Criminal Justice

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2873: Imposes restrictions on the use of expunged records.

This bill (S 2873) restricts the disclosure and use of criminal records that have been legally expunged in New Jersey. It directly affects individuals with expunged records, background check companies, and government licensing boards. Key provisions include: making it illegal to knowingly share expunged records (with fines up to $5,000 per violation), requiring background check companies to delete expunged records within 30 days of a request, and mandating that licensing boards redact expunged convictions from their records while keeping the fact of disciplinary action visible. The bill strengthens enforcement of expungement by adding civil penalties and clear procedures for correcting records.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts misuse of expunged records, aligning with reform goals to reduce barriers for reintegration and protect civil rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2801: Requires law enforcement agencies to establish review council in internal affairs unit to investigate law enforcement officers who participate in hate groups.

New Jersey bill S 2801 requires all law enforcement agencies to establish an "extremist review council" within their internal affairs units. This council must investigate misconduct complaints involving officers who make public expressions of hate, participate in hate group activities, or are members of hate groups - both on and off duty. The bill defines "hate group" broadly to include organizations targeting people based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability, and covers public expressions like social media posts. It amends existing law by mandating that the Police Management Manual’s guidelines be updated to enforce this requirement, affecting all state police departments and campus law enforcement units.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires law enforcement to investigate hate group participation, enhancing officer accountability and protecting civil rights - directly aligns with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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died · New Jersey · Senate May 4, 2026

SCR 16: Amends State Constitution to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude.

SCR 16 proposes adding a new constitutional provision to New Jersey's state constitution explicitly prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude in all circumstances, including as punishment for a crime. This would directly affect all residents, particularly incarcerated individuals who currently perform mandatory, low-paid labor in state prisons. The amendment would ban forcing anyone to work against their will for the state's benefit - even if compensated - but would not prohibit voluntary work programs for inmates. It requires voter approval via referendum after legislative passage, as the current constitution lacks any such prohibition.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans forced prison labor as punishment, directly protecting incarcerated individuals' rights and advancing criminal justice reform by prohibiting involuntary servitude in corrections.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits involuntary servitude, protecting incarcerated workers' rights from forced labor, directly advancing labor rights protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1020: Establishes third degree crime of gang assault.

S 1020 creates a new third-degree crime in New Jersey for "gang assault," defined as causing bodily injury to another person when aided by two or more other people actually present and with intent to cause harm. It directly affects individuals who commit violent assaults in groups of three or more, including those targeting third parties. The bill specifies that "bodily injury" includes physical pain, illness, or physical impairment, and sets penalties of 3-5 years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both. This law is modeled after a similar provision in New York state law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new third-degree crime with 3-5 year prison sentence, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties for gang assaults.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1443: Concerns Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.

This bill requires New Jersey's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) to adopt the Attorney General's most recent "Internal Affairs Policy and Procedures" for handling internal investigations of state law enforcement. It also mandates that OPIA submit detailed reports to the Legislature for any investigation taking over 180 days, summarizing all actions taken during that time. The bill directly affects OPIA (which investigates misconduct by state law enforcement) and the Legislature (which receives the reports). These provisions aim to standardize internal investigation procedures and increase transparency for ongoing cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires OPIA to adopt AG's internal affairs policy and mandate detailed reports for long investigations, enhancing law enforcement accountability and oversight per criminal justice reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 103: Establishes new offenses concerning unlawful possession and use of credit card scanners.

Bill S 103 creates new criminal offenses for the unlawful possession and use of credit card scanners in New Jersey. It makes possessing such a device without a lawful purpose a disorderly persons offense (misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 fine or 6 months in jail), and using it for unlawful purposes a second-degree crime (felony punishable by up to $150,000 fine or 5-10 years in prison). The bill directly affects individuals who handle credit card scanners without authorization, such as those attempting to steal card data. Key provisions define "credit card scanner" broadly as any device that reads, records, or transmits card information, and establish specific penalties for each violation. The law takes effect two months after enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offenses with enhanced penalties (misdemeanor/felony) for unauthorized credit card scanner possession/use, expanding criminalization without reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill criminalizes unlawful possession/use of credit card scanners to prevent data theft, directly enhancing cybersecurity and data privacy protections.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SJR 29: Makes permanent the "Commission to Protect New Jersey Inmates from Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct."

SJR 29 makes permanent the "Commission to Protect New Jersey Inmates from Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct," which was previously established for a limited term. The bill creates a 17-member commission with legislative, state agency, and public representatives - including a former inmate, victims' advocate, and PREA expert - to examine safety issues in correctional facilities. Key duties include assessing compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), reviewing how sexual assault allegations are reported and investigated, studying staffing ratios at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, and preventing retaliation against inmates who report misconduct. The commission must submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature with findings and recommendations. This directly affects inmates in New Jersey's correctional facilities, particularly regarding their safety and access to fair investigations of misconduct by staff.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates permanent commission to protect inmates from sexual assault in prisons, assesses PREA compliance, and enhances correctional facility safety oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 366: Amends felony murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated assault statutes to include death or bodily injury occurring during commission of auto theft.

This bill (S 366) updates New Jersey's murder and assault laws to include death or serious injury occurring during car theft. It specifically adds "theft of a motor vehicle" to the list of crimes that can trigger felony murder charges under N.J.S.2C:11-3, meaning someone who causes death while stealing a car could now face murder charges instead of a lesser offense. The key change expands existing felony murder provisions - previously covering crimes like robbery or burglary - to explicitly include auto theft. This directly affects individuals committing car theft who cause death or serious injury during the act. The bill does not change sentencing but clarifies that such incidents will be prosecuted under the more severe murder statute.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands felony murder to include auto theft, increasing potential for murder charges in car theft incidents, thus expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 887: Lowers monetary threshold for certain motor vehicle theft to constitute second degree crime.

This bill (S 887) lowers the monetary threshold for motor vehicle theft to qualify as a second-degree crime. Currently, motor vehicle theft is a third-degree offense (up to 5 years in prison) if the vehicle is valued under $25,000. The bill would reclassify theft of a vehicle valued at $25,000 or more as a second-degree crime (up to 10 years in prison), while vehicles under $25,000 would remain third-degree. It directly affects individuals who steal vehicles meeting this new value threshold, increasing potential penalties for higher-value vehicle thefts. The change specifically modifies New Jersey's theft statute (N.J.S.2C:20-2) to adjust the grading for motor vehicles.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases maximum sentence from 5 to 10 years for vehicle theft over $25k, expanding criminal penalties and restricting defendant rights through harsher sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2855: Requires AG to establish uniform police training curriculum.

S 2855 requires New Jersey's Attorney General to develop a uniform basic training curriculum for police officers, to be implemented at all approved police training schools across the state. The bill mandates annual review and updates to this curriculum by the Attorney General, in consultation with the Police Training Commission. It directly affects police training schools (including regional, county, municipal, and association-run programs) and new officers entering law enforcement. Key provisions include standardizing entry-level training content, requiring schools to follow the curriculum, and giving the Commission authority to oversee implementation and school approvals. The bill does not change existing training standards but creates a statewide uniform requirement for foundational police training.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires uniform police training curriculum to enhance accountability and standardize officer preparation, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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