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S3757
SENATE, No. 3757
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MARCH 5, 2026
Sponsored by:
Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
���� Requires Attorney General to revise law enforcement
use of force policy; implements certain reforms.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning use of force by law enforcement officers and supplementing Title 52
of the Revised Statutes.
����
Be It Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New
Jersey:
���� 1.��� The Legislature finds
and declares:
����
a.���� The
highest priority of New Jersey�s law enforcement officers is to safeguard the
life, dignity, and liberty of all persons, without prejudice toward anyone.
���� b.���
Law
enforcement officers shall be guided by the principle of reverence for human
life in all investigative, enforcement, and other contacts between officers and
members of the public.
���� c.���� When law
enforcement officers are called upon to detain or arrest a suspect who is
uncooperative or actively resisting arrest, may attempt to flee, poses a danger
to others, or poses a danger to themselves officers should consider tactics and
techniques that may persuade the suspect to voluntarily comply or may mitigate
the need to use a higher level of force to resolve the situation safely.
���� d.���
Vesting
law enforcement officers with the authority to use necessary force as
determined by an objectively reasonable officer and to protect the public
welfare requires monitoring, evaluation, and a careful balancing of all
interests.
���� e.���� The
authority to use force is a serious responsibility given to law enforcement
officers by the people who expect them to exercise that authority judiciously
and with respect for human rights, dignity, and life.
���� f.���� The
purpose of this act is to establish the minimum standard for policies and
reporting procedures regarding New Jersey law enforcement agencies� use of
force. The purpose of these use of force policies is to provide law enforcement
agencies with guidance regarding the use and application of force to ensure
such applications only are used to effect arrests or lawful detentions,
overcome resistance, or bring a situation under legitimate control
.
���� 2.��� a.�
The
Attorney General shall revise the policy for the use of force by law
enforcement officers.� The revised use of force policy shall include, but not
be limited to, the following:
���� (1)��
a
requirement that officers utilize deescalation techniques, crisis intervention
tactics, and other alternatives to force when feasible;
���� (2)��
a
requirement that officers only may use a level of force that they reasonably
believe is proportional to the seriousness of the suspected offense or the
reasonably perceived level of actual or threatened resistance;
���� (3)��
a
requirement that officers report potential excessive force to a superior
officer when present and observing another officer using force that the officer
believes to be beyond that which is necessary, as determined by an objectively
reasonable officer under the circumstances based upon the totality of
information actually known to the officer;
���� (4)��
clear and
specific guidelines regarding situations in which officers may or may not draw
a firearm or point a firearm at a person;
���� (5)��
a
requirement that officers consider their surroundings and potential risks to
bystanders, to the extent reasonable under the circumstances, before
discharging a firearm;
���� (6)��
procedures
for the filing, investigation, and reporting of citizen complaints regarding
use of force incidents;
���� (7)��
a
requirement that an officer intercede when present and observing another
officer using force that is clearly beyond that which is necessary, as
determined by an objectively reasonable officer under the circumstances, taking
into account the possibility that other officers may have additional
information regarding the threat posed by a subject;
���� (8)��
comprehensive
and specific guidelines regarding approved methods and devices available for
the application of force;
���� (9)��
an
explicitly stated requirement that officers carry out their duties, including
use of force, in a manner that is fair and unbiased;
���� (10)�
comprehensive
and specific guidelines for the application of deadly force;
���� (11) a requirement that officers promptly provide, if properly
trained, or otherwise promptly procure medical assistance for persons injured
in a use of force incident, when reasonable and safe to do so;
���� (12) training standards and requirements relating to demonstrated
knowledge and understanding of the law enforcement agency�s use of force policy
by law enforcement officers;
���� (13) training and guidelines regarding vulnerable populations,
including, but not limited to, children, elderly persons, pregnant persons, and
those with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities;
���� (14) factors for evaluating and reviewing all use of force
incidents;
���� (15) minimum training and course titles required to meet the
objectives in the use of force policy; and
���� (16) a requirement for the regular review and updating of the
policy to reflect developing practices and procedures.
���� b.��� The Attorney General shall publish the revised use of force
procedures established pursuant to this section on the first day of the eighth
month following the effective date of this act.
���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the seventh month following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
���� This bill requires the
Attorney General to revise the policy for the
use of force by law enforcement
officers.� The current use of force policy followed by law enforcement officers
was last revised by the Attorney General in 2001.�
���� The bill enumerates specific
requirements, factors, standards, and reforms which are to be included in the
revised use of force policy.� The Attorney General would be required to publish
the revised policy within seven months following the date of the bill�s
enactment.