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Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey establishes counseling standards for domestic violence offenders and creates Abuse Intervention Program Advisory Committee
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary CommitteeSponsors: Carol Murphy and 4 others
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What This Bill Would Do
The bill establishes mandatory operational standards for court-ordered domestic violence counseling programs and creates the Abuse Intervention Program Advisory Committee within the Department of Children and Families. Under the measure, participating programs must incorporate risk assessments, offender accountability protocols, power and control education, attendance tracking, and compliance reviews. Additionally, the Department of Children and Families is directed to select and fund an evidence-based model in consultation with the newly formed committee.
Defendants ordered by a court to attend domestic violence counseling must enroll in programs meeting specific state-mandated standards, and state agencies gain a formalized advisory body to guide the funding and selection of intervention models.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Defendants ordered into domestic violence counseling
Defendants must participate in counseling programs that meet specific mandated components, maintain attendance protocols, and provide documentation of completion to dissolve final orders.
Department of Children and Families
The department houses the advisory committee, selects and funds intervention program models, provides technical assistance, and conducts compliance reviews.
Domestic violence advocates and community providers
Representatives from advocacy groups and treatment providers participate on the advisory committee and deliver counseling services to offenders.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What mandatory components must court-ordered domestic violence counseling programs contain?
Who sits on the newly created Abuse Intervention Program Advisory Committee?
Which state agency is responsible for funding and selecting the intervention program models?
What else do you want to know?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Formalization of Counseling Standards
The legislation transitions court-ordered domestic violence counseling from general judicial discretion to standardized, evidence-based program requirements overseen by a dedicated state advisory committee.
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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