Sumter, Mukherji, Taliaferro Bill to Expand Municipal Court Conditional Dismissal Program Passes Assembly

(TRENTON) – Pushing ahead toward social justice reform, the full Assembly approved legislation Thursday that would expand municipal court conditional dismissal program to include defendants charged with certain drug offenses and allow dismissal of charges after a one-year probationary period. The bill is sponsored by Assembly Democrats Shavonda Sumter (D-Bergen, Passaic), Raj Mukherji (D-Hudson), and Adam Taliaferro (D-Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem).

The Assembly passed the measure (A-4368), 73-0-1, which would expand the current conditional dismissal program in municipal court to include certain drug offenses and to require the defendant to participate in various programs and services.

The bill’s sponsors issued the following statement:

“This is a second-chance bill. So many have had to carry the burden of one unlawful infraction with them on their record throughout their entire lives. It can have a lifelong impact, impeding a person’s efforts to find a job or even applying for professional licensure. A first time offender’s responsible efforts to pay their fines, meet probationary requirements and get the support they need through services and programs should be worth an opportunity for a clean slate.”

    The bill will now go to the Senate for further consideration.