Contrary to the impression one may get after reading the headlines regarding the Ray Rice situation (which took place in NJ), the law of NJ takes domestic violence seriously. The NJ Assembly recently passed several pieces of legislation that serve to strengthen the existing domestic violence law. Given the time it takes to author these bills and present them for consideration, it is likely that these proposals have been in the works prior to the release of the Ray Rice video. As reported on NJ.com:
“The Assembly unanimously passed six bills yesterday to address domestic violence, including one that would allow victims to testify in court via video rather than in person.
The action came amid growing concern over domestic violence, which Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera, a Democrat from South Jersey, called a “growing epidemic.” She said her mother was a victim.
Of the six domestic-violence bills, two were advanced by committees earlier in the year, and four were considered by a committee last week, though they were scheduled before the Rice video was made public.
The other bills would:
- Create a task force to review state law, practices and procedures concerning domestic violence;
- Require some people convicted of domestic violence to undergo counseling;
- Create a self-defense justification for victims of domestic violence accused of committing crimes;
- Require police to look for domestic violence retraining orders on people who are arrested;
- Permit victims to secure restraining orders against alleged attackers who are strangers or casual acquaintances.
The Assembly did not take up a bill intended to help victims of domestic violence get out of jail or prison for certain crimes they commit.” www.nj.com
