Gov. Chris Christie signed a state law Monday making dog fighting a criminal offense that could be punishable by jail time of up to 10 years.
According to NJ.com, involvement in dog fighting activity was previously considered an animal cruelty offense.
Under the new law, involvement of any kind, including witnessing or gambling on a dog fight, can be prosecuted under the same laws used to target organized crime members as well as under the state's anti-racketeering "RICO" law.
Penalties for convicted individuals can range from three to 10 years behind bars, as well as the forfeiture of animals and a requirement to pay restitution for their seizure and future treatment and care.
Read the full NJ.com article here.