For decades, the New Jersey criminal justice system often operated with a blind spot. While the law accounted for the actions of a defendant, it frequently lacked a formal mechanism to address the "why" behind those actions: specifically when those actions were rooted in a history of trauma and victimization. That landscape shifted permanently in January 2026. With the signing of the Survivors Justice Act (SJA), New Jersey has finally recognized that trauma is not just a foot

For decades, the New Jersey criminal justice system often operated with a blind spot. While the law accounted for the actions of a defendant, it frequently lacked a formal mechanism to address the "why" behind those actions: specifically when those actions were rooted in a history of trauma and victimization. That landscape shifted permanently in January 2026. With the signing of the Survivors Justice Act (SJA), New Jersey has finally recognized that trauma is not just a foot