SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 264

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: JANUARY 29, 1996

 

The Senate Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 264.

      The Senate Judiciary Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 264.

      P.L.1995, c.44, recently codified into Title 2B the law governing the qualification and selection of jurors. Part of this statutory enactment removed the per se disqualification from jury service of persons convicted of an indictable offense. The new law automatically disqualifies an individual convicted of an indictable offense only if that person is serving a sentence of imprisonment, or is on probation or parole as a result of that conviction. Persons who have completed their prison sentence or are no longer on probation or parole are now eligible for jury service regardless of whether they are still subject to some form of official restraint as a result of that conviction. This bill restores the historical per se disqualification of convicted criminals from jury service. Those convicted of crimes would not be eligible for jury service regardless of whether they are still subject to some form of official restraint as a result of that conviction.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.