This bill proposes various revisions to the Crime Victims Bill of Rights in New Jersey, enhancing the rights and protections afforded to crime victims and witnesses. Key changes include expanding the process for plea negotiations, allowing victims to communicate their perspectives to the prosecuting authority before and during plea negotiations, and requiring prosecutors to inform the court of the victim's position unless the victim requests otherwise. Additionally, the bill establishes a procedure for judges to ensure that victims have had adequate opportunities to consult with the prosecuting authority regarding plea agreements.

The bill also mandates that law enforcement agencies provide incident reports to victims or their attorneys within five days when there is a pending application for a domestic violence or sexual assault restraining order. Furthermore, it broadens the definition of "victim" to include parents or legal guardians acting on behalf of minor victims. Lastly, the bill clarifies the role of the Victim and Witness Advocacy Fund in awarding grants to a wider range of service providers and county-based programs that assist victims of violence, while removing specific enumerated organizations from eligibility.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:4B-36, 52:4B-36.2, 52:4B-37, 52:4B-43.1