National Police Association Supports New Jersey Bill to Strengthen Penalties for Assaulting Officers

The bill also targets assaults involving bodily fluids, enhancing penalties when injuries occur and requiring testing of offenders.Photo byAlbert StoynovonUnsplash

The National Police Association (NPA) has voiced its support for New Jersey Assembly Bill 2378, which aims to increase penalties for assaults against law enforcement officers. In written testimony provided to the New Jersey Assembly, the NPA emphasized the growing need for stronger legal consequences as violence against officers continues to rise.

Assembly Bill 2378 proposes elevating the penalty for assaulting a police officer from a fourth-degree to a second-degree offense, which could result in a prison sentence of five to ten years and fines up to $150,000. The legislation also includes provisions to prevent offenders from pleading guilty to lesser charges, ensuring that assaults on officers are met with significant repercussions.

The bill also targets assaults involving bodily fluids, enhancing penalties when injuries occur and requiring testing of offenders for potential disease transmission to protect officers' health.

"Assaulting a police officer is not just an attack on an individual—it's an attack on our community and public safety," said Paula Fitzsimmons, NPA’s Legislative Director. With assaults on officers reaching a 10-year high, including over 79,000 incidents in 2023, the NPA urges swift passage of the bill.