Bill
Bill > A5941
NJ A5941
NJ A5941Allows juvenile to be tried as adult regardless of age for certain drug offenses resulting in death; imposes life imprisonment for conviction of strict liability for drug induced deaths if victim was under age 18.
summary
Introduced
07/24/2025
07/24/2025
In Committee
07/24/2025
07/24/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill revises the juvenile waiver law to allow a juvenile to be tried as an adult for the crime of strict liability for drug-induced deaths. Specifically, the bill allows a juvenile to be tried as an adult in cases where there is probable cause to believe that the juvenile committed a delinquent act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crime of strict liability for drug-induced deaths. In addition, the bill requires the court to impose a term of life imprisonment on a person convicted of the crime of strict liability for drug-induced deaths, if the victim was under the age of 18 and the illegal substance is in a quantity of one or more ounces, including any adulterants or dilutants. Under current law, the crime of strict liability for drug-induced deaths provides that any person who manufactures, distributes, or dispenses certain controlled dangerous substances is strictly liable for a death which results from the injection, inhalation, or ingestion of that substance, and is guilty of a crime of the first degree. Current law allows a person who is 15 years of age or older and commits this crime to be tried as an adult. This bill establishes that a person would be tried as an adult, regardless of that person's age.
AI Summary
This bill significantly modifies New Jersey's juvenile justice and drug-related death laws by allowing any juvenile, regardless of age, to be tried as an adult for drug-induced death offenses. Specifically, the bill removes previous age restrictions that previously required a juvenile to be at least 15 years old to be tried as an adult for such crimes. For cases involving drug-induced deaths where the victim is under 18 years old and involves one or more ounces of controlled dangerous substances, the bill mandates a life imprisonment sentence without the possibility of parole. The legislation expands the existing strict liability law for drug-induced deaths, which currently holds manufacturers, distributors, or dispensers of certain controlled substances responsible for deaths resulting from their substances. Under the new provisions, if a juvenile is found to have manufactured, distributed, or dispensed drugs that lead to a fatal overdose of a minor, they will automatically be prosecuted in adult court and face a mandatory life sentence. This bill aims to create more severe consequences for drug-related offenses that result in the death of a young person, treating juveniles who commit such serious offenses as adults in the legal system.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (on 07/24/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5941 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A6000/5941_I1.HTM |
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