ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4652

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 27, 2025

      The Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4652.

      As reported by the committee, this bill creates the offense of inciting a public brawl and upgrades the penalty for engaging in disorderly conduct under certain circumstances.

     Under the bill, a person is guilty of inciting a public brawl if the person acts with purpose to organize or promote a group of four or more other persons to engage in a course of disorderly conduct. Inciting a public brawl is a crime of the fourth degree if the person acts with purpose to disrupt or cause a disturbance at a public gathering or event or knowing that a disruption or disturbance is likely to occur; otherwise, it is a disorderly persons offense.

     Additionally, the bill provides that a person who attempts to conceal or conceals the person’s identity while engaging in a course of disorderly conduct, with purpose to hinder prosecution or avoid apprehension is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. The bill also establishes that a person commits disorderly conduct by acting with purpose to disrupt or cause a disturbance at a public gathering or event and is guilty of a disorderly persons offense.  Under current law, a person who engages in a course of disorderly conduct commits a petty disorderly persons offense.

     A fourth degree crime is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A person who commits a fourth degree crime may be eligible for entry into a pretrial intervention program (PTI). The courts sets the conditions of PTI, which may include random drug screening, community service, mental health or substance abuse evaluations, and compliance with treatment recommendations. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000 or both. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by imprisonment of up to 30 days, a fine of up to $500, or both. In the case of citations issued for petty disorderly and disorderly persons offenses, appearance in court is mandatory.