Bill > A4175

This bill establishes several new requirements for law enforcement use of force and incident reporting in New Jersey. The Attorney General must review the Statewide use of force policy every even-numbered year, focusing on core principles such as respecting human life, prioritizing de-escalation, using only necessary and proportional force, and establishing duties like medical assistance and incident reporting. The bill requires the Attorney General to hold three public hearings across the state to gather community feedback on the policy. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a public reporting system for all use of force incidents, which will be accessible through the Department of Law and Public Safety's website under the Open Public Records Act. The legislation also requires the Attorney General to develop new guidelines for handling barricaded individual situations, emphasizing proper identification of mental health crises, communication strategies, de-escalation techniques, and the appropriate involvement of mental health professionals. Furthermore, the Police Training Commission must develop mandatory training for law enforcement officers on handling barricaded individual scenarios, including crisis intervention and mental health crisis interaction. The bill also expands police powers for certain correctional officers and parole officers, allowing them to exercise full police powers for detecting and apprehending offenders.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A4175