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Bill > A3158


NJ A3158

NJ A3158
Creates crime of victimization of a senior citizen or a person with disability.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill establishes a separate crime of victimization against a senior citizen or a person with a disability, which must be charged and proved as any other crime. Victimization would be graded one degree higher than the offense that was committed. A person would be guilty of victimization if the person commits any crime listed in the bill against a senior citizen or a person with a disability. Upon a conviction, the sentence imposed by the court would not merge with the sentence imposed for the underlying offense. This bill also provides that if the underlying crime for which the person is being sentenced was graded as a crime of the first or second degree, the sentence imposed shall include a term of post-incarceration parole supervision. Under the bill, a "senior citizen" is defined as a person 62 years of age or over. A "person with a disability" is defined as a person who by reason of any pre-existing medically determinable physical or mental impairment is substantially incapable of exercising normal physical or mental power of resistance, and includes, but is not limited to, any person determined disabled pursuant to the federal Social Security Act or any other governmental retirement or benefits program that uses substantially the same criteria for determining eligibility.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a new crime called "victimization of a senior citizen or a person with a disability," which must be proven in court just like any other offense. A "senior citizen" is defined as someone 62 years or older, and a "person with a disability" is someone with a pre-existing physical or mental impairment that significantly hinders their ability to resist, including those deemed disabled by the federal Social Security Act or similar programs. If someone commits a crime against a senior citizen or a person with a disability, they can be charged with this new victimization crime, which will be graded one degree higher than the original crime committed. For example, if the original crime was a third-degree felony, the victimization charge would be a second-degree felony. Importantly, any sentence for victimization will not be combined with the sentence for the original crime; separate sentences will be imposed. If the original crime was a first or second-degree felony, the sentence for victimization will also include a period of post-incarceration parole supervision, lasting five years for a first-degree underlying crime and three years for a second-degree underlying crime.

Committee Categories

Military Affairs and Security

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee (on 01/13/2026)

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