Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen, Passaic) to study the malicious practice of predatory alienation is now law after it was signed by Governor Chris Christie.

Sen. Cardinale’s bill to study the malicious practice of predatory alienation was signed into law. (©iStock)

“These deceptive individuals target young people, as well as seniors, in order to isolate them from their loved ones so they can con them out of their money and dignity,” Senator Cardinale said.

The legislation, S-2562, directs the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Human Services to conduct a joint study and make recommendations concerning predatory alienation and its effects on young adults and senior citizens. Predatory alienation is the act purposefully disrupting an existing relationship, often through the use of deception, in order to isolate a person from the people that he or she trusts, for the purpose of exploiting, controlling, or taking advantage of that individual.

The study would focus on things like how online predators, human traffickers and other con artists use predatory tactics to isolate others from their families and friends. It will make specific note of why young adults and seniors are vulnerable to predatory alienation and research what they can do to protect themselves.

“Even some of the most loving families have been torn apart by this tactic,” Senator Cardinale said. “If we can obtain a better understanding of how these manipulative predators work, we can formulate a plan to fight against them. I want to thank Senator Weinberg for being a prime sponsor of this bill and helping to raise awareness about this important issue.”