Bill > S1390

Introduced Session

This bill would require that defendants convicted of an offense involving domestic violence who are placed on probation or have their sentence suspended attend domestic violence counseling. Under current law a court may, in its discretion, require the defendant to receive professional counseling from either a private source or a source appointed by the court. Under this bill, in all cases of court-ordered domestic violence counseling under N.J.S.A.2C:25-27 the counselor would be required to have demonstrated expertise in individual or group domestic violence counseling. In cases in which a defendant is found guilty of a crime or offense involving domestic violence and where the court suspends the imposition of a sentence or sentences a defendant to be placed on probation the court would be required to order the defendant to participate in, and complete, a program of professional counseling. This bill is modeled after similar laws in California, North Carolina and Minnesota.

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Shirley Turner (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee (on 02/10/2022)

Official Document