52:17B-4.13 Attorney General, steps to combat organized retail theft.
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6. a. The Attorney General shall undertake such steps as the Attorney General deems appropriate to promote the effective investigation, prosecution, and deterrence of organized retail theft in this State, which may include establishing a retail theft unit, task force, or other appropriate office or initiative in the Department of Law and Public Safety to combat organized retail theft or the implementation of a Statewide policy to direct and coordinate State and local law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft.
b.
(1)In a manner prescribed by the Attorney General, a county prosecutor, law enforcement officer, special officer, or retail merchant may notify the Division of Criminal Justice, or other entity within the Department of Law and Public Safety designated by the Attorney General to receive notice, of allegations that a crime of retail theft was committed.
(2)In a manner prescribed by the Attorney General, a county prosecutor shall notify the Division of Criminal Justice, or other entity within the Department of Law and Public Safety designated by the Attorney General to receive notice, that a crime of retail theft was allegedly committed by a defendant if:
(a)there is probable cause that the defendant has committed two or more acts of retail theft in the State;
(b)there is probable cause that the defendant has committed one or more acts of retail theft in this State and one or more acts of retail theft in another state; or
(c)the defendant has previously been convicted of retail theft in this State or another state.
c. In addition to any other authority provided under the law, the Division of Criminal Justice shall have the authority to:
(1)investigate and, if warranted, prosecute cases concerning acts of retail theft; and
(2)assist county prosecutors in the investigation and prosecution of acts of retail theft.
d. As used in this section, "retail theft" shall include the crimes of shoplifting pursuant to N.J.S.2C:20-11; leader of organized retail theft enterprise pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2006, c.56 (C.2C:20-11.2); or theft as defined in chapter 20 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes that involves the stealing of merchandise.
L.2025, c.39, s.6.