Crime Bill championed by Edison Mayor Sam Joshi passed by NJ Assembly and Senate; Bill goes to Gov. Murphy

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The hard work of Mayor Sam Joshi and the Edison Police Department to address the issue of juvenile home invasions for more than a year now, paid off when the bill they championed was passed by the State Assembly and Senate, recently.

Mayor Joshi has emphasized that legislative assistance is crucial in addressing this crisis not only in our community, but throughout the state of New Jersey, a press release September 30, from his office, said.

Bill A-4299 (S-3006/3204) was passed by the Assembly with a unanimous vote of 74-0 on September 26, 2024.

At present, juvenile home invasions and burglaries allow for total expungement of juvenile offenders, often leading to release within days, or even hours after arrest.

When signed into law, Bill A-4299 will tighten penalties regarding juvenile home invasions and burglaries, while simultaneously aiming to deter these crimes from happening, the press release said.

“I thank Senator Pat Diegnan, Assemblyman Sterley Stanley, Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, Senator Vin Gopal, and Senator Brian Stack, as well as all of those involved in advocating for this bill,” Mayor Joshi is quoted saying in the press release. “I look forward to the passage of this bill for the safety and security of our residents.”

The State Senate had passed it earlier with an overwhelming majority.

Governor Phil Murphy has 45 days to sign the bill into law.

Lawmakers in  the Assembly, including Indian American Assemblyman Sterley Stanley said, “We can’t forget about the families who rightfully expect us as elected leaders to uphold and preserve the sanctity of the sanctuary that we call our homes.”

“You [Mayor Joshi] provided such wonderful leadership on this topic in terms of how you distilled this issue, and I know the Mayors of the towns in which I represent would be so thankful,” said  Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn.

Assemblyman Alexander “Avi” Schnall said, “I have on my phone text messages you [Mayor Joshi] sent me almost a year ago about this issue, and you have grabbed the bull by the horns and been the leader on this, and I know you got pushback from it, and you didn’t cave to the pushback, you kept on pushing forward.”

Other lawmakers including Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, Senator Kristin Corrado former PBA State President Pat Colligan echoed these sentiments.

During the crisis involving juvenile home invasions and burglaries, Mayor Sam Joshi implemented numerous public safety initiatives in conjunction with Edison Police Department including hiring the largest police force in 15 years, installing nearly 100 automated license plate readers (ALPRs) throughout the town, adding two new substations, utilizing decoy vehicles, upgrading the Street Crimes Unit, and working with New Jersey Auto Theft Task Force (ATTF), the press release noted.