Bill > A4277

Introduced Session

This bill amends and reorganizes the statutes concerning assault and aggravated assault by delineating existing provisions for aggravated assault, based on the nature of the assault and the category of the victim, into individual statutes. Additionally, the bill adds a new provision concerning assault committed against court staff, prosecutors, and public defenders. Under current law, simple assault is ordinarily a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense, but is upgraded to aggravated assault in certain circumstances, typically where the victim is a member of a protected category of persons, such as health care workers, first responders, law enforcement officers, judges, teachers, and certain others. Additionally, the penalty for aggravated assault can vary depending on both the nature of the assault and the victim. For example, aggravated assault involving the pointing of a firearm is a crime of the fourth degree; aggravated assault against a domestic violence victim is a crime of the third degree, and aggravated assault involving strangulation is a crime of the second degree. Under the bill, the assault statute is amended to simplify its provisions by placing the language concerning upgraded penalties in better context with the circumstances that trigger such upgraded penalties. Further, where simple assault against a member of a protected category of persons, such as health care workers, first responders, law enforcement officers, judges, teachers, and certain others, is upgraded to aggravated assault, these provisions are separated and re-codified as standalone sections. Additionally, the bill separates and re-codifies assault by auto into a standalone section. Finally, the bill upgrades simple assault to aggravated assault when it is committed against court staff, including prosecutors and public defenders. It should be noted that N.J.S.A.2C:12-1 was originally enacted in 1979, but has been heavily amended since. In the sponsor's view, this reorganization of the assault statute allows for improved readability, which is in the interest of law enforcement, judges, attorneys, and the public.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Dan Hutchison (D)*,  Cody Miller (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (on 02/19/2026)

Official Document