Posted on October 15, 2020 at 3:20 PM by Legislative Staff
On October 13, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 188 (PDF) which directs various state agencies to implement the recommendations of the Interagency Task Force to Combat Youth Bias Report (PDF) that do not require legislation.
The purpose of the Task Force was to identify and implement strategies to reduce the increase in youth bias crimes that has occurred over the past few years.
Among the 27 recommendations that affect municipalities are:
- Improve specificity of bias incident data collection and publicly release data more frequently.
- Continue aggressive criminal and civil enforcement of New Jersey’s bias laws.
- Hold accountable those who weaponize the Internet to harm others.
- Mandate completion of anti-bias education program for juvenile bias crime offenders.
- Expand law enforcement training on cyber hate investigations and domestic extremism.
- Consider investigations related to social media platforms
- Call out public figures who use hateful rhetoric.
- Launch statewide campaign to stand up to hate in New Jersey.
The various divisions directed under this Executive Order are within the Department of Law & Public Safety and include the Office of the Attorney General, Division on Civil Rights, and the Division of Criminal Justice; New Jersey State Police; Juvenile Justice Commission; Department of Children & Families; Department of Education; Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness; and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.
The Executive Order takes effect immediately and each department must report implementation efforts to the Governor by December 31, 2021.
Contact: Paul Penna, Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x110.