NJ state courthouses back open to the public Monday

State courthouses are fully reopened to the public as of Monday, Aug. 2, according to a release from New Jersey Courts.

Court facilities were closed to the public at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, with in-person services, and staff, returning bit by bit since then.

Temporary restraining order applications and child support payments have been able to be made in person in New Jersey since the summer of 2020.

The release also said that in-person criminal trials, which briefly resumed last fall, have been back since June 15 of this year, around the same time grand jury sessions reconvened in person.

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New Jersey Courts said that members of the public will not need an appointment or a scheduled appearance or hearing to enter a court building.

The Judiciary said in the release that it would continue to monitor COVID-19 trends and follow the advice of both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Health Department.

Patrick Lavery is New Jersey 101.5's afternoon news anchor. Follow him on Twitter @plavery1015 or email patrick.lavery@townsquaremedia.com.

NJ towns and their nicknames

NJ teachers and educators caught in sex crime busts

Over the past few years, state lawmakers have taken on the challenge of dealing with accused child predators among the ranks of teachers and educators.

In 2018, the so-called “pass the trash” law went into effect, requiring stricter New Jersey school background checks related to child abuse and sexual misconduct.

The follow individuals were arrested over the past several years. Some have been convicted and sentenced to prison, while others have accepted plea deals for probation.

Others cases are still pending, including some court delays amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

NJ arrests 31 accused child predators in "Operation 24/7"

A roundup of 31 men have been accused of sexually exploiting children online, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced on July 14 while detailing "Operation 24/7."

The suspects “possessed and or distributed videos and images of child sexual abuse, including in many cases videos of young children being raped by adults,” Grewal said.

Chat apps and gaming platforms remain favorite hunting grounds for child predators and even as the pandemic winds down, many children have continued to spend more time online.

State Police received 39% more tips in just the first 6 months of 2021 than they received in the entire year in 2019. The following are suspects charged in "Operation 24/7."