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The New York Times
OPINION
A Lesson From New
Jersey
EDITORIAL,
nytimes.com on the Web, December 17, 2007
For years people of color who
traveled New Jersey’s highways knew that they were at a higher risk of being
pulled over by state troopers. In 1998, this shameful policy of racial
profiling was revealed — but only after troopers fired 11 shots into a van
carrying black and Latino men — and New Jersey’s state police were placed under
federal oversight. Now a special advisory committee to Gov. Jon Corzine
has concluded, persuasively, that the State Police have changed their ways, and
the governor has asked for an end to federal monitoring.
New Jersey’s experience offers an important lesson for police departments across
the country. The committee’s conclusions, based in part on testimony
gathered during 18 public hearings over the last 17 months, demonstrate that
vigilance and resources can root out systemic racism in law enforcement.
Since federal oversight began, the State Police have improved training, revised
their procedures and tightened supervision of troopers, including the
installation of video cameras in patrol cars to record highway stops.
The committee also warned, persuasively, that political willpower and a
continued investment of resources will be necessary to ensure that the reforms
are permanent. Committee members recommended that the state’s attorney
general monitor the agency to make sure that troopers follow proper protocols
for traffic stops.
Mr. Corzine embraced the report, hailing it as a “sobering, objective review” of
an embattled law-enforcement agency’s attempts to restore public confidence in
its procedures. It is now up to Mr. Corzine and state lawmakers to make
sure that the State Police have the support and the full scrutiny they’ll need
to stay on track.
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