New JerseyProsecutors could file certain forgery and fraud cases without deadlines
Certain court orders involving the same victim would allow fraud charges without a filing deadline, but only for offenses committed on or after the law takes effect.
What it does
Prosecutors could file forgery and fraud cases without a deadline based on current or past domestic violence restraining orders or certain no-contact orders involving the same victim. Only offenses on or after the law takes effect would qualify.
Argument forVictims who report covered fraud years later could still have prosecutors consider charges, even after the usual five-year deadline.
Argument againstWithout a filing deadline, accused people could face charges decades later, when records may be missing and memories less clear.
More detail
Prosecutors could start cases under New Jersey’s forgery and fraud chapter without a filing deadline. Covered crimes include forgery, falsifying records, and identity theft. One route requires a current or past temporary or final domestic violence restraining order against the accused protecting the same victim. Alternatively, when the offense occurred, the accused must have been or previously been under a court order barring contact with that victim under N.J.S.2C:28-5.1. The change would take effect immediately if enacted. It would cover offenses committed on or after that date; earlier offenses would keep the existing five-year deadline.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 19Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary CommitteeIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety