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Bill

A 3274

Relates to the crime of aggravated assault upon a police officer or a peace officer

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Angelino and 11 co-sponsors

Requires knock-and-announce for residence arrests/searches, bans no-knock warrants for homes, and tightens use-of-force rules to match entry requirements, with immediate effect.

REFERRED TO CODES
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 3274

Bill A 3274 – Summary

Overview

  • Purpose: Strengthen protections around arrests and searches at residences by banning no-knock entries and adding explicit knock-and-announce requirements. Aligns use-of-force standards when executing warrants with these entry rules.
  • Jurisdiction: New Jersey
  • Status: Introduced January 9, 2024; referred to Assembly committees (Public Safety and Preparedness; later referred to Codes on 2025-01-27).
  • Primary sponsor: Doug Smith; numerous cosponsors listed.
  • Related legislation: Companion in the Senate (S 4211); several prior-session related Assembly bills (e.g., A 10488, A 3657, A 10892, A 6402, A 4724, A 5472).

What the bill would do (Key Provisions)

1) Require knock-and-announce for arrests/searches at residences

  • Before executing an arrest warrant at a residence or a warrant for search/seizure at a residence, a law enforcement officer must:
    • Knock on the door.
    • Clearly and verbally announce the officer’s identity and purpose.
    • If there are no exigent circumstances, wait a reasonable time to allow occupants to answer, but in no case less than 30 seconds (whichever is greater) before entering.
  • Any arrest warrant or residence-based search/seizure warrant must include these requirements.

2) Prohibition on no-knock warrants for residences

  • The bill prohibits the issuance and execution of a “no-knock” warrant when the warrant targets a residence.

3) Modifications to use-of-force provisions (2C:3-7)

  • Use of force to effect an arrest remains justifiable when reasonable and immediately necessary, but with new requirements:
    • Officers must know or reasonably believe the purpose of the arrest.
    • If the arrest is under a warrant:
    • The warrant must be valid or reasonably believed to be valid.
    • If the warrant relates to a residence, the arrest must be conducted in accordance with the bill’s knock-and-announce provisions (Section 1).
  • Deadly force standards are tightened to require:
    • The officer be authorized or reasonably believed to be authorized to act as a peace officer.
    • Reasonable belief that the force creates no substantial risk to innocent persons.
    • Reasonable belief that the crime involved includes homicide, kidnapping, specified violent offenses, arson, burglary of a dwelling, or related attempts, and that one of several conditions (imminent threat, necessity to prevent crime, or to prevent escape) applies.
  • The bill also retains existing allowances for use of force to prevent escape and for private individuals assisting officers, with clarifications consistent with the new entry rules.

4) Immediate effectiveness

  • The act states it shall take effect immediately upon enactment.

Who would be affected

  • Law enforcement agencies and officers conducting arrests or search/seizure operations at residences.
  • Individuals residing in or occupying targeted residences, who would benefit from clearer knock-and-announce procedures and no-knock prohibition.
  • Private individuals assisting in arrests, subject to updated standards.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduced: January 9, 2024 (A-3274).
  • Initial committee path: Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness; subsequently referred to Codes (as of January 27, 2025).
  • Related actions: Companion Senate bill S 4211; multiple related Assembly bills from prior sessions.

Summary

Bill A 3274 codifies robust knock-and-announce requirements for residence-based arrests and searches, bans no-knock warrants for residences, and modifies use-of-force standards to ensure compliance with these entry rules. It aims to reduce risks of wrongful or destructive entries (as highlighted by public safety concerns) while preserving lawful arrest and enforcement powers under clearly defined conditions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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