Social Justice
N.J. Supreme Court declines case that could have expanded sentencing reviews
Advocates want resentencing hearings for those who committed crimes as 18-20-year-olds, citing incomplete brain development.
Lawsuit can proceed against New Jersey prison guards accused of refusing disabled man’s needs
Prison staff showed "deliberate indifference" in refusing to give a disabled incarcerated man his cane for 10 days, a judge said.
New Jersey parolees can get public defenders under new law
Previously, parolees couldn’t get public defenders and were forced to rely on pro-bono representation who may not have had proper experience.
New Jersey’s public records law is a ‘sword and shield’ against corruption, citizens say
Citizen watchdogs who use the Open Public Records Act to hold public officials accountable say efforts to water down the law should concern everyone.
N.J. law barring prison operator from contracting with ICE is unconstitutional, judge says
A federal judge has declared a N.J. law banning immigrant detention contracts unconstitutional. The state vowed to appeal.
Calls grow for laptop access in New Jersey prisons
People incarcerated at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton have been fighting unsuccessfully to get laptop computers.
New Jersey’s D.C. Democrats ask U.S. to back off immigrant detention suit
Eight of the state's House members and both its senators asked federal authorities to pull their support from a suit to extend immigrant detention.
State’s top court upholds $1.5M negligence verdict against jail for inmate’s suicide
Officials claimed immunity for the 2010 suicide of an Ocean County Jail inmate. But the N.J. Supreme Court affirmed a negligence finding.
Groups ask Governor Murphy to veto expansion of involuntary commitment
Lawmakers aim to double the time hospitals can hold people involuntarily committed for psychiatric care. Critics say it's the wrong approach.
Staffing agencies fighting to kill New Jersey’s temp worker law
Some provisions of the law, like providing equal pay for temporary workers doing the same work as full-time employees, go into effect Aug. 5.
New racial justice group gives New Jersey lawmakers middling marks
A new advocacy group grading lawmakers on their support of legislation it supports gave just 8% of the Legislature’s 120 members an A.
Activists call for federal oversight of N.J. State Police over racial discrimination allegations
Lawyers say nearly two dozen current and former state troopers allege they are victims of discrimination.