New Jersey Communities Forward Mid-Year Review
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Broad Coalition Joins Forces to Call for Action on Policing and Criminal Justice Reform in New Jersey
Today, a broad coalition of leading New Jersey civil rights, community, and religious leaders “requested that the legislature undertake a comprehensive and inclusive examination of criminal justice reforms needed to positively transform the relationship between police and the residents of New Jersey.”
Read more10 Things You Can Do to Reform Law Enforcement in New Jersey
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2016 NJISJ Brochure
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Marking 50th Anniversary of Voting Rights Act, Black Elected Officials Forge Alliance
Earlier this month, African-American elected officials from across New Jersey came together for a historic meeting.
This summit was a first for New Jersey, and occurred as we mark the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a historic moment in the political history of our country and the state as we reflect on the progress we have made over the last five decades.
Read moreLAWRENCE: Council Presented With State's Procedures On Police-Involved Shootings
LAWRENCE — As part of an ongoing outreach effort on the hot button issue of police-involved shootings, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office presented the state’s uniform investigative procedures.
Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri presented the policies as well as members of the investigative team to the Township Council and members of the public Tuesday.
Read moreSchool of Criminal Justice Provides Forum for Discourse on Policing
On November 11, the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice (SCJ) at Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N) served as the site for spirited discourse on “The Future of Policing: What Does it Mean for Our City?” Nestled in one of Newark’s anchor institutions that proudly acknowledges being of Newark, not just in Newark, government officials, community leaders, activists, and students gathered to engage in productive dialogue about best law enforcement practices for Newark’s constituents.
Read moreRutgers University-Newark Forum Asks: What Is the Future of Policing in the City of Newark?
On Nov. 11 the New Jersey Communities Forward’s Newark Conversation Starters, hosted by the School of Criminal Justice at Rutgers University-Newark, will bring together community members, leaders, law enforcement, and businesses to discuss police body cameras, civilian review for policing and the Federal Consent Decree in the City of Newark. Following this discussion, participants will have an opportunity to break into smaller groups to focus on identifying changes in policing in the City of Newark. This event is free and open to the public.
Read morePrieto Irritated by Christie’s Veto of ‘Democracy Act’
Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-32) this afternoon condemned Gov. Chris Christie’s decision to veto the so-called Democracy Act – A-4613, which Prieto said he authored to modernize New Jersey’s voting laws.
Read morePresident Obama Visits Newark
In a significant speech during his visit to Newark, President Barack Obama announced that he would direct federal agencies
through an executive action to “ban the box “of criminal history questions on some government job applications.
President Obama’s announcement builds on the pioneering work of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and its
coalition partners in banning the box in New Jersey with the passage of the Opportunity to Compete Act in 2014.
The Opportunity to Compete Act seeks to give people with criminal convictions a fair opportunity to secure employment.
President Obama’s executive action follows Senator Cory Booker and Representative Elijah Cummings’ introduction of
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2015, which is a significant federal legislation that is similar to New Jersey’s Opportunity to Compete Act.