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At the end of 1999, the State of NJ and its Division of State Police entered into a settlement with the US Justice Department that includes the establishment of an independent monitor to ensure that racial profiling by state troopers cease. The decree states that “state troopers may not rely to any degree on the race or national or ethnic origin of motorists in selecting vehicles for traffic stops and in deciding upon the scope and substance of post-stop actions, except where state troopers are on the look- out for a specific suspect who has been identified in part by his or her race or national or ethnic origin.” The decree further requires that troopers request consent to search only when they have reasonable suspicion that the search will reveal evidence of a crime. The decree can be found at: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/split/documents/jerseysa.htm.
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