New Jersey S 3336: Clarifies intent of Legislature that the attempt or conspiracy to commit certain offenses may constitute acts of domestic violence.

Bill Text

S3336 

SENATE, No. 3336 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Diegnan

SYNOPSIS

���� Clarifies intent of Legislature that attempt or 
conspiracy to commit certain offenses may constitute acts of domestic 
violence.� 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� As introduced.

�� 

An Act concerning domestic violence and amending P.L.1991, 
c.261.

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

���� 1.��� Section 3 of P.L.1991, 
c.261 (C.2C:25-19) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.��� As used in this act:

���� a.���� "Domestic 
violence" means the occurrence of one or more of the following acts 
inflicted upon a person protected under this act by an adult or an emancipated 
minor or the attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the following acts:� 

���� (1)�� Homicide��� 
N.J.S.2C:11-1 et seq.

���� (2)�� Assault��� N.J.S.2C:12-1

���� (3)�� Terroristic threats� 
N.J.S.2C:12-3

���� (4)�� Kidnapping��� 
N.J.S.2C:13-1

���� (5)�� Criminal restraint��� 
N.J.S.2C:13-2

���� (6)�� False imprisonment��� 
N.J.S.2C:13-3

���� (7)�� Sexual assault��� 
N.J.S.2C:14-2

���� (8)�� Criminal sexual contact� 
N.J.S.2C:14-3

���� (9)�� Lewdness��� 
N.J.S.2C:14-4

���� (10) Criminal mischief��� 
N.J.S.2C:17-3

���� (11) Burglary��� N.J.S.2C:18-2

���� (12) Criminal trespass��� 
N.J.S.2C:18-3

���� (13) Harassment��� 
N.J.S.2C:33-4

���� (14) Stalking��� P.L.1992, 
c.209 (C.2C:12-10)

���� (15) Criminal coercion��� 
N.J.S.2C:13-5

���� (16) Robbery��� N.J.S.2C:15-1

���� (17) Contempt of a domestic 
violence order pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:29-9 that constitutes a 
crime or disorderly persons offense 

���� (18) Any other crime involving 
risk of death or serious bodily injury to a person protected under the 
"Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 
(C.2C:25-17 et al.)

���� (19) Cyber-harassment 
P.L.2013, c.272 (C.2C:33-4.1)

���� When one or more of these acts 
is inflicted by an unemancipated minor upon a person protected under this act, 
the occurrence shall not constitute "domestic violence," but may be 
the basis for the filing of a petition or complaint pursuant to the provisions 
of section 11 of P.L.1982, c.77 (C.2A:4A-30).

���� b.��� "Law enforcement 
agency" means a department, division, bureau, commission, board or other 
authority of the State or of any political subdivision thereof which employs 
law enforcement officers.

���� c.���� "Law enforcement 
officer" means a person whose public duties include the power to act as an 
officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest and conviction of offenders 
against the laws of this State.

���� d.��� "Victim of domestic 
violence" means a person protected under this act and shall include any 
person who is 18 years of age or older or who is an emancipated minor and who 
has been subjected to domestic violence by a spouse, former spouse, or any 
other person who is a present household member or was at any time a household 
member. "Victim of domestic violence" also includes any person, 
regardless of age, who has been subjected to domestic violence by a person with 
whom the victim has a child in common, or with whom the victim anticipates 
having a child in common, if one of the parties is pregnant.� "Victim of 
domestic violence" also includes any person who has been subjected to 
domestic violence by a person with whom the victim has had a dating relationship.

���� e.���� "Emancipated 
minor" means a person who is under 18 years of age but who has been 
married, has entered military service, has a child or is pregnant or has been 
previously declared by a court or an administrative agency to be emancipated.

(cf: P.L.2016, c.77, s.1)

���� 2.��� This act shall take 
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill amends the 
definition of �domestic violence� to include the attempt or conspiracy to 
commit an act of domestic violence.

���� N.J.S.A.2C:25-19 defines 
�domestic violence� as the occurrence of one or more enumerated acts inflicted 
upon a person under certain circumstances. The enumerated acts are: homicide, 
assault, terroristic threats, kidnapping, criminal restraint, false imprisonment, 
sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, lewdness, criminal mischief, burglary, 
criminal trespass, harassment, stalking, criminal coercion, robbery, contempt 
of a domestic violence order that constitutes a crime or disorderly persons 
offense, or any other crime involving risk of death or serious bodily injury to 
a person protected under the domestic violence statutes. The current definition 
of �domestic violence� does not explicitly include an attempt or conspiracy to 
commit an enumerated act.� 

���� This bill is in response to an 
Appellate Division decision vacating a domestic violence surcharge assessed 
against a defendant who had been convicted of