomes a third-degree crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both. The law directly affects individuals who intentionally harm protected historic properties, including buildings, monuments, or structures meeting the defined criteria.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offense for damaging historic sites, increasing penalties under criminal mischief statute95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

A 2021: Makes it aggravated sexual assault or sexual contact for transportation network company or taxicab driver to commit act of sexual penetration or sexual contact using coercion or without permission on passenger.

This bill amends New Jersey law to specifically criminalize sexual assault by transportation drivers against passengers. It creates a new aggravating factor for sexual assault (making it a first-degree crime) when a taxi or ride-share driver commits sexual penetration or contact using coercion or without the passenger's permission. The law directly affects drivers of transportation network companies (like Uber/Lyft) or taxicabs and their passengers. Violators face 25 years to life imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault, significantly increasing penalties compared to standard sexual assault charges. The change applies only when the victim is a passenger, not when the victim is a driver or in other contexts.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill elevates sexual assault by drivers to first-degree crime with 25-yr-to-life sentence, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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

A 3657: Prohibits circumventing security measures for certain online ticket sales.

This bill (A 3657) prohibits using software, devices, or technology to bypass security measures on online ticket websites that ensure fair ticket purchasing. It directly affects online ticket sellers (like venues, sports teams, or theaters) and anyone using tools to circumvent their security systems. The key provision bans both creating or providing such tools and employing them to gain unfair access to tickets. Violations are punishable as a fourth-degree crime, carrying potential penalties of up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new fourth-degree crime for circumventing ticket sales security, expanding criminalization (indicator for oppose).90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits circumventing security measures on ticket sites, strengthening cybersecurity protocols against unauthorized access to prevent unfair purchasing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

A 2827: Requires schools to report certain assaults to law enforcement.

This bill (A 2827) requires New Jersey public schools to report student-on-student assaults to police. Specifically, school employees must notify principals when a student allegedly assaults another on school property, a school bus, or at a school event; principals must then immediately report the incident to law enforcement. The bill defines "assault" as intentionally or recklessly causing bodily injury (per NJ law) and specifies "law enforcement agency" to include local police departments. It directly affects all public schools in New Jersey by mandating this reporting process for certain incidents.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates reporting school assaults to law enforcement, expanding criminal justice system involvement in minor incidents without diversion options, increasing youth criminal justice contact.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Violent Crime

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

A 345: Increases penalties for assault and harassment against sports officials and participants under certain circumstances.

This bill (A-345) amends New Jersey's assault law to specifically increase penalties for assaulting sports officials and participants during sporting events. It adds a new category to the definition of "aggravated assault" under N.J.S.2C:12-1, making it a more serious offense to harm someone acting as a sports official (like referees) or participant (like athletes) while they are clearly performing their duties. This change directly affects individuals who commit such assaults, raising the legal consequences from simple assault to aggravated assault. The policy change is purely procedural, expanding the list of protected individuals under existing assault statutes without altering penalty levels for other offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for assault against sports officials, expanding criminalization and raising sentences per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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

A 3013: Prohibits sex offenders from distributing candy or other items to children on Halloween.

This bill (A3013) prohibits "excluded sex offenders" (defined as individuals convicted of sex offenses involving minors under 18) from distributing candy or other items to children under 18 during Halloween or Halloween-themed events. It amends New Jersey law to classify this act as a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. The law directly affects individuals convicted of sex offenses against minors, specifically restricting their interaction with children during Halloween celebrations. It does not override existing restrictions on sex offenders working with youth organizations but adds a specific Halloween-related prohibition. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating a new fourth-degree crime with penalties for sex offenders distributing candy, increasing restrictions without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1399: Establishes crime of possessing digital instructions to illegally manufacture firearms and firearm components.

New Jersey's A 1399 (now law as P.L.2025, c.255) creates a new criminal offense for possessing digital instructions that enable illegal firearm manufacturing. The law specifically targets digital files, guides, or plans that could be used to make firearms or components without authorization. It directly affects individuals who access or share such digital materials, making it a crime separate from actually manufacturing firearms. This provision adds to New Jersey's existing firearm laws by addressing the digital means of circumventing manufacturing restrictions. The law became effective upon enactment and does not change penalties for actual illegal firearm production.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new crime for possessing digital firearm manufacturing instructions, expanding criminalization in firearm laws.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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

A 2433: Upgrades crime of stalking when stalking activity is carried out or assisted by installation or use of communication or location monitoring program or device on cellular phone or wireless mobile device.

This bill amends New Jersey's stalking law to increase penalties when a perpetrator uses a device or program on the victim's phone to monitor communications or location. Normally, stalking is a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in prison and $10,000 fine), but if the stalking involves installing or using a monitoring tool on the victim's cellular or wireless device to intercept calls, messages, or track location, it becomes a third-degree crime (3-5 years in prison and up to $15,000 fine). The law specifically targets the misuse of common apps or preinstalled software, which are widely available but often used without consent in stalking cases. This change directly affects victims of tech-assisted stalking and those who exploit phone monitoring tools to harass others.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for stalking involving device monitoring, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' oppose indicator.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyIncreases penalties for using monitoring tools on phones to intercept communications/location, strengthening data privacy protections against tech-enabled stalking.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Telecommunications

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