Crimes: plea deals.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Enrolled
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill, known as the Epstein Loophole Act, aims to prevent prosecutors and courts from offering immunity or lenient dispositions in cases involving the sexual exploitation or abuse of minors. It would restrict plea agreements and diversion programs in such cases, requiring a minimum five-year prison sentence unless a court finds extraordinary circumstances warrant a lighter penalty. The bill also modifies pretrial diversion procedures to ensure it’s not available for offenses involving child sexual exploitation and mandates reporting requirements for mental health treatment programs.
Key provisions
- Prohibits immunity agreements in cases involving minor victims of sex offenses.
- Requires a minimum five-year prison sentence for plea agreements or dispositions involving minor victims of sex offenses, unless an exception applies.
- Makes a defendant ineligible for pretrial diversion if the alleged offense involves child sexual exploitation.
- Requires written agreements and court approval for any immunity granted in relevant cases.
- Modifies pretrial diversion eligibility to exclude offenses involving child sexual exploitation.
- Requires the court to consider whether restitution is owed to victims of diverted offenses.
- Establishes a process for the court to reinstate criminal proceedings or modify treatment plans if necessary.
- Addresses access to records related to diversion proceedings.
Who is affected
Bill text
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Sponsors
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1 on record
Primary sponsor
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