The bill amends New Jersey's theft and computer criminal activity laws to allow for the aggregation of the value of stolen property across multiple criminal episodes or transactions occurring within a two-year period. It introduces new legal language that permits the trier of fact to determine the amount involved in a theft or computer crime, which may include any state tax avoided or unpaid. This aggregation applies regardless of whether the offenses were committed against the same or different victims and whether they took place in a single county or across multiple counties. Additionally, if an individual has a prior conviction within the last two years, that amount can be included in the aggregation for prosecuting a new offense.

The bill also establishes new community service requirements for shoplifting convictions, mandating a minimum of ten days for a first offense, 15 days for a second, and up to 25 days for third or subsequent offenses, along with a minimum 90-day imprisonment for repeat offenders. It reinforces the presumption of intent to deprive merchants of their property when merchandise is concealed and grants law enforcement and merchants the authority to detain suspected shoplifters under specific conditions without incurring liability. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the prosecution of theft-related crimes and strengthen penalties for repeat offenders.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:20-7.1, 2C:20-10.1, 2C:20-10.2