N.J. looking at tougher punishment for home invasions

One of the leaders in the New Jersey Legislature wants to increase the penalties for home invasions.

Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick says current law allows home intruders to be prosecuted as a third degree offense that could mean they won’t have to go to prison.

He’s introduced a home invasion bill that would make it a second degree crime with a mandatory five-to-ten years behind bars with no eligibility for early release.

Bramnick says the tougher penalty sends a simple message.

“Don’t go into anyone’s house unless you’re invited. You go into someone’s house, you scare somebody, you’re going to prison. Period. End of story,” he said.

Bramnick says the measure comes in response to a home invasion in Millburn where a surveillance camera recorded a woman being beaten by an intruder in front of her 3-year-old daughter.

He’s planning to introduce another bill that would increase the penalties for assaulting someone in front of a child.