Bill
Bill > S4172
NJ S4172
Requires online portal to report law enforcement officer misconduct; establishes duty to report by law enforcement officers.
summary
Introduced
03/03/2025
03/03/2025
In Committee
03/03/2025
03/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires the Attorney General to create, maintain, and update, as appropriate, an online portal, in the form of an Internet website, to be used by law enforcement officers to report the misconduct of other law enforcement officers. The bill provides that, in addition to any other reporting requirements set forth in law, regulation, or policy, a law enforcement officer who observes any of the following actions committed by another law enforcement officer would be required to report the action to the Attorney General using the online portal established in the bill: (1) unjustifiable use of force, pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.2C:3-7; (2) deprivation of civil rights, pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 2003, c.3 (C.2C:30-6); or (3) any other act which constitutes a criminal offense in this State. Additionally, the bill provides that a law enforcement officer who observes another law enforcement officer committing an act that does not constitute a criminal offense, but violates any policy or other regulation to which the other law enforcement officer is subject, may use the portal to report the act to the Attorney General. The bill also provides that the portal is required to operate so that submission of a report may be completed anonymously. In the case of an anonymous submission, the portal would create an identifier using a series of random characters in place of the personal identifying information of the reporting law enforcement officer.
AI Summary
This bill requires the Attorney General to establish an online portal where law enforcement officers can report misconduct by other officers. The bill defines a "law enforcement officer" as a public official with the power to detect, apprehend, arrest, and convict offenders, and a "criminal offense" as acts ranging from first to fourth-degree crimes and disorderly persons offenses. Law enforcement officers would be mandated to report within 72 hours any observations of serious misconduct, including unjustifiable use of force, civil rights violations, or any criminal offenses committed by another officer. Additionally, officers may voluntarily report non-criminal policy or regulatory violations through the same portal. A key feature of the portal is its anonymity provision, which allows officers to submit reports without revealing their personal identity by generating a random identifier. The bill aims to increase transparency and accountability within law enforcement by creating a structured, confidential reporting mechanism. The legislation would take effect on the first day of the third month following its enactment, with the Attorney General permitted to prepare for implementation in advance.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 03/03/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S4172 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/S4500/4172_I1.HTM |
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