Criminal Justice

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

A 2086: "Stephanie's Law"; Requires AOC to establish publicly-accessible domestic violence registry; requires law enforcement officer to search State's domestic violence registries when conducting arrest.

"Stephanie's Law" requires New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to create a publicly accessible domestic violence registry. This registry will list individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes, subject to final restraining orders, or found in contempt of such orders, including their name, aliases, physical description, photo, vehicle details, and last known address. Law enforcement officers must search both this public registry and the existing private registry during arrests to check for domestic violence restraining orders. Individuals wrongly listed can petition for removal, and those listed must update their address within five days of a change.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates domestic violence registry for law enforcement to enhance victim safety and prevent repeat offenses, strengthening criminal justice protections for victims.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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

A 3204: Requires law enforcement agencies to obtain court order prior to use of imaging surveillance device.

This bill requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to obtain a court order before using imaging surveillance devices that can see inside buildings (like through walls using radar or infrared). It directly affects police departments and the residents whose homes or properties might be scanned. To get the court order, law enforcement must submit a written application detailing the target, purpose, location, duration, and proof that other investigative methods were tried and failed or would be too dangerous. The bill aims to prevent warrantless surveillance by mandating judicial oversight for this technology.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires judicial oversight for invasive surveillance, protecting privacy rights and enhancing law enforcement accountability in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires court order for imaging surveillance, enhancing privacy protections against invasive tech use in homes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4199: Expands rights of crime victims.

This bill (A4199) expands rights for crime victims in New Jersey's criminal justice system. It adds specific protections, including the right to submit written impact statements before charges are filed or plea negotiations begin, and to make in-person statements about the crime's impact during sentencing. Victims gain enhanced notification rights regarding court proceedings, defendant releases, and case updates. The law directly affects individuals who have experienced crime and are participating in criminal cases across New Jersey. These changes amend existing law (P.L.1985, c.249) to strengthen victim participation and support.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly expands crime victim rights in court proceedings and sentencing, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like victim protection and system transparency.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Victims' Rights

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

A 1422: Requires DOC to establish and implement standards for cell sizes in prison housing units.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Corrections to establish minimum cell size standards for state prison housing. It mandates at least 35 square feet of usable space per person in single-occupancy cells and 25 square feet per person in shared cells, with a minimum ceiling height of eight feet. These standards must meet or exceed those set by the American Correctional Association. The law directly affects all state prison inmates by setting concrete habitability requirements for their living conditions. It was introduced to the Assembly Public Safety Committee in January 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates minimum cell sizes (35/25 sq ft) meeting ACA standards, directly improving prison conditions as criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

A 1421: Establishes Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together Program.

This bill establishes the ARRIVE Together Program to provide mental health crisis response alternatives to law enforcement. It requires law enforcement agencies (including state police, county police, and municipal departments) to partner with licensed mental health providers who can respond to calls involving mental health or substance use crises instead of police-only interventions. The program mandates confidentiality for all personal health information collected during responses and protects mental health providers from civil liability for good-faith actions taken during crisis interventions. The law applies directly to law enforcement agencies, mental health service providers, and individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises during emergency calls.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill replaces police-only responses with mental health crisis alternatives, reducing law enforcement escalation in non-violent situations and advancing criminal justice reform through de-escalation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates mental health crisis response program, expanding access to services instead of police intervention, directly supporting mental health services per topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Mental Health

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

A 2145: Upgrades crime of theft of scrap metal from transportation system.

This bill raises penalties for stealing scrap metal from transportation systems like bridges, rail lines, or highways. It specifies that such theft is now graded as a third-degree crime if the value is under $75,000 (previously it might have been a lower-level offense), and removes the automatic presumption against imprisonment for this specific violation. The law directly affects individuals who steal scrap metal from public infrastructure, including metal from roads, transit systems, or transportation equipment. The key change is explicitly adding transportation system scrap metal theft to the list of offenses that trigger higher penalties, rather than treating it as standard property theft.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for infrastructure theft, removing presumption against imprisonment, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill strengthens transportation infrastructure protection by increasing penalties for theft from bridges/highways, directly safeguarding public infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Rail

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

A 479: Establishes affirmative defense to prosecution for any crime committed by victim of human trafficking under certain circumstances.

This bill creates a legal defense for victims of human trafficking who commit crimes while being trafficked. It allows individuals to avoid prosecution for offenses (like theft or assault) committed as a direct result of their trafficking situation, provided they were trafficking victims at the time of the offense. The defense applies even if the trafficking case against them didn't result in a conviction. It directly affects people exploited through human trafficking who may have broken laws while trying to survive or escape. The law amends New Jersey's criminal code to explicitly recognize this defense, shifting focus from punishing victims to addressing their exploitation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates affirmative defense for trafficking victims to avoid prosecution, protecting civil rights and advancing criminal justice reform by reducing punitive measures against vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Violent Crime

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

A 2192: Establishes Automobile Theft Prevention Authority; appropriates $2 million.

This bill (A2192) creates the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety, funded by a $2 million appropriation. The authority, governed by a 7-member board (including the Attorney General, state police, prosecutors, an insurance representative, and public members), aims to coordinate statewide efforts to prevent, combat, and reduce automobile theft. Key mechanisms include developing prevention strategies, funding law enforcement programs, and auditing funded initiatives to ensure effectiveness. The authority will report annually to the Governor and Legislature on its activities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2 million for new authority, directly increasing state spending on auto theft prevention. Explicit budget allocation aligns with funding essential programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates law enforcement authority to combat auto theft, directly supporting criminal justice through prevention funding and coordination. Focuses on public safety within law enforcement, a core criminal justice component.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Law Enforcement Policing

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

A 3682: Establishes penalties for use of unmanned aircraft in furtherance of commission of criminal offense; requires forfeiture of device upon conviction.

New Jersey's bill A 3682 creates criminal penalties for using drones to assist in committing offenses. It sets a fourth-degree crime for drone use in minor offenses (like disorderly conduct) and raises the penalty one degree higher for more serious crimes. The law specifically prohibits drone activity near prisons without permission, interfering with emergency responders, taking wildlife with drones, or operating under the influence, and requires forfeiture of the drone upon conviction. This applies to anyone using a drone in these prohibited ways.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal penalties for drone-assisted offenses, expanding criminalization of drone use in crimes, directly increasing legal restrictions.95% confidence

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 1760: Directs DOLWD to identify, and post on website, employment opportunities with minimal barriers to entry for persons returning to workforce after imprisonment.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to identify and publicly post on its website employment opportunities with minimal entry barriers for people returning to work after incarceration. It directly affects formerly incarcerated individuals who face employment challenges like employer stigma and lack of educational opportunities. The key mechanism is DOLWD's ongoing duty to list jobs that have low barriers to entry and high demand. The bill aims to improve reintegration into the workforce by making accessible job listings available to this population, without specifying how employers will be engaged or how success will be measured.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDirectly addresses reentry barriers for formerly incarcerated individuals through employment access, a core criminal justice reform strategy to reduce recidivism.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates DOLWD to list low-barrier jobs for formerly incarcerated individuals, directly advancing employment access and reducing systemic employment barriers for a vulnerable workforce group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Workforce Development

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