The ACLU of New Jersey has expressed concerns over the recent signing of bill S3006/3204. The bill aims to increase criminal penalties for specific burglary charges, a move that the ACLU-NJ believes could exacerbate issues related to mass incarceration.
ACLU-NJ Policy Director Sarah Fajardo stated, "S3006/3204 is yet another example of prioritizing tough-on-crime policies that lack evidence of their effectiveness. By increasing criminal penalties for certain burglary charges, this bill will only serve to further fuel mass incarceration and funnel young people into the criminal legal system."
Fajardo emphasized that reports indicate a steady decline in burglaries across New Jersey in recent years. She suggested that it is time for lawmakers to consider "data-driven solutions that prioritize humanity over punishment."
The organization remains critical of measures it sees as potentially harmful and not supported by current crime data trends.
