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A1704
ASSEMBLY, No. 1704
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
���� Establishes crime of strangulation chokehold.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.
��
An Act
to establish the crime of strangulation chokehold and
supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� Any municipal, county,
or State law enforcement officer, Department of Corrections employee, county
correctional police officer, juvenile correctional police officer, State
juvenile facility employee, juvenile detention staff member, probation officer,
any sheriff, undersheriff or sheriff's officer or any municipal, county, or
State law enforcement officer while in the performance of �the person's duties
while in uniform or exhibiting evidence of the person's authority or because of
the status as any municipal, county, or State law enforcement officer,
Department of Corrections employee, county correctional police officer,
juvenile correctional police officer, State juvenile facility employee,
juvenile detention staff member, probation officer, any sheriff, undersheriff
or sheriff's officer is guilty of strangulation chokehold when, with intent to
impede the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of another person he
blocks the nose or mouth, or uses any procedure known as a chokehold, which
results in serious bodily injury or death.�
���� Strangulation chokehold is a crime
of the first degree.
���� As used in this section,
�chokehold� includes, but is not limited to, any pressure of the throat or
windpipe which may prevent or hinder breathing or reduce intake of air.
���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� On June 5, 2020, the New
Jersey Office of the Attorney General issued notice that it will ban police
departments from using chokeholds, carotid artery neck restraints, or similar
tactics, except where deadly force is necessary.� The revision clarifies and
tightens longstanding policy on the use of this kind of force by law
enforcement.�
���� This bill establishes the
crime of strangulation chokehold, applicable to various law enforcement
personnel.� Under the bill, enumerated law enforcement personnel commit
strangulation chokehold when, with intent to impede the normal breathing or
circulation of the blood of another person he blocks the nose or mouth, or uses
any procedure known as a chokehold, which results in serious bodily injury or
death.� Strangulation chokehold is classified as a crime of the first degree,
ordinarily punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine up to $200,000, or
both.
���� Under the bill, �chokehold�
includes but is not limited to, any pressure of the throat or windpipe which
may prevent or hinder breathing or reduce intake of air.