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S3696 • 2026

Invokes comity to direct Governor to notify victim of impending release of incarcerated person granted clemency.

Invokes comity to direct Governor to notify victim of impending release of incarcerated person granted clemency.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Gopal, Vin
Last action
2026-02-24
Official status
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Invokes comity to direct Governor to notify victim of impending release of incarcerated person granted clemency.

Invokes comity to direct Governor to notify victim of impending release of incarcerated person granted clemency.

What This Bill Does

  • Invokes comity to direct Governor to notify victim of impending release of incarcerated person granted clemency.
  • Topic: Judiciary Fiscal note: This bill has not been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-24 New Jersey Legislature

    Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee

Official Summary Text

Invokes comity to direct Governor to notify victim of impending release of incarcerated person granted clemency.
Topic:
Judiciary
Fiscal note:
This bill has not been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S3696

SENATE, No. 3696

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 24, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� VIN GOPAL

District 11 (Monmouth)

SYNOPSIS

���� Invokes comity to direct Governor to notify victim of
impending release of incarcerated person granted clemency.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning clemency and supplementing chapter 167 of
Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

����
1. �a.
�Not less than 30 days prior to the granting of any
pardon,
commutation, or reprieve,
the Governor shall provide written notice of the
proposed pardon, commutation, or reprieve to the victim of the crime for which
the person was convicted or, if the victim is deceased, to a member of the
victim�s family who is entitled to notice relating to parole or the
consideration of a parole under the provisions of P.L.1979, c.441
(C.30:4-123.45 et seq.).

���� b. �At
the time a pardon, commutation, or reprieve is granted, the Governor shall
issue a written report accompanying the pardon, commutation, or reprieve. The
report shall be published online and transmitted to the Legislature. �The
report shall include, at a minimum:

���� (1) �the
name of the person receiving the pardon, commutation, or reprieve;

���� (2) �the
offense or offenses for which the person was convicted;

���� (3) �the
sentence or penalty originally imposed;

���� (4) �a
description of the specific pardon, commutation, or reprieve granted; and

���� (5) �a
written explanation setting forth the reasons for granting the pardon,
commutation, or reprieve.

���� 2. �This act shall take effect
immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill provides that upon
the grant of clemency in the form of a
pardon,
commutation, or reprieve,
to a person convicted of a crime, the Governor
would notify the victim of the crime for which the person was convicted.� If
the victim is deceased, the victim�s family member would be notified.� The
notification would be provided not less than 30 days prior to the grant of the
pardon, commutation, or reprieve.� Under the bill, the
report
shall be published online and transmitted the Legislature.� At a minimum, the
report shall include the name of the person receiving the pardon, the offense
or offenses for which the person was convicted, the sentence or penalty
originally imposed, a description of the specific pardon, commutation, or
reprieve granted, and a written explanation of the reasons for granting the
pardon, commutation, or reprieve.�
The bill is not intended to impinge
upon the Governor�s exclusive authority to act in such matters.