Criminal Laws

A young mother who was leaving a corner store with her three year old daughter in her arms was shot this week. But despite reports of many witnesses being out when the shooting happened, no one was willing to give any information to police on the scene. Both the mother and daughter survived but the story is still a tragic one, and only one of many in recent years. [Read more…] about Trenton Mother and Toddler Shot in Drive-By, No Witnesses Speak Up

The Star-Ledger reported this week that the last three shooting deaths in Newark pushed the homicide total for 2011 to 29 so far, a leap of 71{74bbbd36a4df8b83bd1805c8c4f34bcc3063e84848f392c2fd8bb03fcdaa883e} from last year at this time, something they are connecting to police layoffs. They also point to rising shootings and thefts, attributing all of these to a shortage of police officers. [Read more…] about Newark Murders Soar After Mass Police Layoffs

Last week Governor Christie vetoed a measure that would’ve changed the mandatory release practices of inmates. His veto reinstated the parole board’s discretion in who should be released, allowing a return to common sense parole practices rather than mandatory releases. [Read more…] about Veto Signals Coming Parole Reforms

Correction: This bill must still pass the NJ State Senate, before moving to the Governor’s desk. The bill passed the Assembly unanimously, 78-0.

The sexting reform bill, which seeks to divert juveniles caught sending explicit photographs out of the courtroom passed the New Jersey Assembly yesterday and now awaits Governor Cristie’s signature. We first told you about the proposed legislation in January and when the Assembly voted yesterday, it was unanimous. [Read more…] about NJ Sexting Reform Passes Assembly

In a normal business, return customers are a great thing—increasing revenue. But in the prison system, return customers are the worst kind, draining the budget and offering nothing new to the community in between stints. According to a major study commissioned by the Christie Administration, it’s these return customers that are costing the state the most. [Read more…] about New Jersey Criminal Offenders are Return Customers of the Most Costly Kind

The United States Supreme Court may decide to hear an important case out of New Jersey in the coming months—one related to when strip searches are appropriate in the jailing of individuals. Currently, those arrested and held in jails across the country are strip searched, sometimes even when they are jailed on an unindictable offense (like a traffic ticket or unpaid fine). [Read more…] about NJ Case On Strip Searches May Go before Supreme Court