[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 688

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

 

 

By Assemblyman ZISA and Assemblywoman WEINBERG

 

 

An Act concerning crime victims and 1notification of law enforcement agencies1 and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. The court may not accept any negotiated plea, any agreement between the prosecution and a defendant concerning an offense to which the defendant will plead guilty, any agreement concerning the defendant's sentence or the dismissal of any charge unless the State has made a reasonable effort to notify the victim of the offense 1[ and the complainant so as to inform them of the arrangement or dismissal] as required by standards adopted pursuant to section 6 of P.L 1985, c.404 (C.52:4B-44) and the law enforcement agency which acted as the complainant in the case1 sufficiently in advance of the court's consideration of the matter to allow the victim and 1[ complainant] the law enforcement agency1 a reasonable opportunity to submit a statement to the prosecutor 1[and the court]1 concerning the impact of the crime and the disposition of the case.

    As used in this act, "victim" has the meaning attributed to it by section 1 of P.L.1985, c.404 (C.52:4B-39). 1 [ "Complainant" means a person who filed charges against the defendant or brought the commission of an offense to the attention of law enforcement authorities.]1

    1The provisions of this section shall not apply to proceedings in municipal court.1

 

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.


                           

 

Requires that crime victims and complainants be notified in advance of pending plea bargains and dismissal of charges.