Criminal Justice (Civil Rights) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 344: Removes criminal liability for law enforcement officers who have investigative encounter with underage person for possession of alcohol or cannabis unless civil rights are violated.

This bill removes criminal liability for New Jersey law enforcement officers who interact with underage individuals regarding alcohol or cannabis possession, unless the officer intentionally discriminates based on race, gender, religion, or other protected characteristics. Currently, officers face criminal charges for such encounters regardless of intent, but this bill changes that by requiring proof of discriminatory purpose to trigger liability. Key provisions clarify that officers cannot be charged for routine actions like issuing warnings or conducting stops without reasonable suspicion - unless they act with discriminatory intent. The change directly affects officers responding to underage possession calls and the young people involved in these encounters.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Drug Policy Law Enforcement

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

ACR 71: Urges U.S. President and Congress to enact "Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement Act of 2025."

New Jersey's Assembly Concurrent Resolution 71 (ACR 71) is a resolution urging the U.S. President and Congress to pass the federal "VISIBLE Act" (S.2212), which would require immigration enforcement officers to display visible identification during public enforcement actions. The resolution does not create new law but advocates for a federal requirement that officers show their agency name, last name, or badge number - while prohibiting non-medical face coverings during public enforcement - unless for covert operations or environmental hazards. It also calls for accountability measures, including disciplinary actions for non-compliance and annual reports to Congress and civil rights offices. This resolution directly affects U.S. immigration enforcement officers (e.g., CBP, ICE) and aims to increase transparency amid concerns about impersonation of federal agents.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1707: Requires online portal to report law enforcement officer misconduct; establishes duty to report by law enforcement officers.

This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create an online portal for law enforcement officers to report misconduct by other officers. Officers must report within 72 hours if they witness excessive force, civil rights violations, or criminal offenses committed by colleagues. The portal also allows anonymous reporting, generating random identifiers instead of personal details for those who choose to remain anonymous. It directly affects all law enforcement officers in the state who observe misconduct requiring disclosure under the law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1665: Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force."

This bill creates the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" to research and develop proposals addressing generational harms from New Jersey's role in slavery and systemic racial discrimination. The task force will examine historical and current disparities affecting Black communities, including voter disenfranchisement, youth incarceration rates, housing discrimination, wealth gaps, and school segregation. It will produce a report with policy recommendations for state-based reparations based on documented harms. The bill directly affects Black residents of New Jersey who face these systemic inequities, as outlined in the legislative findings.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3748: Makes supplemental appropriation of $3,000,000 to Division on Civil Rights.

This bill provides an additional $3 million in state funding to New Jersey's Division on Civil Rights specifically for upgrading the New Jersey Bias Investigation Access System (NJ BIAS). The system tracks bias crimes reported by state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. The funding ensures consistent and uniform reporting of bias incidents across all law enforcement levels. This is a procedural appropriation (not a new policy), directly supporting the operational capacity of law enforcement agencies to document bias crimes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Appropriations Civil Rights Law Enforcement

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

AR 106: Urges Federal Bureau of Investigation to categorize white supremacists as domestic terrorists.

AR 106 is a New Jersey Assembly Resolution urging the FBI to classify crimes committed by white supremacists and white nationalists as domestic terrorism rather than hate crimes or gang-related offenses. The bill directly affects the FBI’s classification system and resource allocation for investigations, as domestic terrorism cases currently receive higher priority and more resources than hate crime cases. Key provisions state that reclassifying these acts would ensure counterterrorism agents and greater federal resources are dedicated to investigating and prosecuting such violence. The resolution cites statistics showing white supremacist attacks have outnumbered Islamic terrorist attacks since 9/11 and notes current FBI practices often under-reserve these cases. This is a non-binding resolution, not a law, intended to influence federal policy through advocacy.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

AR 35: Supports the federal Emmett Till Antilynching Act.

This New Jersey Assembly resolution (AR 35) expresses support for the federal Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which became law in March 2022 making lynching a federal hate crime. It has no legal effect on state or federal law but formally urges continued legislative action to address racial violence, referencing the historical context of over 200 failed anti-lynching bills. The resolution directs copies to federal leaders, including the President, Congress, and New Jersey's congressional delegation. As a symbolic gesture, it does not directly affect any individuals or create new legal requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SJR 91: Establishes task force to study ways to increase diversity within law enforcement agencies.

SJR 91 establishes a 13-member task force to study methods for increasing diversity and community representation within New Jersey's law enforcement agencies, including state, local, and municipal departments. The task force will include representatives from the legislature, law enforcement associations, civil rights organizations, and community stakeholders (with specific urban and non-urban representation), and must hold at least three public hearings across the state. It will examine current data, research, and policies on diversity in law enforcement to develop recommendations. The task force will report its findings and suggestions to the legislature, though the bill does not mandate specific policy changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

AJR 83: Establishes task force to study ways to increase diversity within law enforcement agencies.

AJR 83 establishes the "New Jersey Diversity in Law Enforcement Task Force" to study ways to increase diversity within all state, local, and municipal law enforcement agencies across New Jersey. The 13-member task force includes legislators, law enforcement leaders, civil rights representatives, and community members from urban and non-urban areas, with specific requirements for balanced representation. It will examine current diversity data, identify effective recruitment and retention strategies, and develop recommendations to improve community representation within police departments. The task force must submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its formation, with the resolution expiring 30 days after the report is issued.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

AJR 32: Permits evidence of prompt reports of sexual assault or employment discrimination be admissible as hearsay exception.

AJR 32 is a procedural resolution proposing a rule change to New Jersey's evidence rules. It would allow evidence that a victim promptly reported sexual assault or employment discrimination to be admitted as a hearsay exception, specifically to address jury assumptions about delayed reporting. This change directly affects cases involving these crimes by enabling courts to consider timely complaint evidence without requiring the victim to testify about the report itself. The resolution, if adopted, would be implemented by the New Jersey Supreme Court under existing procedures, not by creating new law. It focuses on clarifying admissibility for factual evidence, not altering legal standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Violent Crime Employment Discrimination

All criminal justice bills