NJ SJR171

Designates March 9 of each year as U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day in New Jersey to honor past, present, and future American hostages and wrongful detainees

Honors Robert A. Levinson, a retired FBI special agent abducted from Kish Island, Iran on March 9, 2007, who remains missing as the longest-held U.S. hostage at 18 years

Requests the Governor to annually display the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag at the State Capitol building and encourages other state and local government entities to do the same

Specifies flag display dates including March 9, June 14 (Flag Day), July 4, August 19 (honoring James Foley), October 7 (honoring Hamas hostages), and November 4/January 20 (honoring Iranian hostage crisis victims)

Notes that as of 2024, at least 54 Americans were held hostage or wrongfully detained in 17 countries, with the average detention duration being 5.9 years