In an editorial, Jersey City mayoral candidate Jim McGreevey, also the executive director of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation, stakes his case on why New Jersey needs to pass the Survivor Justice Act immediately.
The New Jersey Reentry Corporation’s (NJRC) 2025 Women’s Project report, Sentencing Reform for Criminalized Survivors of Abuse in New Jersey, presents a compelling critique of how New Jersey’s criminal legal system lacks the necessary mechanisms to appropriately address survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and familial abuse.
The report outlines clear policy recommendations for implementing trauma-informed reforms, most notably through the proposed Survivors Justice Act (SJA).
Women who are victims of interpersonal violence are often revictimized by the justice system for actions tied to their abuse, including self-defense, post-relationship offenses like drug possession, or crimes committed under coercion.
New Jersey must join other states in allowing judges to “look back” at a survivor’s abuse history to make informed sentencing decisions based on their whole story, not isolated incidents.
In 2023, Hudson County witnessed a tragic concentration of domestic violence fatalities, with four women killed in a single month, two of whom were teachers in Jersey City.
This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect survivors and prevent further loss of life. (Patch)
Statewide, there were 70,828 domestic violence incidents reported by police in 2023, marking a 5% increase from the previous year.
These figures highlight the pervasive nature of domestic violence and the necessity for legislative measures like the SJA to address the underlying issues contributing to such incidents. (New Jersey Official Site)
Sexual violence remains a critical concern in Hudson County. Organizations like Hudson SPEAKS provide essential services to survivors, including counseling and advocacy, yet the demand for support continues to outpace available resources.
This gap in services emphasizes the importance of comprehensive legislation that addresses the needs of sexual assault survivors within the criminal justice system. (New Jersey Official Site)
Human trafficking is another pressing issue in New Jersey, with the National Human Trafficking Hotline identifying 2,107 cases and 4,416 victims in the state since its inception.
These numbers likely underrepresent the true scope of the problem, as many cases go unreported due to fear and coercion. The SJA would provide a framework for recognizing and addressing the unique circumstances faced by trafficking survivors who become entangled in the criminal justice system. (National Human Trafficking Hotline)
Thankfully, First Lady Tammy Murphy has made extraordinary efforts to tackle infant and maternal mortality, promote vocational education opportunities, and expand healthcare services for women in the court system.
One more worthy challenge facing our State would significantly benefit New Jersey’s women: the SJA.
I am most grateful to Governor Murphy for the criminal justice reforms he has implemented throughout his administration.
In December 2024, he pardoned 33 individuals and commuted the sentences of three women, all survivors of interpersonal violence.
Among them was Dawn Jackson, who had served a 30-year sentence since 1999 for fatally stabbing her step-grandfather after enduring sexual abuse from the age of five.
Jackson’s story, shared during NJRC’s April 3rd presentation in Trenton, underscores the urgent need for an SJA in New Jersey. The Act would extend the Governor’s legacy of Second Chances.
According to the New Jersey Department of Corrections (2023), 72% of first-time violent offenders at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women had previously been abused by their victims.
Many survivors suffer long-term effects such as PTSD or traumatic brain injuries, impairing decision-making and emotional regulation. Some are driven to illegal actions for survival; abusers coerce others through threats or manipulation.
NJRC’s report, drawing on legal analysis, national models, and similar laws in other states, shows that current sentencing practices do not adequately consider this trauma.
The proposed SJA would permit courts to view a survivor’s history of abuse as a mitigating factor in both initial sentencing and resentencing.
It applies broadly to individuals convicted of any offense, whether by plea or trial. Courts would operate under a rebuttable presumption favoring alternative or reduced sentencing when a preponderance of evidence shows a history of abuse.
Critically, the SJA adopts flexible evidentiary standards, recognizing that trauma, fear, and stigma often prevent survivors from documenting their abuse through police or medical reports.
Judges would be empowered to issue non-carceral alternatives, such as probation, conditional discharge, or pretrial intervention, for individuals criminalized as a direct result of their survival strategies.
State Senator Teresa Ruiz has long supported legislation benefiting survivors of domestic violence and trafficking.
She co-sponsored S-1809, which addresses coercive control in restraining orders, and S-1211, enabling civil suits against those who profit from human trafficking. She also backed S-1407, requiring Medicaid coverage for violence prevention services, highlighting her commitment to survivors.
Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, has also been instrumental in expanding support for survivors.
In 2024, she secured increased funding for the Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Fund, improving access to shelters, trauma counseling, and legal aid across New Jersey.
She sponsored A4101, which strengthens legal protections for survivors by extending the duration of restraining orders and increasing penalties for violations.
Speaker Craig Coughlin and Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, longtime advocates for domestic violence survivors, led several key legislative initiatives.
Assemblywoman Lopez sponsored A2350, enacted in 2023, mandating trauma-informed domestic violence training for all New Jersey law enforcement.
Speaker Coughlin and the Assemblywoman also advocated for the “Safe Homes Act” (A3129), offering emergency housing to people fleeing abusive situations.
If passed, the SJA would align New Jersey with states such as New York, Oklahoma, and Illinois, where similar laws have resulted in the release and resentencing of incarcerated survivors.
It would also ensure that future sentencing is trauma-informed, equitable, and just.
These reforms have enjoyed bipartisan support in other states. New Jersey advocates and lawmakers increasingly agree that the state’s criminal justice system must evolve to recognize and respond to survivors’ experiences.
The Survivors Justice Act presents a pivotal opportunity to address systemic injustices and bring about meaningful change.
I am most grateful to Governor and First Lady Murphy, Senator Ruiz, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, Chairwoman Pintor Marin, and Assemblywoman Lopez for their advocacy, leadership, and support of survivors’ justice.
