New Jersey Domestic Violence Statistics for 2024: TROs, FROs, and Police Reports
New Jersey Domestic Violence Statistics: What the Latest Police and Court Data Show
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to recognize the impact of domestic abuse and how prevalent it remains in New Jersey. Thousands of domestic violence incidents are reported to police each year, and tens of thousands of complaints are filed in the state’s courts. The figures below come from the most recent full-year reports published by two official sources: the New Jersey Judiciary’s 2023–2024 Domestic Violence Annual Report and the New Jersey State Police 2023 Domestic Violence Report.
The two agencies collect different data. Court statistics track domestic violence complaints and restraining order proceedings, while State Police figures track incidents reported to law enforcement. Because each agency measures a different part of the system, their numbers do not match exactly and should not be compared directly. Taken together, however, these reports give a fuller picture of domestic violence in New Jersey.
New Jersey Domestic Violence Statistics at a Glance
- 70,828 domestic violence incidents reported to police in 2023, up about 5% from 2022
- 57 domestic violence homicides in 2023, up 14% from 50 in 2022
- 39,651 domestic violence complaints filed in NJ courts in 2024, down 1.8% from 2023
- 4,860 final restraining orders entered in 2024, roughly one for every eight new complaints
- 42 days average time to an FRO hearing in 2024, despite a 10-day legal requirement
- 1,514 new VASPA protective order cases in 2024, more than 16 times the 92 SASPA cases filed in 2023
Domestic Violence Incidents Reported to New Jersey Police
According to the New Jersey State Police 2023 Domestic Violence Report, law enforcement agencies recorded 70,828 domestic violence incidents in 2023, compared with 67,512 in 2022, an increase of about 5%. Domestic violence homicides also rose, increasing 14% from 50 in 2022 to 57 in 2023.
Assault and harassment were the most frequently reported domestic violence offenses, together accounting for about 82% of all reported incidents.
| Police-Reported Domestic Violence (2023) | Number | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Total incidents | 70,828 | 100% |
| Assault | 31,514 | 44% |
| Harassment | 26,987 | 38% |
| Incidents on Sundays | 12,352 | 17% |
| Incidents on Saturdays | 11,150 | 16% |
| Domestic violence homicides | 57 | — |
The report also found a pattern in when domestic violence occurs. Sunday had the highest number of reported incidents, followed by Saturday. Together, weekends accounted for roughly one-third of all incidents reported during the year.
These figures are substantial, but they do not capture every incident of domestic violence in New Jersey. Many victims never contact law enforcement because they fear retaliation, depend financially on the abuser, or lack access to support services. The State Police report acknowledges this gap and notes that the actual number of domestic violence incidents is likely higher than the official count.
NJ Restraining Order Filings in 2024: Statewide and County Data
According to the New Jersey Judiciary’s 2023–2024 Domestic Violence Annual Report, 39,651 domestic violence complaints seeking temporary restraining orders (TROs) were filed in 2024, down 1.8% from 40,393 in 2023. It was the first year-over-year decline since 2020, following several years of rising filings. A decline in filings does not necessarily mean domestic violence itself is decreasing.
Of the complaints filed in 2024, 22,556 were filed through municipal court and 17,095 through Superior Court. The difference usually reflects how and when a person seeks protection. During regular court hours, a person can apply for a TRO in person at the Superior Court, Family Division. When the courthouse is closed, applications are typically made through local police, who contact an on-call municipal court judge to review the request.
Restraining order activity also varied significantly across New Jersey’s 21 counties. The Judiciary’s county-level data shows the following TRO activity in 2024 in the three counties where The Tormey Law Firm maintains offices:
| County (2024) | Superior Court TROs | Municipal Court TROs | Total TROs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen County | 1,085 | 1,341 | 2,426 |
| Essex County | 1,936 | 1,627 | 3,563 |
| Morris County | 362 | 676 | 1,038 |
| Combined | 3,383 | 3,644 | 7,027 |
Statewide, courts granted 33,679 TRO applications and denied 5,590. Another 382 complaints were withdrawn before a TRO decision was made.
While the statewide decline is notable, restraining order applications remain a major part of New Jersey’s domestic violence court system. Each application requires a judge to decide whether temporary protection is warranted, and an issued TRO leads to a hearing to determine whether a final restraining order should be entered.
How Many TROs Become Final Restraining Orders in New Jersey?
Only about one in eight domestic violence complaints in New Jersey resulted in a final restraining order (FRO) in 2024. Courts entered 4,860 FROs compared with 39,651 new complaints filed statewide, or about 12.3%. This is not a true case-by-case conversion rate, because some FROs entered in 2024 came from complaints filed in earlier years, and some 2024 cases were still pending at year’s end.
The most common outcome was a withdrawal by the plaintiff. The table below shows how domestic violence cases were resolved in 2024:
| Domestic Violence Case Outcomes (2024) | Number of Cases |
|---|---|
| Withdrawn by the plaintiff | 15,153 |
| Dismissed because the plaintiff did not appear | 6,435 |
| TRO continued indefinitely | 5,966 |
| TRO extended or defendant not yet served | 5,592 |
| Final restraining order entered | 4,860 |
| Final restraining order denied | 4,741 |
TROs that are continued indefinitely remain in effect without a final decision and should not be treated as dismissed cases.
New Jersey law requires an FRO hearing to be held within 10 days of a TRO being issued, but the Judiciary reported an average of 42 days in 2024. Delays can result from difficulty serving the defendant, requests for more time to prepare, scheduling conflicts, or other reasons that require an adjournment.
The relatively small number of complaints that end in an FRO should not lead defendants to underestimate the hearing. Unlike a TRO, which provides temporary protection, an FRO has no expiration date and remains enforceable until a court modifies or vacates it. An FRO can restrict contact with the plaintiff, affect living and parenting arrangements, and prohibit firearm possession.
Anyone named in a domestic violence restraining order should take the matter seriously, comply with the temporary order, and prepare for every stage of the court process. Assuming the plaintiff will withdraw the complaint, or that the case will simply go away, can leave a defendant permanently restricted. Learn more about how to get a restraining order dismissed in New Jersey.
Who Files Domestic Violence Complaints in NJ: Gender, Relationships, and Children
New Jersey court data shows that women file most restraining order complaints, but men also seek protection in substantial numbers. In 2024, women filed 29,566 complaints (74.6%) and men filed 10,085 (25.4%). Among defendants, 72.1% were male and 27.9% were female.
Dating relationships were the most common relationship type in domestic violence complaints:
| Relationship Between the Parties (2024) | Complaints | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Dating relationship | 11,525 | 29.1% |
| Current household members | 7,141 | 18.0% |
| Former household members | 4,702 | 11.9% |
| Spouses, former spouses, unmarried parents, and other qualifying relationships | 16,283 | 41.0% |
Children were involved in a significant share of cases. The Judiciary reported that 11,457 domestic violence complaints filed in 2024, about 29% of the total, involved parties with children. In these cases, a restraining order can directly affect custody, parenting time, and where children live.
When a restraining order involves parents, the court may need to set temporary custody or parenting time arrangements as part of the domestic violence case. Understanding how domestic violence affects child custody in New Jersey is important for both parties.
Firearms, Restraining Order Violations, and Risk Assessments in NJ
Domestic violence restraining orders can have serious consequences for gun owners in New Jersey. According to the Judiciary’s report, 2,676 temporary restraining orders issued in 2024 included orders to seize weapons. A person subject to a domestic violence restraining order is prohibited from possessing firearms while the order is in effect, and seized weapons may be subject to forfeiture proceedings. Learn more about the removal of weapons in NJ domestic violence cases.
Violating a temporary or final restraining order can result in criminal contempt charges, even when the violation does not involve physical violence. New Jersey courts received 5,344 restraining order violation filings in 2024 and recorded 5,321 dispositions:
| Restraining Order Violation Dispositions (2024) | Number |
|---|---|
| Dismissed | 1,908 |
| Guilty plea and sentenced | 1,562 |
| Inactive (e.g., outstanding bench warrants or military service) | 1,400 |
| Convicted after trial | 50 |
| Transferred or resolved through other proceedings | 401 |
These figures reflect contempt matters reported in the Judiciary’s Family Division data and may not include every indicted contempt charge.
Police also conduct domestic violence risk assessments when investigating domestic violence. The Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) helps officers estimate the likelihood of future assaults in qualifying intimate-partner violence cases by considering factors such as prior assaults, threats, and the parties’ history. In 2024, ODARA assessments were conducted in 11,692 of the 22,285 complaints identified as qualifying, or about 52%. These assessments help law enforcement identify potentially dangerous situations and decide on appropriate protective measures.
VASPA: New Jersey Protective Orders Beyond Domestic Relationships
New Jersey expanded its protective order laws on January 1, 2024, giving victims of stalking and cyber-harassment a way to seek court protection even when they have no domestic relationship with the accused. The Victim’s Assistance and Survivor Protection Act (VASPA) replaced and expanded the former Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act (SASPA), which primarily provided protective orders for victims of certain sexual offenses.
People who cannot obtain a domestic violence restraining order because they have no family, household, or dating relationship with the other person can now seek protection against stalking or cyber-harassment. This means someone harassed by a friend, coworker, or even a stranger may qualify for a protective order. Victims can seek these orders without filing criminal charges.
| New Protective Order Cases | 2023 (SASPA) | 2024 (VASPA) |
|---|---|---|
| New cases filed | 92 | 1,514 |
That is more than 16 times the number of filings from the prior year. The increase reflects the law’s broader eligibility rules, not necessarily a similar rise in stalking, cyber-harassment, or sexual offenses.
VASPA gives individuals another way to seek protection from threatening or harassing behavior. Like domestic violence restraining orders, these orders can impose court-ordered restrictions on contact and communication, which makes them significant both for people seeking protection and for those defending against the allegations.
Legal Options for Plaintiffs and Defendants in NJ Restraining Order Cases
Although most temporary restraining orders in New Jersey do not become final restraining orders, the process carries real consequences for everyone involved. Plaintiffs may need protection from ongoing threats, harassment, or violence. Defendants may face allegations that affect their homes, employment, parental rights, and ability to possess firearms, and some may also face related criminal charges. The outcome often depends on the evidence presented at the final hearing.
Whether you are seeking protection or defending against a TRO, it is important to act before the final restraining order hearing. Text messages, emails, photographs, police records, and witness testimony can help establish what happened or challenge the allegations. Learn more about evidence in a New Jersey restraining order trial. An attorney can evaluate the evidence, identify witnesses, and prepare you to testify. In some cases, the parties may agree to civil restraints, which are generally entered by agreement and do not carry the same legal consequences as an FRO.
The Tormey Law Firm represents both domestic violence victims and defendants in temporary and final restraining order matters throughout New Jersey. With offices in Hackensack, Newark, and Morristown, our attorneys regularly appear in domestic violence hearings in Bergen, Essex, and Morris counties and understand the importance of protecting your rights from the start. If an FRO has already been entered, our attorneys can also discuss whether you may be able to vacate a final restraining order or appeal a restraining order.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Domestic Violence and Restraining Order Statistics
How many restraining orders are filed in New Jersey each year?
In 2024, 39,651 domestic violence complaints seeking restraining orders were filed in New Jersey courts, down from 40,393 in 2023. Courts granted 33,679 temporary restraining orders that year.
What percentage of TROs become final restraining orders in NJ?
About 12.3%. Courts entered 4,860 final restraining orders in 2024 compared with 39,651 new complaints, or roughly one in eight. This is a year-level comparison, not a case-by-case conversion rate.
What is the most common reason a TRO is dismissed in New Jersey?
The plaintiff withdrawing the complaint. In 2024, 15,153 cases ended this way. Another 6,435 were dismissed because the plaintiff did not appear for the hearing.
How long does it take to get from a TRO to an FRO hearing?
New Jersey law requires the FRO hearing within 10 days of the TRO, but the average in 2024 was 42 days. Delays often result from problems serving the defendant or adjournments.
Do men file restraining orders in New Jersey?
Yes. Men filed 10,085 domestic violence complaints in 2024, about 25.4% of the statewide total.
What happens if someone violates a restraining order in NJ?
A violation can lead to criminal contempt charges under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9, even if no violence occurred. Penalties can include arrest, fines, and jail time. New Jersey courts received 5,344 violation filings in 2024.
Contact a New Jersey Restraining Order Lawyer
Whether you have been served with a TRO or need help obtaining protection from domestic violence, The Tormey Law Firm can review your circumstances, explain your legal options, and help you prepare for the next steps in your case. Call 908-336-5008 or contact us online for a free consultation. We are available 24/7.
