Murphy signs bill to make new, harsher penalties for home invasions and burglaries in NJ

NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Just days after Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Monica Mosley was killed in her home , New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a new law that strengthens penalties for home invasions and burglaries.

Murphy says every resident deserves to feel safe in the state, especially at home.

“And if such a crime is committed by an individual carrying a firearm or a deadly weapon, this law will ensure that they serve even stronger penalties,” he said. “It will extend to juveniles; it will give judges an enormous amount of latitude as it relates to juveniles.”

Murphy says this bipartisan legislation is yet another commitment his administration has made to public safety while also upholding the promise of a stronger and more fair state for everyone.

“We need to reject the notion that fairness comes at the cost of vigilance. That is a false trade-off,” he said.

Under the law, home invasions are considered first-degree offenses with prison terms of 10 to 20 years. Residential burglaries will be second-degree offenses, with five to 10 years. The key distinction between the two is the presence of a weapon or if residents are harmed during the robbery.