NEWARK — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today held a meeting in Newark with law enforcement leaders from across the state to discuss how officers and prosecutors can best use the newly enacted laws that heighten criminal penalties for residential burglaries. The Attorney General also announced the creation of a Statewide Burglary Task Force that will be comprised of law enforcement and prosecutors of all levels to work together to deter, investigate, and prosecute those who choose to burglarize homes. Among the law enforcement leaders joining the Attorney General at the announcement were Peter Andreyev, President of the New Jersey Policemen’s Benevolent Association, and John Russo, President of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP).
The law enforcement roundtable was held at the Department of Law and Public Safety’s office in Newark, bringing together law enforcement officials to strategize on how to best utilize the legislation that was signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy on October 18, 2024, which was designed to combat residential burglaries. Home burglaries have become increasingly linked to auto thefts – with suspects entering residences in search of car keys to steal vehicles from driveways and garages and terrifying the inhabitants of the home in the process – providing an impetus for the new law.
Attendees at the planning meeting today also discussed ways to enhance information sharing among agencies regarding cross-jurisdictional burglary suspects, as well as how to employ the new tools provided in the bipartisan legislation to deter crime and ensure offenders are held accountable.
The Attorney General’s Statewide Burglary Task Force will play a critical role in this effort through high-level intelligence sharing and collaboration among agencies regarding cross-jurisdictional burglary suspects to target those who are responsible for burglarizing residences. The Task Force will also analyze trends and work to implement policies aimed at suppressing these crimes.
“Burglaries and home invasions pose a significant public safety threat and often lead not only to physical harm and the theft of possessions, but also the theft of one’s sense of security, well-being, and peace, something that everyone is entitled to in their own home,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Through close cooperation and coordination with our law enforcement leaders, and through our new Statewide Burglary Task Force, we will be able to help alleviate the concerns of our residents.”
“The Division of Criminal Justice and the entire New Jersey law enforcement community are committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting every act of home invasion that occurs in our State,” said J. Stephen Ferketic, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice. “This new law offers prosecutors and law enforcement professionals across the State important tools to more effectively investigate and prevent these alarming crimes.”
“As officers it is our duty to keep New Jersey’s residents safe. The best way to achieve this is through collaboration and information sharing across agencies,” said Peter Andreyev, President of NJPBA. “Through these efforts, we will be able to best utilize the new tools provided to law enforcement through this new law.”
“I am confident that through collaboration with our state, county, and local partners, we will be able to use the resources and tools afforded to law enforcement to target the small group of individuals in this state who we feel are responsible for these crimes,” said Chief John Russo, President of NJSACOP. “We have done it before, as can be seen with our recent gun violence and shooting reductions, and we will see it again as we move forward with this initiative.”
The new statutes establish the separate crimes of home invasion (1st degree) and residential burglary (2nd degree), with the two new categories carrying heightened potential sentences.
Home invasion occurs when an actor unlawfully enters a home to commit a crime and is either armed with, or armed with what appears to be, a deadly weapon, or inflicts, attempts to inflict, or threatens to inflict bodily injury on a victim. Home invasion is a first-degree crime.
Residential burglary occurs when an actor illegally enters a home to commit a crime, when the circumstances for home invasion are not present. Residential burglary is a second-degree crime.
Both of the new classifications of burglary are subject to the “No Early Release Act,” which requires at least 85 percent of the prison term be served before becoming parole eligible.