Bill Text: NJ A4778 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Allows expungement of multiple crimes and offenses resulting from one-time spree under certain circumstances.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-11-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [A4778 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2014-A4778-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY, No. 4778

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 16, 2015

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  REED GUSCIORA

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Assemblywoman  ELIZABETH MAHER MUOIO

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Allows expungement of multiple crimes and offenses resulting from one-time spree under certain circumstances.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning expungement and amending various sections of chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

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

 

1.      N.J.S.2C:52-2 is amended to read as follows:

     2C:52-2. Indictable Offenses; Related Non-Indictable Offenses.

     a.     In all cases, except as herein provided, [wherein] a person who has been convicted [of a crime] under the laws of this State of a crime or crimes, or crimes and disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offenses, arising from one act or multiple acts committed within a comparatively short time and set out in a single judgment of conviction or in multiple judgments of conviction entered on the same day, and who otherwise has not been convicted of any prior or subsequent crime, whether within this State or any other jurisdiction, and otherwise has not been adjudged a disorderly person or petty disorderly person on more than two occasions, the person may, after the expiration of a period of 10 years from the date of his conviction or convictions, payment of fine, satisfactory completion of probation or parole, or release from incarceration, whichever is later, present a duly verified petition as provided in N.J.S.2C:52-7 to the Superior Court in the county in which the conviction was entered, or convictions were entered, praying that [such] the conviction or convictions and all records and information pertaining thereto be expunged.

     Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a petition may be filed and presented, and the court may grant an expungement pursuant to this section, although less than 10 years has expired in accordance with the requirements of the preceding paragraph where the court finds:

     (1)   less than 10 years has expired from the satisfaction of a fine, but the 10-year time requirement is otherwise satisfied, and the court finds that the person substantially complied with any payment plan ordered pursuant to N.J.S.2C:46-1 et seq., or could not do so due to compelling circumstances affecting his ability to satisfy the fine; or

     (2)   at least five years has expired from the date of his conviction or convictions, payment of fine, satisfactory completion of probation or parole, or release from incarceration, whichever is later; the person has not been convicted of a crime, disorderly persons offense, or petty disorderly persons offense since the time of the conviction or convictions; and the court finds in its discretion that expungement is in the public interest, giving due consideration to the nature of the offense or offenses, and the applicant's character and conduct since the conviction or convictions.

     In determining whether compelling circumstances exist for the purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, a court may consider the amount of the fine or fines imposed, the person's age at the time of the offense or offenses, the person's financial condition and other relevant circumstances regarding the person's ability to pay.

     Although subsequent convictions for no more than two disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offenses shall not be an absolute bar to relief, the nature of [those] any such conviction or convictions and the circumstances surrounding them shall be considered by the court and may be a basis for denial of relief if they or either of them constitute a continuation of the type of unlawful activity embodied in the [criminal] conviction or convictions for which expungement is sought.

     b.    Records of conviction pursuant to statutes repealed by this Code for the crimes of murder, manslaughter, treason, anarchy, kidnapping, rape, forcible sodomy, arson, perjury, false swearing, robbery, embracery, or a conspiracy or any attempt to commit any of the foregoing, or aiding, assisting or concealing persons accused of the foregoing crimes, shall not be expunged.

     Records of conviction for the following crimes specified in the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice shall not be subject to expungement: N.J.S.2C:11-1 et seq. (Criminal Homicide), except death by auto as specified in N.J.S.2C:11-5; N.J.S.2C:13-1 (Kidnapping); section 1 of P.L.1993, c.291 (C.2C:13-6) (Luring or Enticing); section 1 of P.L.2005, c.77 (C.2C:13-8) (Human Trafficking); N.J.S.2C:14-2 (Sexual Assault or Aggravated Sexual Assault); [N.J.S.2C:14-3a] subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:14-3 (Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact); if the victim is a minor, [N.J.S.2C:14-3b] subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:14-3 (Criminal Sexual Contact); if the victim is a minor and the offender is not the parent of the victim, N.J.S.2C:13-2 (Criminal Restraint) or N.J.S.2C:13-3 (False Imprisonment); N.J.S.2C:15-1 (Robbery); N.J.S.2C:17-1 (Arson and Related Offenses); [N.J.S.2C:24-4a.] subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:24-4 (Endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child, or causing the child other harm); [N.J.S.2C:24-4b(4)] paragraph (4) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:24-4 ([Endangering the welfare of] Photographing or filming a child in a prohibited sexual act); [N.J.S.2C:24-4b.(3)] paragraph (3) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:24-4 (Causing or permitting a child to engage in a prohibited sexual act); [N.J.S.2C:24-4b.(5)(a)] subparagraph (a) of paragraph (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:24-4 (Distributing, possessing with intent to distribute or using a file-sharing program to store items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child); [N.J.S.2C:24-4b.(5)(b)] subparagraph (b) of paragraph (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:24-4 (Possessing or viewing items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child); N.J.S.2C:28-1 (Perjury); N.J.S.2C:28-2 (False Swearing); [N.J.S.2C:34-1b.(4)] paragraph (4) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:34-1 (Knowingly promoting the prostitution of the actor's child); section 2 of P.L.2002, c.26 (C.2C:38-2) (Terrorism); subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.2002, c.26 (C.2C:38-3) (Producing or Possessing Chemical Weapons, Biological Agents or Nuclear or Radiological Devices); and conspiracies or attempts to commit such crimes.

     Records of conviction for any crime committed by a person holding any public office, position or employment, elective or appointive, under the government of this State or any agency or political subdivision thereof and any conspiracy or attempt to commit such a crime shall not be subject to expungement if the crime involved or touched such office, position or employment.

     c.     In the case of conviction for the sale or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance or possession thereof with intent to sell, expungement shall be denied except where the crimes involve:

     (1)   Marijuana, where the total quantity sold, distributed or possessed with intent to sell was 25 grams or less;

     (2)   Hashish, where the total quantity sold, distributed or possessed with intent to sell was five grams or less; or

     (3)   Any controlled dangerous substance provided that the conviction is of the third or fourth degree, where the court finds that expungement is consistent with the public interest, giving due consideration to the nature of the offense and the petitioner's character and conduct since conviction.

     d.    In the case of a State licensed physician or podiatrist convicted of an offense involving drugs or alcohol or pursuant to section 14 or 15 of P.L.1989, c.300 (C.2C:21-20 or 2C:21-4.1), the court shall notify the State Board of Medical Examiners upon receipt of a petition for expungement of the conviction and records and information pertaining thereto.

(cf: P.L.2013, c.136, s.3)

 

2.      N.J.S.2C:52-3 is amended to read as follows:

     2C:52-3. Disorderly Persons Offenses and Petty Disorderly Persons Offenses.  Any person convicted under the laws of this  State of a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense [under the laws of this State], or convicted of disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, or both, arising from one act or multiple acts committed within a comparatively short time and set out in a single judgment of conviction or in multiple judgments of conviction entered on the same day,  and who otherwise has not been convicted of any prior or subsequent crime, whether within this State or any other jurisdiction, or otherwise of another three disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offenses, may, after the expiration of a period of 5 years from the date of his conviction or convictions, payment of fine, satisfactory completion of probation, or release from incarceration, whichever is later, present a duly verified petition as provided in [section] N.J.S.2C:52-7 [hereof] to the Superior Court in the county in which the conviction was entered, or convictions entered, praying that [such] the conviction or convictions and all records and information pertaining thereto be expunged.

(cf: P.L.1981, c.290, s.43)

 

3.      N.J.S.2C:52-4 is amended to read as follows:

     2C:52-4. Ordinances. In all cases wherein a person has been found guilty of violating a municipal ordinance of any governmental entity of this State, or found guilty of violating municipal ordinances arising from one act or multiple acts committed within a comparatively short time and set out in a single judgment of conviction or in multiple judgments of conviction entered on the same day, and who otherwise has not been convicted of any prior or subsequent crime, whether within this State or any other jurisdiction, and who otherwise has not been adjudged a disorderly person or petty disorderly person on more than two occasions, may, after the expiration of a period of 2 years from the date of his conviction or convictions, payment of fine, satisfactory completion of probation or release from incarceration, whichever is later, present a duly verified petition as provided in [section] N.J.S.2C:52-7 [herein] to the Superior Court in the county in which the violation or violations occurred praying that [such] the conviction or convictions and all records and information pertaining thereto be expunged.

(cf: N.J.S.2C:52-4)

 

4.      This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would allow a person to expunge more than one conviction in certain cases where the multiple convictions were a result of a single act, or of multiple acts committed during a one-time "spree."  

     Currently, N.J.S.2C:52-2 provides that, after a period of 10 years, a person is eligible to expunge the records of a criminal conviction if he "has not been convicted of any prior or subsequent crime" and has not been adjudged a disorderly person or petty disorderly person on more than two occasions.

     In two consolidated cases, In the Matter of the Expungement Petition of J.S. (A-84-13) and In the Matter of the Expungement of the Criminal Records of G.P.B. (A-2-14), 2015 N.J. LEXIS 821, decided on August 10, 2015, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the "prior or subsequent crime" language barred expungement of multiple convictions that were related and close in time.  In one case, the defendant had sold small amounts of marijuana on two occasions, five days apart.  In the other, the defendant had attempted to bribe several public officials over a 24-hour period. Both defendants argued that because their multiple crimes were so close in time and were related, that they should be treated as if they were a single crime.  The Supreme Court disagreed, ruled that the "prior or subsequent crime" language barred expungements of these multiple convictions. 

     This bill would allow the expungement of multiple convictions under such circumstances.  Under the bill, a person would be eligible for expungement if the convictions arose from one act or multiple acts committed within a comparatively short time and set out in a single judgment of conviction or in multiple judgments of conviction entered on the same day.  The bill would apply to the expungement of crimes, disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, and municipal ordinances.

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