Acting Police Director Samuel DeMaio says things are “headed in the right direction” despite a 40% rise in gun violence this year. He is confident his new “Safe City” campaign will ultimately have a positive effect and points to a recent downward trend as evidence. [Read more…]
Statewide Use of Confidential Informants Unorganized, Inconsistent
The New Jersey chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) conducted a three year investigation into the statewide use of confidential informants in criminal cases. According to the Associated Press, what they found was somewhat disturbing. [Read more…]
NJ Drug Conviction Thrown Out by State High Court
A Cumberland County man is likely wishing a decision had come sooner as a divided New Jersey Supreme Court ruled his 4 year old conviction be thrown out on account of an illegal search. He was initially charged with possession of cocaine after being stopped for riding his bicycle on a sidewalk. [Read more…]
Cops Can’t Throw Away Notes Says NJ High Court
The New Jersey state Supreme Court ruled this past week that police officers cannot destroy notes taken throughout the course of an investigation, even after completing an official report. The reason is so that attorneys can have access to the initial observations of officers for use in the defense of their clients when accused of a crime. [Read more…]
Reprieve for Some on Camden PD
Update: Wow, the entire police department might be disbanded.
About 50 of the 200 Camden police officer (which was nearly half the force) are getting their jobs back. [Read more…]
Feds Investigating ACLU Petition for Newark PD Oversight
Last October the ACLU filed a petition requesting the Department of Justice to take control of the Newark Police Department, stating the Department was unable to police itself. According to the Star-Ledger, the feds may be looking into the petition, having reportedly interviewed several players in the local justice system. [Read more…]