TRENTON, N.J. – It may seem like a small issue in light of the New Jersey pension system’s massive problems, but one legislator finds it galling that a public employee convicted of domestic violence does not automatically forfeit his or her pension.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, and Assemblyman Ron Dancer is introducing a bill to change that.
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“Those who are convicted of acts of domestic violence do not deserve taxpayer-funded pensions and retirement benefits,” said Dancer (R-Ocean). “Most of these heinous crimes happen behind closed doors and I refuse to turn a blind eye when they are brought to light.”
At the moment? New Jersey’s public pension forfeiture law only covers offenses like extortion, bribery, sexual assault, harassment, lewdness and perjury, and only if those crimes involve the public employee or official’s public job. Dancer’s forthcoming bill would add assault and stalking in relation to retraining orders issued under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991.
“Although domestic violence typically happens at home and not work, it certainly affects taxpayers, their trust and values,” added Dancer. “These perpetrators assert whatever power they have to abuse their partner. This would strip them of some of that power and ensure they never benefit on the backs of taxpayers.”
In 2016, New Jersey saw 63,000 reports of domestic violence state-wide.
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