New domestic violence bill cleared Committee

The New Jersey Assembly’s Judiciary Committee has cleared a package of bills intended to help domestic violence victims in New Jersey.

One of the measures sponsored by Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, would set up a pilot program allowing for satellite-based monitoring of people convicted of domestic violence crimes.

Greenstein stated: “I think this will go a long way toward protecting the domestic violence victims. Right now many of them are at the mercy of the offenders and this will make sure they can be tracked either through the parole department or some other law enforcement department.”

Another bill would make criminal coercion, the unlawful restriction of someone’s freedom, an act of domestic violence. A third measure would create a self-defense justification for victims and a fourth bill would extend protections for domestic abuse victims who have to break a lease.

The full Assembly is expected to act on the legislation later this week.

By: Phil Gregory
philgregorynews@gmail.com