the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy has officially signed a new piece of legislation aimed at cracking down on home invasions and burglaries in New Jersey. Joined by Edison Mayor Sam Joshi and law enforcement leaders, Murphy signed the bill at the Edison Municipal Complex, introducing tougher penalties for those found guilty of these crimes. The law, which is effective immediately, targets both adult and juvenile offenders.
Tougher Penalties for Home Invasions and Burglaries
Under the new law, home invasions are now classified as first-degree crimes, and those convicted could face 10 to 20 years in prison, fines of up to $200,000, or both. Home invasion burglary is defined as entering a residence, causing bodily harm, or being armed with a weapon.
Residential burglaries are now elevated to second-degree crimes, carrying penalties of 5 to 10 years in state prison and fines of up to $150,000. These crimes also fall under the No Early Release Act, which requires convicts to serve at least 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Additionally, those found guilty may be denied professional licenses by the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Governor Murphy emphasized the need for the legislation, pointing to recent home invasions in Edison and the tragic death of Detective Sergeant Monica Mosley in Cumberland County during a home invasion just days prior. “This is a national dilemma. We are neither unique and at the same time we are not exempt,” said Murphy, describing the law as “tough medicine” for a growing problem.
A Bipartisan Effort to Address Rising Crime
The bill garnered bipartisan support in the state legislature, and Central Jersey legislators like Mayor Sam Joshi were vocal advocates. Joshi testified before the state Senate and Assembly committees, pushing for stronger deterrents after Edison experienced an uptick in burglaries and home invasions. “The current laws sympathized more with the perpetrators than the victims,” Joshi said, reflecting on the emotional impact these crimes have on communities.
Last year, three juveniles attempted to break into Edison resident Kiran Arora’s home in the middle of the night, leaving her shaken for months. Arora hopes the new law will prevent similar incidents, saying, “If you can do the crime, you can definitely pay the time. I don’t care how old you are.”
A Focus on Juvenile Crime and Repercussions
One of the more controversial aspects of the law is its impact on juveniles. Under the new regulations, teens as young as 15 can face prison terms of up to 20 years for home invasions. While some see this as a necessary deterrent, others, like Senator Timberlake, voted against the measure due to concerns about minors being tried as adults. Timberlake argued for reform that prioritizes rehabilitating youth rather than imposing harsh sentences, saying, “My decision to vote against this bill was not about opposing stronger penalties, but about resisting provisions that would perpetuate charging minors as adults.”
Mixed Reactions from Experts
While the bill has broad political support, not everyone agrees on its effectiveness. Todd Clear, a criminologist at Rutgers Law School, cautions that longer prison sentences have not consistently proven to reduce crime. “Over the last 40 years, studies found that when the law was changed to add years to prison sentences, there was little or no evidence of additional deterrent impact,” Clear noted.
Despite these concerns, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin underscored the state’s commitment to fighting residential crime, pointing to recent reductions in violent crime across New Jersey. “With these harsher penalties, we are taking another step in the fight against residential crime,” Platkin said.
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next joke
they will plead out to lesser charges
we need a 3 strikes law.. career criminals do not belong among law abiding citizens
Passing laws MAKES IT LOOK like they are doing something in the fine tradition of the dog and pony show.
They’ve done their part, now it just remains to determine who will be assigned blame when it makes no difference in outcome.
you need to actually enforce the laws and get the criminals off the streets
Listen, I’ll volunteer a few hours every night to ride around for an extra set of eyes so we have to do is give me a radio. So I can call the police. I’ll give them a hand anytime these dirtbags out of here.
CLEARLY, it is an election year….