POLICE DIVERSITY BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW
September 28, 2021
Trenton – Three bills that will help bring greater diversity to the ranks of law enforcement in New Jersey were signed into law today. Sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senator Ronald Rice, Senator Joe Cryan and Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, the new laws will help break down the obstacles encountered by minorities in the hiring practices of police departments in the state.
The laws, formerly S-2765, S-2766 and S-2767, will analyze the make-up of police forces and other law enforcement agencies, maintain a statewide database tracking membership, create a mentoring program to improve recruitment, and have the state Civil Service Commission undertake a series of initiatives to break down the institutional biases that block equal opportunities for minorities.
“We can bring more diversity to police forces and other law enforcement agencies by breaking down the barriers that make it much harder for minorities to join the ranks and to be treated fairly,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “This will help applicants overcome some of the institutional obstacles and biases that minorities face at the same time we help make police departments better reflect the communities they serve. This is a matter of equal opportunity and social justice.”
“New Jersey is the most diverse state in the nation and we should have a police force that reflects the residents and communities they patrol,” said Senator Rice (D-Essex). “As a former Newark police officer, I understand that diversity in our departments is crucial for building trust between the police and the people. This will help us build that diversity in departments that so many municipalities need.”
“More diversity among law enforcement is a matter of equal opportunity and social justice, but it is also a means to more effective law enforcement,” said Senator Cryan, the former Union County Sheriff. “It will help improve the working relationship between police departments and the communities they serve by preventing crime, working effectively with victims and teaming up with residents to keep their communities safe.”
“If we are ever going to see our police forces and law enforcement truly reflect the diversity of our state, we must start by understanding their current make-up, collecting data, and tracking the progress so we can be more deliberative and intentional in our reforms,” said Senator Ruiz (D-Essex). “Such provisions will lead to a more inclusive workforce at state and local law enforcement agencies. The more departments reflect the racial and ethnic make-up of the people they serve the better suited they will be to meet the needs of all communities.”
The three laws:
Diversity Analysis and Oversight (S-2767/Cryan, Rice, Sweeney, Ruiz) will have the Civil Service Commission develop and maintain a statewide database to collect and track the background information of the make-up of all law enforcement entities as well as candidates seeking positions.
Diversity and Inclusivity (S-2765/Sweeney, Rice, Ruiz) will have the Civil Service Commission conduct an analysis of law enforcement agencies in New Jersey to determine racial composition, salaries, geographic and socio-economic variances and the impact of residency requirements.
Mentoring (S-2766/Sweeney, Rice) will have the Civil Service Commission establish and maintain a program to assist minority law enforcement candidates through the application and selection process.
