Assembly Bill No. 4835 (1R) amends current law to allow prosecutors to file motions for pretrial detention of defendants charged with contempt of orders under the Victims Assistance and Survivor Protection Act (VASPA). Previously, prosecutors could only seek pretrial detention for contempt violations under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (PDVA). The bill recognizes that violations of orders under both VASPA and PDVA are treated similarly under the contempt statute, where a violation can be classified as a fourth-degree crime if it could also constitute a crime or disorderly persons offense, or as a disorderly persons offense in other cases.

The bill expands the provisions of N.J.S.A.2A:162-19 to include VASPA, thereby enhancing the legal framework for addressing contempt violations related to victim protection. This change aims to strengthen the enforcement of protective orders and improve the safety of victims by allowing for pretrial detention in cases where such orders are violated. The bill does not include any additional data collection requirements or analyses regarding the impacts of these changes on racial and ethnic minorities, as noted in the introductory statement.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:162-19