In a move aimed at curbing rising home invasions and burglaries, Gov. Phil Murphy signed new legislation this week that significantly toughens penalties for offenders, including juveniles.
At a press event at the Edison Municipal Complex, joined by Mayor Sam Joshi and law enforcement leaders, Murphy emphasized the urgent need for harsher consequences to address the growing threat to residents’ safety.
Under the new law, home invasions are elevated to a first-degree crime, carrying a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years, along with a fine of up to $200,000.
Residential burglaries now classify as second-degree crimes, with guilty parties facing 5 to 10 years behind bars and fines up to $150,000.
If a home invasion involves bodily harm or a weapon, the penalties could be even more severe.
Convicts are also subject to the No Early Release Act, requiring them to serve at least 85% of their sentence before being eligible for parole.
Murphy’s motivation for the bill stems from a series of home invasions across Edison, with families left devastated by the invasion of their sanctuaries.
Tragically, just last week, Detective Sgt. Monica Mosley of the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office was fatally shot during a home invasion, further underscoring the need for immediate action.
“This is a national dilemma, and we are not exempt,” Murphy said. “We’re seeing the fundamental promise of safety in our homes shattered, and that’s unacceptable.”
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin echoed these sentiments, stating that while New Jersey has seen a reduction in violent crime, the state must remain vigilant.
“When that feeling of security is violated, it leaves families feeling helpless and vulnerable,” he said.
Mayor Joshi, who played a key role in pushing the legislation forward, shared his own city’s struggles with the growing trend of home invasions, particularly those involving juveniles.
“The current laws sympathized more with perpetrators than victims,” Joshi said, recalling a terrifying incident in which juveniles attempted to break into a local resident’s home with a crowbar.
“We needed a change, and this bill delivers that.”
The legislation also makes it possible for those convicted of home invasions and burglaries to be denied professional licenses, adding another layer of consequences to deter offenders.
However, not everyone believes the new law will achieve its goals. Criminologist Todd Clear, a professor at Rutgers Law School, expressed skepticism, citing decades of research suggesting that longer sentences rarely serve as effective deterrents.
“Over the last 40 years, studies have shown little evidence that adding years to prison sentences has a significant impact on reducing crime,” he said.
Despite this, the law has received bipartisan support, with many hoping it will send a strong message that home invasions and burglaries will not be tolerated.
While only time will tell how effective the new measures will be, the message from New Jersey’s leadership is clear: the state is taking a hard stance on protecting its citizens from the threat of home invasions.
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