Bill Text: NJ AJR172 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishes task force to study racial bias within criminal justice system.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2020-12-14 - Absolute Veto, Received in the Assembly [AJR172 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AJR172-Amended.html
ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION
No. 172
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JUNE 29, 2020
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Tully, Assemblywomen Swain, Vainieri Huttle, Timberlake and Assemblyman Coughlin
SYNOPSIS
Establishes task force to study racial bias within criminal justice system.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Community Development and Affairs Committee on August 24, 2020, with amendments.
A Joint Resolution establishing a task force to study racial bias within the criminal justice system.
Whereas, The criminal justice system is a multifaceted system tasked with crime prevention, ensuring public safety, rehabilitating offenders, and the upholding of justice for all; however, not all individuals who experience the criminal justice system perceive the system to be fair and equitable; and
Whereas, Racial bias, which refers to prejudice in favor of or against a racial or ethnic group when compared to another racial or ethnic group, is present within each major component of the United States criminal justice system including law enforcement, courts, and corrections; and
Whereas, Racial bias within the criminal justice system occurs both explicitly, through overt discrimination, and implicitly through subconscious stereotypes held by individuals working within the criminal justice system; and
Whereas, Implicit biases are associations made by individuals in the unconscious state of mind, so often times, individuals are unaware of the implicit biases they harbor towards certain individuals or groups of people; these implicit biases can be especially problematic when they are held by individuals working within the criminal justice system because these subconscious stereotypes and prejudices can impact discretionary thinking and lead to adverse outcomes for individuals of minority groups who are experiencing the criminal justice system; and
Whereas, Minority groups, specifically African Americans, are overrepresented and treated disparately within the criminal justice system when compared to other groups; and
Whereas, According to 2019 United States Census data, African Americans make up only 13.4 percent of the national population, however, African Americans make up 38 percent of the prison population as reported in the 2020 Federal Bureau of Prison's report of inmate statistics; this overrepresentation of African Americans within the prison system also results in greater percentages of African Americans obtaining a criminal record, which can affect future job opportunities, housing options, and family relationships; and
Whereas, It is important for the State of New Jersey to study racial bias within the criminal justice system and recommend actions to criminal justice system actors and policymakers to prevent future disparate treatment within the criminal justice system; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established a task force to study racial bias within New Jersey's criminal justice system. This task force shall study the presence and prevalence of racial bias within each major component of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, courts, and corrections.
b. The task force shall consist of 17 members as follows:
(1) two members of the General Assembly, one who is a member of the Legislative Black Caucus and one who is a member of the Legislative Latino Caucus, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly;
(2) two members of the Senate, one who is a member of the Legislative Black Caucus and one who is a member of the Legislative Latino Caucus appointed by the President of the Senate;
(3) the Attorney General, or a designee;
(4) the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, or a designee;
(5) the 1[Chief Justice of the Supreme Court] Administrative Director of the Courts1, or a designee;
(6) the President of the New Jersey Prosecutors Association, or a designee;
(7) the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission, or a designee;
(8) the Commissioner of Corrections, or a designee;
(9) the Public Defender, or a designee; and
(10) six members of the public, appointed by the Governor, who represent communities and community-based advocacy groups that reflect the diverse economic, racial, cultural, gender, and occupational composition of the State. Three of these six members of the public should have knowledge of or experience with the New Jersey criminal justice system.
c. The members of this task force shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of this resolution. The task force shall organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of the task force's members and the task force shall choose a chairperson from among its members. The presence of nine members shall constitute a quorum.
d. The task force shall meet regularly as the task force determines or at the call of the chairperson. The task force shall hold at least three public hearings in different parts of the State and elicit testimony from the public at such times and places as the chair shall designate.
e. The members of the task force shall serve without compensation.
f. Any vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
g. The Attorney General's Office shall provide stenographic, clerical, and other administrative assistance and professional staff as the task force requires to carry out the task force's work. The task force shall be entitled to call to the task force's assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as the task force may require and as may be available for the task force's purposes.
2. a. The task force shall study the presence and prevalence of racial bias within the criminal justice system. The task force shall focus on the factors that contribute to racial disparities within the State's law enforcement, courts, and correctional system. The task force shall specifically:
(1) examine current data, research, and policies related to racial bias and racial disparities within the State's criminal justice system;
(2) identify effective strategies to reduce the presence of racial bias within the State's criminal justice system;
(3) develop recommendations to implement those strategies, including legislation, court rules, and policies, if appropriate, based on the task force's findings.
b. The task force shall prepare and submit to the Governor and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14- 19.1) a final report no later than one year after the organization of the task force.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately and shall expire 30 days after the issuance of the task force's final report and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature.
