N.J. Stat. Ann. § 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-57
Director preparation of model documents
Operative Text
6. a. The director shall prepare: (1) a model disclosure statement as indicated in subsection b. of section 4 of this act which provides notice that a housing provider intends to review and consider a person's criminal record in determining eligibility for housing or in taking any other adverse housing action against that person. The statement shall also provide an explanation of the criminal records that may be considered and the manner in which they may be considered, in accordance with the provisions of section 5 of this act. The statement shall also notify the person of the right to dispute, within 10 days of receiving such statement, the relevance and accuracy of the criminal record and to offer evidence of any mitigating facts or circumstances, including but not limited to the person's rehabilitation and good conduct since the criminal offense in question; and (2) a model notice that provides notice that a housing provider has withdrawn a conditional offer or taken an adverse housing action based on a person's criminal record, provides space for the housing provider to identify with specificity the reason or reasons for withdrawing the conditional offer or taking the adverse housing action. The notification form shall also notify the person of the right to request from the housing provider a copy of all information upon which the housing provider relied in reaching its decision, including criminal records, and of the right to file a complaint with the division, as well as the applicable statute of limitations, and shall include such other additional information as the director deems appropriate. b. The model documents prepared pursuant to this section shall be made available on the division's Internet website, at no cost, and shall be in English, Spanish, and in any other language the director deems appropriate. L.2021, c.110, s.6.
Section 46:8-57 of N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. requires the Director of the Division on Civil Rights to create two standardized model documents related to criminal-record screening in housing. The first is a model disclosure statement that housing providers must use when they intend to review an applicant's criminal history, explaining which records may be considered and informing the person of their right to dispute the record's relevance or accuracy within 10 days. The second is a model notice for situations where a housing provider withdraws a conditional offer or takes an adverse action based on criminal history, informing the person of their right to obtain the information relied upon and to file a complaint with the Division. Both documents must be available free of charge on the Division's website in English, Spanish, and any other languages the Director deems appropriate.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 46:8-57 of N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq., housing providers who screen applicants based on criminal history are expected to use the Director's model documents rather than creating their own from scratch. Compliant operators typically use the model disclosure statement before reviewing criminal records and the model adverse-action notice whenever a conditional offer is withdrawn or another adverse housing action is taken on that basis. These model forms are available at no cost on the Division on Civil Rights' website, and using them helps ensure that required disclosures — including the applicant's 10-day dispute right and the right to request underlying records — are properly communicated.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 46:8-57 of N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. establishes that the state must provide standardized forms that housing providers are to use when criminal history plays a role in a housing decision. If a housing provider reviews your criminal record, you are entitled to receive a disclosure statement that explains what records may be considered and informs you of your right to dispute their relevance or accuracy within 10 days. If a conditional offer is withdrawn or another adverse action is taken, the model notice must inform you of your right to request all information the provider relied upon and your right to file a complaint with the Division on Civil Rights — tenant-rights organizations can help you understand how those options generally work.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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