Excellence in Policing

New Jersey is home to some of the finest law enforcement officers in the country. In fall 2019, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued a comprehensive package of policy initiatives designed to reinforce and clarify the Garden State’s commitment to excellence in policing. These statewide reforms are intended to promote the culture of professionalism, accountability, and transparency that are hallmarks of New Jersey’s best law enforcement agencies. Through Attorney General Grewal’s “Excellence in Policing Initiative,” the state is building a national model for strengthening trust between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.

Professionalism

Improving law enforcement training
Overhauling the state’s Police Training Commission
Promoting officer resiliency
Identifying early warning signs for
at-risk officers

Accountability

Ensuring independent investigations of officer-involved shootings
Creating a more robust police disciplinary process
Developing a proposal for police licensure
Setting minimum standards for Civilian Review Boards

Transparency

Ensuring the public release of police use-of-force footage
Creating systems for timely disclosure of
impeachment material
Collecting and publishing statewide data on police
use-of-force

AG Grewal Overhauls Statewide Police Use of Force Policies

Dec 21, 2020 | Excellence in Policing, Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, Policing Policy, Press Release, Strengthening Police-Community Relations

Sweeping New Rules Place Strict Limits on Use of Force, Establish New Framework for Civilian Interactions; Will Apply to All 38,000 Officers in New JerseyFor Immediate Release: December 21, 2020 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralOffice...

AG Grewal Issues Guidance on Law Enforcement Involvement in Election Activities and Protections Against Unlawful Voter Intimidation

Oct 16, 2020 | Division of Criminal Justice, Excellence in Policing, Office of Law Enforcement Professional Standards, Policing Policy, Press Release

For Immediate Release: October 16, 2020 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General For Further Information: Media Inquiries-Peter Aseltine609-292-4791Citizen Inquiries-609-984-5828 Election Guidance to NJ Law Enforcement TRENTON – Attorney...

AG Grewal Issues Statewide Order Requiring Law Enforcement Agencies to Identify Officers Who Commit Serious Disciplinary Violations – Col. Callahan to Release Identities of All State Troopers Subject to Major Discipline over Last Twenty Years

Jun 15, 2020 | Excellence in Policing, New Jersey State Police, Officer Resiliency, Policing Policy, Press Release, Strengthening Police-Community Relations

For Immediate Release: June 15, 2020 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralNew Jersey State Police- Colonel Patrick Callahan, SuperintendentFor Further Information: Media Inquiries-Peter Aseltine609-292-4791Citizen...

AG Grewal Outlines Process for Revising New Jersey`s Use of Force Policy – Initiative to Include Statewide Listening Sessions, Online Public Comment Website

Jun 12, 2020 | Excellence in Policing, Officer Resiliency, Policing Policy, Press Release, Public Integrity

For Immediate Release: June 12, 2020 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralFor Further Information: Media Inquiries-Peter Aseltineor Lee Moore609-292-4791Citizen Inquiries-609-984-5828TRENTON – Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today...

Resources
Excellence in Policing Summary
Excellence in Policing Summary (spanish)
The Independent Prosecutor Directive
Use of Force Portal Training Video
Use of Force Reporting Portal FAQs
Use of Force Reporting Portal Guide
Use of Force Reporting Quick Guide
2020 – AG Guidance on Chokeholds
and Neck Restraints

Documents
2020-6: LPS Disclosure of Major Discipline
2020-5: Major Discipline Directive
2019-4: Independent Prosecutor Directive
2019-5: Internal Affairs Directive
2020-Internal Affairs Policy & Procedures
2019-6: Statewide Brady-Giglio Directive
2019-7: Municipal Prosecutor Directive
2019-8: OPIA Directive
Letter Regarding Early Warning Systems
Letter Regarding Use-of-Force Portal
Letter to Police Training Commission

Investigations

How New Jersey Conducts Independent Investigations into Police Use-of-Force and Death-in-Custody Incidents

There are few investigations more important—or more challenging—than those involving the use of force by law enforcement officers against civilians. In December 2019, Attorney General Grewal issued AG Directive 2019-4, known as the Independent Prosecutor Directive, to outline clear procedures governing such investigations and to ensure that they are done fully, fairly, and independently of any potential bias.

Broadly speaking, the Directive outlines a ten-step process for conducting independent investigations of use-of-force and death-in-custody incidents in compliance with State law. Although the precise timing will vary depending on the case, the first three steps generally occur simultaneously in the immediate aftermath of the incident, while the remaining steps unfold over the course of the investigation.

Excellence in Policing