This bill mandates that county prosecutors are responsible for initiating internal affairs investigations for municipal, county, and higher education law enforcement agencies in New Jersey. Specifically, it requires that any complaints of officer misconduct received by these agencies must be immediately transferred to the county prosecutor for investigation. Additionally, if a petition for a temporary extreme risk protective order is filed against a law enforcement officer, the petition must be transferred to the county prosecutor to initiate an internal affairs investigation. The prosecutor will then determine whether to refer the matter to the courts.

The bill also introduces new guidelines for law enforcement agencies, ensuring that they adopt and implement policies consistent with the "Internal Affairs Policy and Procedures." This includes the requirement that all complaints of officer misconduct are promptly forwarded to the county prosecutor. The law enforcement officer involved in the investigation cannot be terminated while the internal affairs investigation is ongoing. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance accountability and oversight within law enforcement agencies in New Jersey.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:58-23, 40A:14-181