This bill aims to expand the rights of crime victims in New Jersey by allowing certain non-victims to make in-person statements at sentencing and permitting victims and witnesses to provide testimony at specific post-adjudication hearings. The legislation grants the court discretion to allow a non-victim to speak at sentencing if they have a close personal relationship with the victim or, in homicide cases, are a survivor of the victim. This change seeks to standardize the practice across courts, ensuring that individuals who have meaningful connections to the victim can contribute to the victim impact statements, which are currently inconsistently accepted.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that victims and witnesses of certain sex offenses have the right to be present at hearings related to the offender's registration requirements and risk assessments, as well as Krol hearings concerning individuals acquitted by reason of insanity. However, it also allows the court to exclude a victim from these proceedings if their presence would unreasonably invade the offender's right to privacy. Overall, the bill reinforces the rights of victims while balancing the privacy rights of offenders in specific legal contexts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:4B-36