SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 94

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  AUGUST 21, 2020

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Joint Resolution No. 94.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this resolution establishes a task force to study racial bias within the State’s criminal justice system. 

     This task force shall consist of 17 members with representation from the General Assembly, the Senate, the Attorney General, the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, the Administrative Director of the Courts, the President of the New Jersey Prosecutors Association, the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission, the Commissioner of Corrections, the Public Defender, and communities and community-based advocacy groups that reflect the diverse composition of the State.  The task force is required to study the presence and prevalence of racial bias within the State’s criminal justice system.  The task force also is to examine current data, research, and policies related to racial bias and racial disparities within the State’s law enforcement, courts, and correctional system, identify effective strategies to reduce the presence of racial bias within the criminal justice system, and develop recommendations to implement those strategies.  Within one year after the organization of the task force, the task force is required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature of the task force’s findings and recommendations.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to replace the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court with the Administrative Director of the Courts as a member of the task force.