ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 678
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: JUNE 15, 2023
The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably Assembly
Bill No. 678.
This bill authorizes the Victims of Crime Compensation Office
(VCCO) to pay expenses related to protecting the safety of cooperating
witnesses. The bill defines a “cooperating witness” as a witness who
testifies for the government to help prosecute a crime, and includes a
confidential informant.
The bill also authorizes the Division of Criminal Justice in the
Department of Law and Public Safety (DLPS) to award grants from
the Victim and Witness Advocacy Fund to public entities and not-for-
profit organizations to provide services that protect the safety of
cooperating witnesses.
Finally, the bill amends the Crime Victim’s Bill of Rights to
expand the rights of cooperating witnesses. The bill gives these
witnesses the right to be provided assistance before and during trial to
cope with the psychological and practical obstacles of testifying.
These witnesses also would be given the right to receive protective
measures before, during, and after a hearing or trial and to have
established court procedures ensuring their safety while testifying.
This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2022-2023 session
pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes
required by technical review, which has been performed.