Social Justice
Watchdog dings state for sweltering prisons, urges funding for air conditioning
A watchdog urged lawmakers to invest in cooling state prisons, where 6,500 inmates and correctional officers suffered in the summer heat.
Upheaval at National Organization for Women of New Jersey as state leaders resign abruptly
The resignations leave the organization without state leadership at a time when women’s rights nationally dominate headlines.
Reformers push for Megan’s Law changes for juvenile offenders
Most of the people listed on New Jersey’s sex offender registry are there for crimes too terrible to imagine. They’ve molested preschoolers or even babies, made and traded child pornography, raped victims at knifepoint. Many are considered repetitive, compulsive offenders, so likely to reoffend that the state warns the public about them. Then there’s J. […]
Judge tosses defamation claim filed by former Cape May official
A Cape May official said an affordable housing advocate defamed him in a newspaper story about questionable city spending. A judge disagreed.
N.J. is sparking up, bringing in millions in tax revenue from cannabis
New Jersey raked in $4.6 million in tax revenue in the first 10 weeks since recreational cannabis sales launched. The tax revenue came from nearly $80 million customers spent on legal recreational marijuana between April 21 and June 30, the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission announced in a statement Friday. It includes more than $219,000 in […]
Incarcerating parents punishes families, watchdog group warns
Prison Policy Initiative found that 1.25 million children nationally have an incarcerated parent, increasing their negative outcomes.
Judges revive civil rights case against Linden officials, state Senate president
A woman claims multiple Linden officials and others violated her civil rights over a 2007 harassment claim.
Lawmakers to take do-over vote on bill protecting rights of temp workers
A procedural mistake during a voting session in late June will require the lawmakers to cast their votes again Monday.
New law creates $45M electric school bus program
State officials say electrifying New Jersey's school buses — a big source of pollution — will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Plenty of ideas on how N.J. should spend $1B in leftover federal aid
Gov. Phil Murphy's office is hosting online meetings so residents can suggest ways the state can spend unallocated federal aid.
Civil rights advocates demand oversight of automated decision-making systems
Governments rely on automated systems to decide things like health care eligibility and pretrial detention. Civil libertarians are concerned.
Rents in New Jersey remain unaffordable despite pandemic aid, report finds
New Jersey remains among the least affordable states in the nation for renters, with a minimum-wage worker having to work 96 hours a week to afford a two-bedroom apartment, according to a new report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Temporary housing aid put in place during the pandemic — emergency rental assistance and eviction moratoriums […]