The bill, designated as Joseph's Law, amends New Jersey's juvenile waiver law to allow juveniles to be tried as adults for committing homicide against law enforcement officers. Specifically, it stipulates that if there is probable cause to believe that a juvenile committed a delinquent act that would constitute criminal homicide if committed by an adult, and the victim was a law enforcement officer killed while performing their duties or due to their status as an officer, the court shall waive jurisdiction without the juvenile's consent. This provision is in addition to existing criteria for waiving jurisdiction for other serious offenses.

Furthermore, the bill allows the court to deny a prosecutor's motion to waive jurisdiction if it is convinced that the waiver would constitute an abuse of discretion. The Attorney General is tasked with developing guidelines to ensure uniform application of this law across the state. The bill aims to enhance accountability for serious crimes against law enforcement while maintaining judicial oversight in the waiver process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:4A-26.1