Social Justice
Deportation order for N.J. man reversed after appeals court ruling
Judge Theodore McKee's decision tells immigration judges to empathize with the migrants whose lives they hold in their hands and warns lower courts that they had already been cautioned to check their bias.
Bill to protect temporary workers narrowly passes in Senate
Nearly 130,000 temporary workers scored a long-fought victory when legislators narrowly passed a bill to create workplace protections.
Utilities derail vote on bill to aid low-income residents behind on water bills
Utilities, opposed to a program to help struggling families pay water bills, stalled a vote on a bill that would force more buy-in.
State diverted $2B from clean energy fund to NJ Transit, other needs, report finds
N.J. officials diverted $2 billion since 2010 from a clean energy fund to other things, prompting critics to call for an end to the practice.
Judges can deny ill inmates compassionate release in ‘extraordinary’ cases, high court says
The N.J. Supreme Court rules judges can deny compassionate release to ill inmates if “extraordinary" factors justify continued incarceration.
Poverty, income biggest predictors of internet quality in N.J., study finds
Affordability, not infrastructure, drives the digital divide that keeps high-speed internet out of low-income N.J. households, study finds.
Trenton cop indicted in 64-year-old’s death during violent 2020 arrest
A grand jury indicted one of several Trenton cops involved in the 2020 arrest of an elderly city man who died after getting pepper-sprayed.
New study urges cheaper communications for incarcerated people
New Jersey prisons charge lower rates for phone calls than most other states, a study found. There's still room for improvement, authors noted.
New law expands child welfare oversight, caps caseloads
A new law expands oversight of N.J.’s child welfare system and caps caseloads for social workers handling child abuse and neglect cases.
Bills to toughen penalties against car thieves advance, despite objections
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced eight bills largely aimed at expanding penalties for car theft, despite social justice reformers' concerns.
In New Jersey, essential temp workers deserve respect and dignity
A worker shares her experience working for a temporary staffing agency during the pandemic.
Temp workers rely on public health care more than Amazon, Walmart employees, study says
New Jersey taxpayers subsidize temporary staffing agencies by more than $20 million annually while workers take home poverty wages, the study says.