Advocacy and racial justice groups have expressed strong opposition to a bipartisan bill in New Jersey that seeks to remove the state police from the oversight of the Attorney General’s office. The proposed legislation, S4613, is primarily sponsored by Senators James Beach, Michael Testa, and Anthony Bucco. If passed, it would mean that the New Jersey State Police would no longer operate under the Department of Law and Public Safety, which is currently led by Attorney General Matt Platkin.
The Attorney General’s office has been actively working to improve accountability and transparency within the police force. This effort comes in response to long-standing issues of racism and ableism both within and outside the force. Under Attorney General Platkin and his predecessor Gurbir Grewal, directives were issued to limit police cooperation with ICE due to its impact on communities.
Additionally, measures have been taken by the office to ensure safe interactions between law enforcement officers and individuals with disabilities or mental health diagnoses. The office has also played a significant role in challenging federal policies perceived as threats to civil rights.
Reverend Charles Boyer from Salvation and Social Justice criticized the proposal: “The New Jersey State Police has a long, well-documented history of racism embedded in their culture,” he stated. He argued that removing oversight would be “an assault on the Black community.”
Surraya Johnson from the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice emphasized that there is no justification for removing this oversight: “That oversight is more critical than ever right now,” she said.
Dena Mottola Jaborska of New Jersey Citizen Action highlighted concerns about independence: “Allowing the New Jersey State Police to operate independently when federal authorities are increasingly unchecked sends the absolute wrong message.”
Marleina Ubel from New Jersey Policy Perspective warned against reducing accountability: “This change would eliminate one of the few independent checks on a law enforcement agency with a long history of systemic racism.”
Jim Sullivan from ACLU-NJ noted that this legislative move could undermine necessary oversight powers at a crucial time when federal backstops may not be reliable.
Antoinette Miles from New Jersey Working Families Party called on leaders to reject what she termed a dangerous bill: “We need our elected officials…to ensure that New Jerseyans’ rights are protected.”
The groups opposing this legislation include Salvation and Social Justice, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, New Jersey Citizen Action, among others.
