NJ SJR41

Designates March 9 of each year as U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day in New Jersey, honoring Robert A. Levinson, a retired FBI agent abducted from Iran on March 9, 2007, who remains 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 on designated dates including March 9, Flag Day, Independence Day, August 19 (honoring James Foley), October 7 (Hamas hostages), and November 4/January 20 (Iranian hostage crisis).

Notes that at least 41 Americans were being held hostage or wrongfully detained in 13 countries as of October 2025, with rates of detention increasing since 2015 compared to the previous decade.

Since 2015, 18 Americans have died while in captivity abroad, and in 2024, the average duration of detention for those still held was 5.9 years.

Encourages state and local government entities to display the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag, which features three abstract profiles, tally marks evoking prison wall scratches, and the words "Bring Them Home."