OACR Bureaus
The Opioid Prevention and Response Bureau (OPRB) will focus on developing community-informed strategies to combat addiction, the conditions associated with addiction, and the consequences flowing therefrom. It will coordinate addiction-fighting efforts, across the Department, creating partnerships with law enforcement agencies, stakeholder groups, and other entities similarly committed to identifying and implementing solutions to the opioid crisis and addiction. OPRB will also seek grants and resources to support these initiatives and be the point of contact in DLPS for discussions involving the use of settlement funds related to State’s various opioid litigation matters. The Department’s New Jersey Coordinator of Addiction Responses and Enforcement Strategies (NJ CARES) office will be under the supervision of OPRB.
The Resiliency Bureau will address the mental and emotional toll on law enforcement through interventions and support programs. Originally established under Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive 2019-1, it will now be administratively managed by the Resiliency Bureau within OACR. The bureau’s mission is to support law enforcement personnel by addressing their mental and emotional challenges arising from their demanding and often traumatic work. It will oversee the statewide program, including the appointment and training of Resiliency Program Officers (RPOs) in law enforcement agencies across New Jersey, and collaborate with departments to promote resiliency initiatives.
The Law Enforcement-Led Alternative Policy and Programming Bureau (LEAPP) will coordinate alternative emergency responses and manage initiatives such as the ARRIVE Together program. LEAPP will oversee the expansion of the available law enforcement responses, incorporating mental or behavioral interventions and diversionary pathways when appropriate. It will manage the ARRIVE Together program for mental health emergencies and support expanding alternative response models statewide. LEAPP will also oversee initiatives like Opioid Response Teams, Law Enforcement Lead Diversion (LEAD), and Operation Helping Hand, diverting individuals from arrest to treatment and recovery services.
The Diversionary Policy Bureau (DPB) will set policies for diversionary programs led by the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) and county prosecutors’ offices, aiming to reduce incarceration rates by addressing underlying issues driving criminal behavior. DPB is established to oversee diversionary initiatives led by DCJ and County Prosecutors’ Offices, aiming to divert individuals from prosecution and incarceration. DPB will also oversee and manage policy and operations relating to law enforcement’s role in the Extreme Risk Protective Order Act of 2018. DPB will provide guidance to DCJ and county prosecutors, set statewide policy, and ensure compliance with protocols and policies. Training and operations of diversionary programs will remain under DCJ’s supervision but coordinated with DPB.
