By Jane Gaertner, Criminal Justice Reform Task Force member
In the latter half of 2022, the New Jersey Legislature advanced multiple bills which will affect the recent achievements to make our state more equitable for all. “One step forward, two steps back.” Long-time activists know the slog.
Last year, several bills were proposed which might reverse hard-won equity wins. This work is related not only related to bail reform, but also to voter suppression. You may recall the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice campaign to restore the right to vote to formerly incarcerated persons. The successful restoration of the right to vote to 80,000 residents, effective in March 2020, was achieved through the dedicated efforts of many New Jersey coalition partners.
The justice-reversal trend is illustrated by S2912/A2131, introduced June 23, 2022, which permits police officers to be present in public schools or senior residential centers being used as polling places under certain circumstances. Senator Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) asserts that roughly 85,000 individuals recently granted the right to vote might be deterred from voting if police are present at the polls. Some individuals on parole must report ANY interaction with police, which could deter these persons from exercising their fundamental right to vote.
Senator Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) asserts that roughly 85,000 individuals recently granted the right to vote might be deterred from voting if police are present at the polls.
Know our New Jersey history—In 1981, the Republican National Committee recruited off-duty police and sheriff’s officers and stationed them outside of polling places in largely non-white voting districts. Tom Kean Sr. narrowly won that year’s gubernatorial race by a mere 1,797 votes. This is not a history we hope to repeat.
Justice advocates point out that police presence does not make people of color feel safer.
This bill has passed in the NJ Assembly on October 27, 2022, (vote 73-0-0). It is now the Senate. We must not allow this bill to move forward. It is a rollback of justice, and we strongly oppose its passage. Stay abreast of this bill by monitoring it on the NJ Legislature website.
Ready to take the next faithful step for criminal justice reform? Join our next Criminal Justice Reform Task Force organizing call, February 20th, 7-8 PM. Contact criminaljustice@uufaithaction.org or admin@uufaithaction.org for the Zoom invitation.