{"data":{"id":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-46-8-53","jurisdiction":"us-nj","citation":"N.J. Stat. § 46:8-53","heading":"Findings, declarations regarding housing to those with criminal records.","body":"2.\tThe Legislature finds and declares that:\na.\tRecent research indicates that New Jersey suffers from a tragically high 36-month recidivism rate of over 30 percent;\nb.\tHousing instability appears to impact recidivism, considering that over one in 10 prisoners in the United States face homelessness upon release;\nc.\tResearch from other states indicates a substantial increase in the likelihood of a parolee's arrest following each change in address, further supporting the conclusion that when ex-convicts are unable to find stable housing, recidivism becomes more likely and public safety is diminished;\nd.\tPrior to the 1990s when popular guidance documents began advising landlords to conduct criminal background checks on prospective tenants, criminal background information was not widely-available and convenient to landlords for informing rental decisions, but many landlords were nonetheless able to maintain safe and healthy rental properties; and\ne.\tIt is, therefore, necessary and in the public interest for the Legislature to enact legislation for the purpose of establishing certain housing rights of persons with criminal records.\nL.2021, c.110, s.2.","path":["TITLE 46 PROPERTY"],"source_url":"https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/statutes/STATUTES-TEXT.zip","current_through":"P.L.2025, c.405, and J.R.22","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T17:54:13Z","sha256":"1737af27a991f86f1bbdd8c20e4b0f7c097a96b6fb4d38eafe5c7f49f7addb68","source_id":"us-nj","stale":true,"prev":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-46-8-52","next":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-46-8-54"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}