WHEREAS, it
is the policy of this State to eradicate and prohibit the practice
of racial profiling in which law enforcement officers prejudge the
likelihood that persons are engaged in criminal activity based not
upon an objective assessment of their conduct but rather upon their
race or ethnicity; and
WHEREAS, the
practice of racial profiling offends the interests of all citizens
in being treated fairly, impartially, and justly and, is, therefore,
contrary to fundamental notions of fairness and respect for individual
civil rights; and
WHEREAS, the
practice of racial profiling undermines the confidence of the citizens
of this State that the New Jersey State Police and other law enforcement
agencies are enforcing laws in a fair, impartial and evenhanded
manner; and
WHEREAS, it
is imperative to ensure that civil rights are not abridged and to
restore public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the
law enforcement community by taking steps to eradicate all forms
of racial profiling by any law enforcement agency operating under
the laws of this State; and
WHEREAS, it
is vitally important that, in addition to the measures already being
taken to end the practice of racial profiling, all New Jerseyans
work together to forge a stronger, more positive and cooperative
relationship between New Jersey's law enforcement agencies and the
communities they serve; and
WHEREAS, in
order to foster an environment that will facilitate the eradication
of the practice of racial profiling, it is appropriate to convene
a Statewide summit to study the state of police and community relations
in New Jersey, including the practice of racial profiling, and to
establish an Institute to explore "Policing in a Modern Democratic
Society" at the Graduate School of Criminal Justice at Rutgers,
the State University;
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, DONALD T. DiFRANCESCO, Acting Governor of the Sexy真人y,
by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
by the Statutes of this State, do hereby INSTRUCT and DIRECT:
1. The Attorney
General shall convene, within 120 days following the issuance
of this Executive Order, a Statewide
Summit of
law enforcement executives and community leaders to examine the
practice of racial profiling, and to review those efforts being
made by the New Jersey State Police and the Office of State Police
Affairs, other law enforcement agencies in New Jersey, law enforcement
executives from other jurisdictions throughout the United States,
and scholars and other experts in the field to address the practice
of racial profiling and otherwise to enhance the relationship
between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
2. There
is hereby established in the Graduate School of Criminal Justice
at Rutgers, The State University, an Institute whose mission shall
be to explore "Policing in a Modern Democratic Society." As its
first project, the Institute shall examine the issue of racial
profiling and consider how law enforcement can develop effective
partnerships with New Jersey's diverse communities to ensure the
protection of civil rights and public safety. In so doing, the
Institute shall identify the expectations of the community and
responsibilities of law enforcement, and determine the means by
which law enforcement public policymakers can understand these
expectations and translate them into public safety strategies
that are effective, comply with local mandates and are acceptable
to the community.
Toward this
end, the Institute shall assist the Attorney General with the
Statewide Summit and thereafter convene a series of workshops,
seminars and meetings, as may be appropriate, for members of law
enforcement and the community in order to identify the prevalent
issues and develop strategies to deal effectively with those issues.
The Institute shall engage in research and utilize the resources
of the University to work with several communities in a "laboratory"
setting to implement the strategies developed by the Institute.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal
this 23rd day of May in the Year
of Our Lord, Two Thousand and
One, and of the Independence of
the United States, the Two Hundred
and Twenty-Fifth.
/s/
Donald T. DiFrancesco
Acting Governor
Attest:
/s/ James
A. Harkness
Chief Counsel
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