Gloucester Twp. Day Chaos Inspires Action From State Lawmakers

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Inciting brawls will become criminalized and parents could become liable under several proposed measures inspired by the Gloucester Township Day chaos.

State lawmakers in New Jersey’s 4th Legislative District introduced three bills last week addressing the violence that’s broken out at several recent events around the region.

Meanwhile, township officials are working to expand local curfew regulations to areas such as parks, while increasing penalties for disorderly conduct through fines and community service.

The actions came after hundreds of people — primarily teens — poured into Gloucester Township Day, getting into fights at Veterans Parks that spilled into a nearby shopping center that night, police said. Several New Jersey communities have faced similar issues in recent weeks and during past summers.

“The measures we are introducing today are crucial for creating new charges to hold individuals accountable for inciting and organizing public brawls,” said Assembly Member Dan Hutchison, a former Gloucester Township Council member. “Our community’s safety is our top priority.”

Lawmakers in LD-4, who represent the township in the State Legislature, introduced legislation that would:

establish a law against inciting a public brawl and upgrade penalties for disorderly conduct under certain circumstances.
penalize parents of children who incite a brawl or engage in similar behaviors.
requires the state attorney general to establish a training program for crowd control and provide local law enforcement with tools to scope out planned “pop-up parties” and manage large-scale fights at public gatherings.

Pop-up parties are typically organized through social media, encouraging disorderly behavior at a set location. Under one proposed measure, a person would be guilty of inciting a public brawl if they encouraged four or more people to engage in such actions.

Inciting a public brawl would become a fourth-degree offense, punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. Certain first-time violators may qualify for pretrial intervention, where offenders can get their charges dismissed by completing certain orders such as community service or mental-health treatment.

Offenders would also be penalized for disturbing a public gathering and/or concealing their identity while engaging in disorderly conduct. As disorderly persons offenses, the actions would be punishable through fines and short-term imprisonment.

Meanwhile, a parent or legal guardian could be held responsible if they demonstrate willful or wanton disregard in preventing their underage children from such actions. Punishments would vary from fines and up to 30 days behind bars, depending on the severity of their child’s misconduct.

Hutchison, Assembly Member Cody D. Miller and State Sen. Paul Moriarty introduced the bills in the State Senate and Assembly.