‘This is tough, tough medicine.’ Gov. Murphy signs bill increasing penalties for minors who commit burglaries, home invasions

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Expect to do jail time if you commit a home invasion or residential burglary. Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law that will create harsher penalties for these criminals. The law even applies to teenage offenders who often go free with a slap on the wrist because they're juveniles. Home invasions, while people sleep inside, have plagued the entire state of New Jersey. Home surveillance video has shown time and time again thieves breaking into homes in search of key fobs to steal cars parked in driveways. Several have taken place in Edison, where police Chief Tom Bryan says he’s put more cops on the street at night and added 100 license plate readers to track stolen cars. He says the suspects they arrest are often kids. “Anywhere from 12 years old up until 18 years old,” says Bryan. “We would arrest them and they’d say ‘We’ll see you again tomorrow.’ They’d be back on the street right away.” The chief says it felt like the victims had no rights. RELATED: Bill in New Jersey would upgrade penalties for burglaries to stop juveniles from becoming repeat offenders To stop those repeat offenders, this new law states that teens age 15 and older arrested for a home invasion or burglary can be tried as adults. A conviction for home invasion-burglary will now carry a 10- to 20-year prison sentence. A residential burglary could mean five to 10 years in prison. Murphy signed this bill with Attorney General Matt Platkin and State Police Col. Patrick Callahan at his side. “This is tough, tough medicine,” says Murphy. “So if anybody out there is thinking about burglarizing a home, stealing a car, doing a home invasion - you better look at penalties before you take that step.” However, the American Civil Liberties Union has questioned the law, stating, “By increasing criminal penalties for certain burglary charges, this bill will only serve to further fuel mass incarceration and funnel young people into the criminal legal system.” State Sen. Anthony Bucco disputes that argument. The Republican was a prime sponsor of the bill. “We’re not looking to take a juvenile and ruin their life…If there’s no deterrent, they’ll continue until they become of age and it’ll escalate and escalate,” Bucco says. "If we can get to these kids at an early age maybe we can stop them from a life of crime." As part of this law, those caught will also have to serve 85% of their sentence. Supporters say it’s time to provide more rights to the victims who have been violated. "