Bill
Bill > S1021
NJ S1021
NJ S1021Upgrades penalties for unlawful possession of certain items by incarcerated persons and unlawful provision of certain items to incarcerated persons.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill concerns the penalty for incarcerated persons who possess contraband considered to be implements of escape while incarcerated and other contraband. Specifically, the bill makes possession of any implement of escape by an incarcerated person a second degree crime. This bill makes it a crime of the second degree for an incarcerated person to possess any implement of escape, regardless of whether it is a weapon or non-weapon. The bill also increases the mandatory minimum term of incarceration for a violation from three years to five years in order to make the penalty consistent with the term of incarceration that generally is imposed for a crime of the second degree. Under current law, the penalty for an incarcerated person who possesses an implement of escape that is a weapon is a crime of the second degree, subject to a mandatory term of incarceration of not less than three years. An incarcerated person who possesses a non-weapon implement of escape commits a crime of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is generally punishable by a fine of up to $150,000, a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, or both. This bill also makes it a crime of the third degree for a person to provide an inmate with any other contraband, besides implements of escape, which the actor knows or should know it is unlawful for the inmate to possess. Under current law relative to contraband other than implements of escape, a person commits a petty disorderly persons offense if he provides an inmate with any other thing which the actor knows or should know it is unlawful for the inmate to possess. A crime of the third degree is generally punishable by a fine of up to $15,000, a term of imprisonment of three to five years, or both. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by a fine of up to $500, a term of imprisonment of up to 30 days, or both.
AI Summary
This bill increases penalties for incarcerated individuals possessing contraband and for individuals providing contraband to inmates. Specifically, it elevates the offense of an incarcerated person possessing any "implement of escape" (defined as anything useful for escape, like a tool or document) to a second-degree crime, regardless of whether it's a weapon, and raises the mandatory minimum prison sentence for this offense from three to five years, aligning it with the typical punishment for a second-degree crime. A second-degree crime generally carries a penalty of five to ten years in prison and/or a fine up to $150,000. The bill also makes it a third-degree crime for any person to provide an inmate with other prohibited items, beyond escape implements, if they know or should know the inmate cannot lawfully possess them; this is an upgrade from the current petty disorderly persons offense, which carries a much lighter penalty of up to 30 days in jail and/or a $500 fine. A third-degree crime generally carries a penalty of three to five years in prison and/or a fine up to $15,000.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S1021 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S1500/1021_I1.HTM |
Loading...