The Acting Attorney General noted the Christie Administration has for years employed a proactive, comprehensive approach and innovative reforms to address the complex problem of stemming violence and is finding positive results.

“In New Jersey, we are taking a different approach to reducing violence by promoting open communication and engagement between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Taken together with other critical initiatives of Governor Christie’s Administration, we are helping achieve the goals of protecting communities and providing tools to those who are at-risk from embarking upon an ill-fated path of criminal behavior through prevention, education, re-entry, and enforcement efforts,” said Acting Attorney General John Hoffman. “We must continue the steady progress we have made in reducing violent crime throughout the State as a whole, and especially in cities like Trenton and Camden, while striving to replicate those successes in other urban centers.”

Acting on a holistic approach set forth by Governor Christie to stem all forms of violence in New Jersey, the administration has implemented, supported and strengthened many programs through multiple agencies, departments and partnerships to address the underlying issues leading to violence As a result, crime was down 15 percent statewide in 2014 compared to 2010. Moreover, statistics recently released by the FBI show violent crime in New Jersey was down 9.3 percent in 2014 compared to 2013. 

Actions placing New Jersey at the national forefront of community-based, collaborative practices to stem violence include:

• Increasing transparency and accountability in the investigation of officer-involved shootings by requiring county prosecutors to conduct community outreach to improve and institutionalize critical dialogue and partnerships.

• Use of body cameras by all State Police officers and $2.5 million in funding for municipal purchases of body cameras.

• Decreasing school violence while increasing state and local anti-bullying programs and training.

• Implementing the Trenton Violence Reduction Strategy, a three-year, $1.1 million effort in which money forfeited by criminals is being invested into the community to provide a second chance to at-risk individuals and their families; to date only one of 47 participants has committed a new offense. 

• Reaching at-risk youth through programs established by multiple state agencies including law enforcement, local government, school districts and community leaders to identify and implement juvenile delinquency prevention strategies.

• Reducing recidivism by helping ex-offenders re-enter society, including employment programs under the State Parole Board and Department of Labor and Workforce Development, “behind the walls” drug treatment and educational services, and “Integrated Reintegration,” a Department of Community Affairs-funded, one-stop model connecting ex-offenders to comprehensive services;

  • The State’s recidivism rate has dropped from 48% at the turn of the century to approximately 32%. Since 1999, New Jersey’s prison population has declined more than 29 percent.

• Instituting a 5-year phase in of mandatory drug court for nonviolent offenders, fighting recidivism and criminality by giving those struggling with drug addiction the treatment they need to reclaim their lives, rather than simply warehousing them in prison.

• Collaborative and comprehensive partnerships forged by the Attorney General’s Office with county and local law enforcement to enhance information sharing, target gang members who prey on the community and leverage multi-agency resources to reduce violent crime in major urban centers.

  • In Trenton, shooting murders are down 50 percent over last year and 60 percent compared to 2013. In Camden, homicides are down by more than 54 percent over 2012.

  • Through a mandated pilot program in Mercer and Essex counties, more than 600 people charged with dangerous crimes are precluded from pleading to less than 3 ½ years without parole, up from the prior norm of one year. 

  • Targeting illegal guns, State Police and Division of Criminal Justice charged over 80 defendants in just two sweeps with gun trafficking into urban centers.

• Addressing violence by fixing shortcomings in the mental health system: for two years, Governor Christie has urged the legislature to join him and pass a comprehensive reform plan that deals with individuals with mental illness who pose a danger to the community.

• Improve treatment for individuals in crisis with new standards for involuntary commitment to include individuals who are not currently dangerous but whose mental illness, if untreated, could deteriorate to the point of harm.

• Improve standards for involuntary outpatient treatment to eliminate the concerns raised by clinicians and courts regarding what factors should be considered when recommending involuntary outpatient treatment.

• End the broken loops in clinical oversight by establishing a streamlined, clinician-based process allowing a patient to be transferred between commitment settings to ensure a full spectrum of treatment to address mental illness fully and appropriately.

• Mandate new training programs for first responders to educate those most likely to encounter persons in crisis with modern techniques for de-escalation and, whenever necessary, steps for referral for mental health screening and treatment.

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