Jersey City Weighs In On AG Discipline Report Directive

JERSEY CITY, NJ — With New Jersey's Supreme Court backing Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal's directive that police departments must publicly release some disciplinary records within approximately 60 days - a decision the State PBA's president called "frustrating and disappointing" - Jersey City is one that has said it intends to follow Grewal's directive.

"The JCPD is working to compile all the information to meet the AG’s directive, and Internal Affairs is on track to compile and release all of the information prior to the August deadline," said city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione.

According to Grewal's 102-page directive and the June 7 court ruling, law enforcement agencies must publicly share information about officers' disciplinary violations deemed "serious" by Aug. 9, from incidents dated June 15 to Dec. 31, 2020.

Every year following, reports of these types of incidents must be shared with the public by Jan. 31 of the next calendar year.

Among the criteria departments are supposed to share publicly are police department suspensions in excess of five days, terminations and demotions of rank or grade.

"By lifting the cloak of secrecy over our state's police disciplinary process, we are not simply ensuring accountability for those who engage in misconduct," Grewal said. "We are also demonstrating that the vast majority of law enforcement officers work hard and play by the rules."

Josh Bakan contributed reporting to this story.