A door latch assembly of a motor vehicle is provided for selectively engaging a striker between latched and unlatched positions. The door latch assembly includes a ratchet for receiving and engaging the striker. The door latch assembly also includes a pawl movable between a locked position, in which the pawl abuts the ratchet into engagement with the striker, and an unlocked position, in which the pawl and the ratchet are spaced apart from one another so that the ratchet releases the striker. In addition, the door latch assembly includes an electromagnet disposed adjacent the pawl for generating a magnetic field to alter the force required to move the pawl out of the unlocked position and into the locked position.