Bill
Bill > S3088
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 prohibits a court from imposing a sentence of life imprisonment with no eligibility for parole upon a person who committed a crime while under 21 years of age. Under current law, the court may sentence a person under 21 years of age to life imprisonment. Under the bill, a court would be prohibited from doing so. This bill is in response to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court holding that sentencing individuals from 18 to 20 to serve a life term without the possibility of parole violates the prohibition against cruel or unusual punishment and the portion of the relevant Massachusetts statute which denies parole eligibility to those from 18 to 20 years old is unconstitutional. See Commonwealth v. Mattis, 224 N.E.3d 410 (Mass. 2024).
AI Summary
This bill amends existing New Jersey law to prohibit courts from sentencing individuals under 21 years of age to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a sentence that could previously be imposed on young offenders. This change is a direct response to a recent Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling that found such sentences for individuals aged 18 to 20 violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The bill specifically adds a provision stating that a court shall not impose a sentence of life imprisonment with no parole eligibility if the person was under 21 at the time of the crime.
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
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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/2026/S3088 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S3500/3088_I1.HTM |
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