STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER
District 22 (Somerset and Union)
Assemblyman STERLEY S. STANLEY
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman LUANNE M. PETERPAUL
District 11 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Morales and Donlon
SYNOPSIS
Requires law enforcement officer to conduct danger assessment of domestic violence victims and provide assistance to high-risk victims.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning victims of domestic violence and amending and supplementing P.L.1991, c.261.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. (New section) a. In accordance with the provisions of this section, a law enforcement officer shall conduct a domestic violence danger assessment of any person who the officer has reasonable cause to believe is a victim of a crime or offense involving domestic violence as defined in subsection d. of section 3 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-19) to determine if the potential victim is in immediate need of services provided by a domestic crisis team or other services available to victims of domestic violence.
b. The domestic violence danger assessment shall be conducted with the consent of the alleged victim using an objective, standardized, and evidence-based domestic violence danger assessment instrument approved by the Attorney General in consultation with the Domestic Violence Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board, established pursuant to P.L.2003, c.225 (C.52:27D-43.17a et seq.). The danger assessment instrument shall generate a score or rating that indicates an elevated risk that an alleged victim of domestic violence will suffer serious bodily injury or death as a result of a future act of domestic violence.
c. The approved domestic violence danger assessment instrument shall be based on information deemed relevant by the Attorney General which shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) the date of all recent acts of domestic violence using a calendar provided by the officer to the victim to identify or approximate the date of all recent acts; and
(2) for each recent act of domestic violence:
(a) a description of each act including the type of physical violence used, if any;
(b) whether any injuries were sustained by the alleged victim; and
(c) whether the act involved the use of, or threat to use a firearm or other weapon.
d. If the danger assessment generates a score or rating that indicates an elevated risk of serious bodily injury or death to an alleged victim, the law enforcement officer shall:
(1) notify the alleged victim that the score generated by the assessment indicates the victim is at an elevated risk of serious bodily injury or death; and
(2) with the consent of the alleged victim, in accordance with rules promulgated by the Attorney General, facilitate the provision of immediate assistance to the alleged victim through a domestic crisis team or other services available to victims of domestic violence.
e. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Domestic Violence Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board, shall promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to implement the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
2. Section 4 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-20) is amended to read as follows:
4. a. (1) (a) The Division of Criminal Justice shall develop and approve a training course and curriculum on the handling, investigation, and response procedures concerning reports of domestic violence and abuse and neglect of the elderly and disabled. [This]
(b) In accordance with the provisions of section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the training course and curriculum also shall include law enforcement officer training on:
(i) conducting a domestic violence danger assessment of an alleged victim of domestic violence; and
(ii) providing notice to an alleged victim if a danger assessment generates a score that indicates an elevated risk of serious bodily injury or death due to a future act of domestic violence; and, with the consent of the alleged victim, facilitating the immediate provision of services to the victim through a domestic crisis team or other services available to victims of domestic violence.
(c) The training course and curriculum shall be reviewed at least every two years and modified by the Division of Criminal Justice from time to time as need may require. The Division of Criminal Justice shall distribute the curriculum to all local police agencies.
(2) The Attorney General shall be responsible for ensuring training as follows:
(a) all law enforcement officers shall attend initial training within 90 days of appointment or transfer and annual in-service training of at least four hours as described in this section. Once every three years, this in-service training requirement shall be satisfied through in-person instructor-led training.
(b) all assistant county prosecutors involved in the handling of domestic violence cases shall attend initial training within 90 days of appointment or transfer and annual in-service training of at least four hours as described in this section.
b. (1) The Administrative Director of the Courts shall develop and approve a training course and a curriculum for all municipal court judges, Superior Court judges responsible for theadjudication of domestic violence