TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee has unanimously approved a bill sponsored by Senator Fred Madden that aims to establish firehouses as safe havens for survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking. The bill, S-2626, is a significant step towards providing accessible refuge and support for survivors in urgent need of safety and assistance.
Under this bill, the Attorney General, in collaboration with the Department of Children and Families, the Commission on Human Trafficking, and the Advisory Council on Domestic Violence, will develop a program to designate firehouses as safe havens. These havens will offer immediate refuge and connect survivors to vital services such as law enforcement, emergency shelters, legal aid, and other community resources. The bill proposes an allocation of $1 million to train firefighters to effectively support and refer survivors to appropriate services.
Senator Madden (D-Gloucester/Camden) highlighted the importance of this initiative, noting that survivors often find themselves in threatening situations without knowing where to turn for help. Firehouses, recognized as trusted community locations, will serve as initial points of safety and support. Importantly, the assistance provided under this program will be available to all survivors, regardless of their citizenship status.
This legislative effort is in response to alarming statistics, with over 63,000 domestic violence incidents reported in New Jersey in 2020 and approximately 1,800 cases of human trafficking involving over 3,880 victims in the state since 2007.