This bill amends New Jersey's criminal homicide laws to incorporate specific provisions related to stalking, allowing for the classification of a stalking victim's death as criminal homicide under certain conditions. It introduces stalking as an aggravating factor in sentencing, meaning that if a defendant is convicted of murder or manslaughter in connection with stalking, the court may impose a more severe sentence. The bill specifically adds language to N.J.S.2C:11-3 and N.J.S.A.2C:11-4, indicating that causing the death of another person during stalking can result in a conviction for aggravated manslaughter. Additionally, it modifies the definition of reckless vehicular homicide in N.J.S.2C:11-5 to allow for an inference of recklessness if the defendant was stalking the victim at the time of the incident.

Moreover, the bill establishes that a person who commits stalking may also be charged with felony murder if another person is killed during the commission of stalking or in the immediate flight from it. This redefinition aligns stalking with other serious crimes that can lead to felony murder charges. The legislation also adds stalking as the 16th aggravating factor for courts to consider during sentencing, which could lead to harsher penalties for offenders with a history of stalking the victim. Overall, the bill aims to enhance legal consequences for stalking and related offenses, thereby providing greater protection for victims and deterring such criminal behavior.