Bill Text: NJ S1431 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Requires minimum level of police staffing based on municipal population and violent crime rate.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-27 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S1431 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2014-S1431-Introduced.html

---

SENATE, No. 1431

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 27, 2014

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  RONALD L. RICE

District 28 (Essex)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires minimum level of police staffing based on municipal population and violent crime rate.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning police staffing levels and supplementing Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.  Any municipality in this State with a population exceeding 60,000 according to the latest federal decennial census and which has a violent crime rate exceeding 10.0 per 1,000 residents according to the most recently issued Uniform Crime Report published by the Department of Law and Public Safety shall maintain a full-time police department or force comprised of at least four police officers per 1,000 residents. 

 

     2.  This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month following enactment. 

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would require municipalities in this State with a population of more than 60,000 people and a violent crime rate exceeding 10.0 per 1,000 residents to maintain a full-time police department or force comprised of at least four police officers per 1,000 residents. 

     Under the bill, the violent crime rate would be based on that which is reported in the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) published by the Department of Law and Public Safety.  In the UCR, violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. 

     According to the sponsor, the escalating number of murders being committed in this State's urban communities is becoming a public health crisis.  An appropriate response to this crisis is to ensure that urban municipalities with high crime rates have sufficient police officers to maintain the public safety.