Terms Used In New Jersey Statutes 39:2A-32

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • person: includes corporations, companies, associations, societies, firms, partnerships and joint stock companies as well as individuals, unless restricted by the context to an individual as distinguished from a corporate entity or specifically restricted to one or some of the above enumerated synonyms and, when used to designate the owner of property which may be the subject of an offense, includes this State, the United States, any other State of the United States as defined infra and any foreign country or government lawfully owning or possessing property within this State. See New Jersey Statutes 1:1-2
  • State: extends to and includes any State, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia and the Canal Zone. See New Jersey Statutes 1:1-2
33. a. The commission shall require the fingerprinting of all prospective employees, employees of the commission, and employees of the agents of the commission, for purposes of determining employment eligibility in any title or capacity that is either directly or indirectly involved in the issuance or processing of driver’s licenses, permits, business licenses, identification cards, driving records, or vehicle registrations and titles, and of all independent contractors and their employees who work on a motor vehicle premises or have access to motor vehicle records or documents. The commission is hereby authorized to exchange fingerprint data with, and receive criminal history record information from, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Division of State Police, consistent with the provisions of Pub.L.92-544, for use in determining employment eligibility.

b. The commission may, as deemed necessary by the commission, receive the results of periodic follow-ups of criminal history record checks of all employees of the commission and employees of its agents, for purposes of determining continuing employment eligibility in any title or capacity that is either directly or indirectly involved in the issuance or processing of driver’s licenses, identification cards, driving records, or vehicle registrations and titles.

c. If the information from the criminal history record background check discloses that a prospective or current employee has a record of criminal history, the commission shall review the information with respect to the type and date of the criminal offense to determine if the person is qualified for employment with the commission. Criminal offenses which shall disqualify an individual from employment include, but are not limited to, any crime or offense, whether committed in New Jersey or in another jurisdiction, which in New Jersey would constitute murder, assault with intent to murder, espionage, treason, rape, kidnaping, unlawful possession of an explosive or weapon, extortion, armed robbery, distribution of or intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, willful destruction of property, burglary, theft, fraud, forgery, terrorism, solicitation of money or resources for a terrorist organization and aggravated assault.

d. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. or c. of this section, an individual shall not be disqualified from employment or service under this act on the basis of any conviction disclosed by a criminal record check performed pursuant to this act without an opportunity to challenge the accuracy of the disqualifying criminal history record.

e. An individual who has been disqualified under the provisions of this act shall be entitled to reapply for the position if the disqualifying conviction is reversed.

f. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. or c. of this section, an individual shall not be disqualified from employment or service on the basis of any conviction disclosed by a criminal history record background check performed pursuant to this act if the individual has affirmatively demonstrated to the administrator, clear and convincing evidence of the individual’s rehabilitation. In determining whether an individual has affirmatively demonstrated rehabilitation, the following factors shall be considered:

(1) the nature and responsibility of the position which the applicant would hold, has held or currently holds, as the case may be;

(2) the nature and seriousness of the offense;

(3) the circumstances under which the offense occurred;

(4) the date of the offense;

(5) the age of the applicant when the offense was committed;

(6) whether the offense was an isolated or repeated incident;

(7) any social conditions which may have contributed to the offense; and

(8) any evidence of rehabilitation, including good conduct in prison or in the community, counseling or psychiatric treatment received, acquisition of additional academic or vocational schooling, successful participation in correctional work-release programs, or the recommendation of those who have had the applicant under their supervision.

L.2003,c.13,s.33.