Requires Attorney General to establish model duty-to-intervene policy for law enforcement officers; requires entities that employ law enforcement officers to adopt duty-to-intervene policy.
The implementation of A1381 is expected to bring significant changes to law enforcement procedures across the state. It will necessitate that all agencies employing law enforcement personnel adopt the attorney general's model policy or create a substantially similar one. This will standardize how officers are expected to act when they observe misconduct, shifting the culture of policing towards accountability and intervention rather than complicity in wrongdoing.
Assembly Bill A1381 requires the New Jersey Attorney General to create a model policy mandating a 'duty to intervene' for law enforcement officers. This obligation entails that if an officer witnesses another officer engaging in unjustifiable uses of force or any acts that constitute a criminal offense, they must take corrective action. This bill is seen as a response to increasing calls for greater accountability within law enforcement, especially in light of high-profile incidents of police misconduct.
Furthermore, the bill mandates that law enforcement agencies will need to report quarterly to the Attorney General on any incidences of intervention made by their officers. This requirement could be instrumental in monitoring the effectiveness of the policy and ensuring accountability. The Attorney General is also tasked with producing annual reports summarizing these interventions, thereby increasing transparency within law enforcement activities.
Supporters of A1381 argue that requiring officers to intervene when witnessing misconduct is a necessary step towards preventing abuse of power within police departments. Opponents may express concerns regarding the practicalities of enforcing such a policy and the potential risks it places on officers in high-stress situations. Additionally, the aspect of disciplinary measures for non-compliance might raise apprehension about job security among law enforcement officers.