Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation that codifies the Attorney General’s Use of Force Directive into New Jersey state law. The new law, S2348/A4175, establishes lasting protections against police violence and is described as one of the strongest statutory safeguards in the United States.
The directive originated from community hearings organized by Salvation and Social Justice (SandSJ) in Black churches across cities including Newark, Pleasantville, and Trenton. These forums allowed community members to share their experiences with policing, which led to investigations by the Attorney General’s Office and informed the creation of this reform.
SandSJ played a key role in advocating for both the development and enactment of this policy. Reverend Charles Boyer, Co-Founder and Executive Director of SandSJ, said, “This work was born out of the prophetic witness of Black churches and the sacred testimonies of our people. For far too long, Black and marginalized communities in New Jersey have lived under policing shaped by the legacy of structural racism. Codifying the Use of Force directive is a moral step toward justice, accountability, and right relationship. We are grateful to Governor Murphy, Attorney General Matt Platkin, Senator Troy Singleton, Assemblywoman Park, and all who labored to bring this moment forward. We pray this provides solace to families harmed by state violence and strengthens our collective resolve to build a public safety system rooted in human dignity.”
The law sets clear limits on when force can be used by police officers. It requires that force—including deadly force—be used only as a last resort after all reasonable de-escalation efforts have been made. The statute also restricts chokeholds, limits firing at moving vehicles except under specific circumstances, reinforces officers’ duty to intervene against excessive force by colleagues, and mandates medical aid after any use-of-force incident.
Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington) commented on the significance of these changes: “It is essential to ensure that law enforcement throughout our state is afforded training and guided by policies that are focused on the principles that form the bedrock of proper policing. Enshrining the prioritization of de-escalation and the use of only reasonable force into law will help ensure that use of force policy remains consistently focused on these principles throughout all future administrations. I am incredibly grateful to our partners whose advocacy helped get this bill onto the Governor’s desk and signed into law.”
Jim Sullivan, Deputy Policy Director for ACLU-NJ, stated: “We thank Governor Murphy for signing S2348/A4175 into law and advancing efforts to achieve meaningful accountability of police officers to the communities they’re supposed to serve. This legislation is critical to addressing police violence across New Jersey, especially in our Black and brown communities. Our state must continue to make reforms to reimagine policing as we know it by preventing unnecessary escalation, investing in non-law enforcement responses to mental health calls, and protecting every New Jerseyan’s right to safety and dignity.”
Amber Reed from AAPI NJ referenced a recent incident while expressing support: “Every life is sacred, and each person needlessly killed by police is as precious to someone as Victoria Lee, who was shot by Fort Lee police responding to her mental health call in July 2024, was to her family. This historic legislation will help to ensure our state keeps moving forward in reducing excessive use of force by law enforcement and affirms our shared commitment to a future where everyone can access help safely when they need it.”
Liza Chowdhury from Reimagine NJ added: “This legislation, paired with continued investment in crisis response teams and community-based intervention models, creates more opportunities for law enforcement to think critically, humanely, and innovatively… It opens the door for responses rooted in care rather than aggression especially in situations involving mental illness or acute crisis so that help is delivered, and lives are saved whenever possible.”
Rev. Weldon M. McWilliams from Christ Temple Baptist Church remarked: “With the rise of deaths at the hands of police, this bill (S2348/A4175) is a step in the right direction. It helps to ensure that police intervention in these matters are truly about honoring and respecting the sanctity of life… The use of deadly force has been questionable in too many instances… Again I stress this is just a first step… we must continue to advocate for policies …that make police killings …totally unacceptable…”
These legislative reforms respond directly to demands raised within Black churches statewide through persistent advocacy led by SandSJ alongside partner organizations committed to addressing inequities within New Jersey’s history with policing.
Further details about New Jersey’s Use of Force Directive can be found at https://www.njoag.gov/policing/.
