TRENTON, N.J. — A bipartisan bill that would create a new criminal offense for politically motivated violence in New Jersey advanced Thursday through the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Doug Steinhardt, R-Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren, and Sen. Brian Stack, D-Hudson, would establish the crime of political violence and create an independent review board to oversee investigations and prosecutions involving such offenses.
The proposal also would require specialized training for law enforcement officials.
“This political violence bill protects everyone—Conservative, Liberal, and Independent,” said Sen. Steinhardt. “No person should fear hate-fueled political violence for expressing their opinion, and anyone who resorts to such violence to silence that opinion will suffer the full weight of the law. Hate-fueled political violence hurts everyone and erodes the very principles on which our Republic was built.”
According to the legislation, political violence would apply when a person commits, attempts to commit or conspires to commit a violent crime against a victim because of that person’s political affiliation or political expression.
The bill also would apply to crimes targeting family members or bystanders connected to the intended victim.
“I’m proud to stand with Doug on this critical legislation and will do everything I can to help move it through the legislative process,” said Sen. Stack. “Politically motivated violence is an attack on the foundation of our democracy. No one in this country should live in fear for speaking their mind, and elected officials must be able to govern free from threats, harassment, or attempts to silence them for their beliefs. This bill protects people’s rights to participate in our democracy freely and without fear. By imposing tougher penalties, we are making it clear: if you use violence to punish, deter, or silence a victim from engaging in political expression or participation, there will be consequences. Enough is enough; this kind of behavior has no place in a free society.”
The legislation is intended to address growing concerns over politically motivated threats and violence while ensuring investigations are conducted fairly and independently.
The bill now advances for further consideration in the Legislature.
