This bill amends the New Jersey Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (PDVA) to ensure that final restraining orders remain in effect after the death of the plaintiff, provided that there are additional individuals listed as protected persons on the order. Currently, final restraining orders do not automatically expire upon the death of the recipient, but this bill clarifies that such orders will continue to protect other designated individuals, thereby enhancing their safety and legal standing.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that prosecutors must notify all protected persons listed on a final restraining order when a defendant is released from custody, addressing a gap in current law that only requires notification to the primary victim. This change aims to improve the safety and awareness of all parties involved in domestic violence cases. The bill also includes provisions for modifying or dissolving final restraining orders, stipulating that such changes can only be made by the original judge or one with access to the complete case record, and emphasizes the importance of conducting a search of the domestic violence central registry before issuing any orders.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:25-26.1, 2C:25-29