Domestic Violence Victims Would Receive More Protections Under Bills Advanced In Committee 

Leaving a domestic violence situation can be both difficult and dangerous. Today, the Assembly Judiciary Committee advanced several bills aimed at easing domestic violence victims’ path to safety. The legislation would address the unjust penalties and sentencing imposed for crimes committed under duress, reinforce domestic violence restraining orders, and expand training of coercive control for judges and law enforcement officers. The bills advanced following moving testimony from women who lived through abuse and prevailed, but who still contend with the lasting aftermath. 

“When a person makes the courageous choice to speak up about abuse they’ve faced, we have a responsibility to ensure they receive the protections they need to feel safe,” said Assembly Judiciary Committee Chair, Assemblywoman Ellen Park (D-Bergen). “These bills would ensure that survivors are not unfairly punished for actions they would never have taken had they not been living under the control of someone who was actively harming them, while also increasing accountability for abusers, preventing them from further victimizing the survivors.”

Read more: Domestic Violence Victims Would Receive More Protections Under Bills Advanced In Committee 

Victims of domestic violence who fear for their lives, the lives of other family members or who cannot see a means by which to escape the situation may ultimately resort to violence against their abusers. Two bills, sponsored by Assemblywomen Yvonne Lopez and Eliana Pintor Marin and advanced today, would give certain survivors a second chance to rebuild their lives if the domestic violence or abuse they endured was a contributing factor in their crime or conviction.

“We must also recognize that abuse can shape a survivor’s decisions in ways that are not always visible, and that this trauma has too often stood in the way of fair and just treatment,” said Assemblywoman Lopez (D-Middlesex). “The bills advanced today help address that reality, ensuring the impact of abuse is considered during sentencing and by creating a pathway for survivors to revisit past convictions that were shaped by the violence they endured.”

A5968 would establish a new mitigating factor, reduced sentencing or resentencing if the defendant was a victim of domestic violence at the time of the offense or if the abuse contributed to the crime, allowing for a more trauma-informed process in sentencing.

For certain defendants who have already been convicted, A5969 would provide an expungement process if they were victims of abuse or if the domestic violence was a contributing factor to their conviction.

“These bills are a crucial step in ensuring that victims feel seen and understood,” said Assemblywoman Pintor Marin (D-Essex, Hudson). “They do not excuse the crimes committed or remove accountability. Rather, they would ensure that the fear, suffering and trauma these individuals experienced is taken into account when trying to understand the circumstances that led to a life-changing mistake.”

Sponsored by Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, A5905 would require court and law enforcement officers to notify the State Parole Board when a parolee violates a domestic violence restraining order, closing an information gap that could affect that person’s parole status. Such violations could reflect a disregard for both the law and the safety of the victim, and proper enforcement would strengthen the effectiveness of the restraining order, helping prevent further targeting of the victim.

“The unfortunate reality is there is no guarantee that someone who has already crossed legal boundaries will respect a domestic violence restraining order,” said Assemblywoman Speight (D-Essex, Hudson). “By requiring that violations are reported to the State Parole Board, this bill would create an immediate and enforceable consequence for the offense, keeping the victim safe from their abuser.”

A5610, sponsored by Assemblywomen Yvonne Lopez, Andrea Katz, and Mitchelle Drulis, would expand domestic violence training for judges and law enforcement officers to include education on coercive control, building on a law enacted in 2024. Coercive control can involve isolating a victim from friends and family, depriving them of basic necessities, threatening harm to them or their loved ones (including pets), and more, all of which can further trap victims, deepening an abuser’s control.

“Protecting survivors is one of the most fundamental responsibilities we have and by expanding training to recognize coercive control, we’re making sure our judges and law enforcement understand the realities that far too many victims experience in their daily lives,” added Assemblywoman Lopez.