Courtroom Animal Advocate Program
Take Action To Prevent Animal Cruelty Offenders From Escaping Justice
There are 2 important ways you can make a huge difference in the lives of animal abuse victims.
71% of women fleeing a domestic violence situation said their partner threatened, injured or killed their companion animal. In 88% of homes where children are being abused, companion animals are being abused. EVERY school shooting between 1997 and 2001 involved boys who had committed animal cruelty first. Animal Abuse is a RED FLAG. Yet, only 2% of animal cruelty cases end with a conviction; 80% are not prosecuted or dismissed. The Courtroom Animal Advocate Program Bill, Bill S282/ A2456 is legislation that would give a voice to the voiceless in animal cruelty cases. With this law prosecutors will have an additional resource to ensure animal abuse cases get the full attention of the court and will more likely result in action to achieve justice for the abused animal and appropriate punishment for animal abuser including rehabilitation before they reoffend, or extend their violence to humans.
BREAKING NEWS
2/14/2022- A1965 has just passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee with amendments
Donate
Your donation will be used to support the advocacy effort to establish a Courtroom Animal Advocate Program in NJ.
Donate to give animals a voice in NJ.
Note: If your representative is already sponsoring the bill, make sure to thank them for their sponsorship rather than asking them to sponsor it.
Assembly Bill Sponsors: Mukherji, Quijano, Benson, Verrelli, Auth, Reynolds-Jackson, Stanley, Timberlake, Karabinchak, Giblin, and Kean
Sample Email to Your Assembly Members
Subject line: A note from NJ Resident - please co-sponsor A2456
Dear Assembly member ________,
As a resident of NJ, I am writing to ask for you to support and co-sponsor bill A1965. Last session, the bill was passed unanimously through the Senate (34-0). In the current session, it has already passed unanimously through the Assembly Judiciary Committee (5-0).
Modeled after Desmond’s Bill in CT, this bill would allow law students and appointed representatives to be animal advocates in criminal cases regarding animal cruelty. Easing the burden on state prosecutors and with no extra cost to the state, representatives will be permitted to monitor the case, attend hearings, consult individuals with knowledge of the welfare of the animal, view records regarding the animal’s welfare, and present their recommendations to prosecutors and the court regarding the best interest of the animal.
Psychological studies indicate a strong link between animal abuse and future violent behavior. In fact, in the wake of mass shootings plaguing our country, one pivotal warning sign to look out for is animal abuse.
I ask you to take a stand against animal abuse, prevent violent criminals from going under the radar, easing the burden of prosecutors and providing law school students with experience in New Jersey by supporting and co-sponsoring A1965 when it is posted for a floor vote.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
CITY, NJ
STEP 2: Call Your Legislators Today!
After emailing your Senator and two Assembly Members, be sure to follow up with their offices with a polite phone call. Calling takes less than two minutes, and it’s really easy! We’ve prepared a sample script for you to use but please feel free to modify it to make it more personal.
Sample Call Script
Hi, my name is _____, and I’m a New Jersey resident from __(city)__. I’m following up on an email I sent earlier about requesting Assembly person ______ to please support and co-sponsor A2456.
This bill would allow law students and appointed representatives to be animal advocates in criminal cases regarding animal abuse. Easing the burden on state prosecutors and with no extra cost to the state, representatives will present their recommendations to prosecutors and the court regarding the best interest of the animal.
Thank you.
