In an effort to address racial disparities in incarceration rates and police-involved shootings, the Senate today approved a resolution sponsored by Senator Ronald Rice to establish a task force on racial bias within New Jersey’s criminal justice system.
“The Sentencing Project found that New Jersey has the highest racial disparity in the nation among black and white prisoners," Senator Rice (D-Essex), Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, said.
"African-Americans make up less than 15 percent of New Jersey's overall population, but more than 60 percent of the state's prison population. There is absolutely an implicit bias in our criminal justice system, and it’s time we finally address it. Just because New Jersey is viewed as a liberal state does not mean we can escape the systemic racism built into our judicial system.”
Under the resolution, SJR-94, the task force would examine current data, research and policies related to racial bias and disparities within the state’s law enforcement, courts and correctional system, and develop recommendations to reduce those biases and disparities.
The resolution passed the Senate by a vote of 34-0.