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 an act of criminal homicide—excluding death by auto—against a law enforcement officer who was performing their official duties or due to their status as an officer, the court must waive jurisdiction without the juvenile's consent. This provision is a significant addition to the existing law, which already allows for waivers in cases of serious offenses committed by juveniles aged 15 and older.

Additionally, the bill provides that the court may deny a prosecutor's motion to waive jurisdiction if it finds that seeking the waiver constitutes an abuse of discretion. The Attorney General is tasked with developing guidelines to ensure uniform application of this law across the state. This legislation aims to address the serious nature of crimes against law enforcement personnel and reflects a shift in how the justice system may handle juvenile offenders in such cases.

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