Bill Text: NJ A1022 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Permits evidence of prior convictions or juvenile adjudications in certain criminal cases.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [A1022 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A1022-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOSEPH R. MALONE, III
District 30 (Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Permits evidence of prior convictions or juvenile adjudications in certain criminal cases.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning the admissibility of certain evidence in criminal proceedings and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, in a criminal prosecution involving any of the following crimes: N.J.S.2C:11-3 (murder); N.J.S.2C:11-4 (manslaughter); paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:12-1 if the victim suffers bodily injury (aggravated assault); N.J.S.2C:13-1 (kidnapping); N.J.S.2C:14-2 (sexual assault); N.J.S.2C:14-3 (criminal sexual contact); N.J.S.2C:15-1 (robbery); or N.J.S.2C:18-2 (burglary), in which an adult defendant introduces, as part of the defense, unsubstantiated abuse while a child, the prosecution may introduce evidence of prior convictions or juvenile adjudications.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that when a defendant in a criminal prosecution involving certain serious offenses introduces unsubstantiated abuse while a child, the prosecution may introduce evidence of prior convictions or juvenile adjudications involving the defendant. It is the sponsor's view that evidence that defendant has a record of offenses should be available as rebuttal to defense evidence introduced to show that the defendants actions resulted from childhood abuse.