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NJ A833
Bill
Status
Introduced
1/13/2026
Primary Sponsor
Gerard Scharfenberger
Click for details
AI Summary
- Mandates life imprisonment without parole for anyone convicted of murdering a child 16 years of age or younger, regardless of the circumstances of the crime
- Amends existing New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3) by lowering the protected age threshold from 18 to 16 and removing the requirement that the murder occur during a sexual assault
- Named "Judy and Nikki's Law" in honor of Judy Cajuste (14) and Nicole Giovanni (14), two teenage murder victims from Roselle and Roselle Park, New Jersey
- Applies to any person sentenced on or after the bill's effective date
- Currently, standard murder convictions in New Jersey carry 30 years to life imprisonment with parole eligibility after 30 years; this bill eliminates parole eligibility for child victims
Legislative Description
"Judy and Nikki's Law"; provides for life imprisonment without parole for persons convicted of murder of a child 16 years of age or younger.
Judiciary
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
1/13/2026
Committee Referrals
Judiciary1/13/2026
Full Bill Text
No bill text available