Advocates Celebrate “Use of Force Directive” Codified Into Law

Governor Murphy recently signed S2348/A4175, codifying the Attorney General’s Use of Force Directive into state law. This action ensures that long‑overdue protections against police violence will endure beyond any administration and stands as one of the strongest statutory safeguards in the country.

The directive that led to this legislation was created directly in response to the Use of Force Report and the statewide hearings hosted by Salvation and Social Justice (SandSJ) in Black churches from Newark to Pleasantville to Trenton. These sacred spaces became places where community members courageously shared their experiences, prompting investigations by the Attorney General’s Office and laying the foundation for this reform.

From testifying in the Statehouse to organizing these prophetic community forums, SandSJ has been a principal advocate for both the creation and codification of this policy.

“This work was born out of the prophetic witness of Black churches and the sacred testimonies of our people,” said SandSJ Co-Founder and Executive Director, Reverend Charles Boyer. “For far too long, Black and marginalized communities in New Jersey have lived under policing shaped by the legacy of structural racism. Codifying the Use of Force directive is a moral step toward justice, accountability, and right relationship. We are grateful to Governor Murphy, Attorney General Matt Platkin, Senator Troy Singleton, Assemblywoman Park, and all who labored to bring this moment forward. We pray this provides solace to families harmed by state violence and strengthens our collective resolve to build a public safety system rooted in human dignity.”

The law affirms that force — including deadly force — may only be used as a true last resort following all reasonable de-escalation efforts. It severely limits the use of chokeholds, restricts firing at moving vehicles except in narrowly defined circumstances, and reinforces officers’ duty to intervene and report excessive force. Officers must also render medical aid after any use of force.

Elected leaders and key advocates from around the state also shared their sentiments on the codification of this law:

“It is essential to ensure that law enforcement throughout our state is afforded training and guided by policies that are focused on the principles that form the bedrock of proper policing,” said Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington). “Enshrining the prioritization of de-escalation and the use of only reasonable force into law will help ensure that use of force policy remains consistently focused on these principles throughout all future administrations. I am incredibly grateful to our partners whose advocacy helped get this bill onto the Governor’s desk and signed into law.”

“We thank Governor Murphy for signing S2348/A4175 into law and advancing efforts to achieve meaningful accountability of police officers to the communities they’re supposed to serve,” said ACLU-NJ Deputy Policy Director Jim Sullivan. “This legislation is critical to addressing police violence across New Jersey, especially in our Black and brown communities. Our state must continue to make reforms to reimagine policing as we know it by preventing unnecessary escalation, investing in non-law enforcement responses to mental health calls, and protecting every New Jerseyan’s right to safety and dignity.”

“Every life is sacred, and each person needlessly killed by police is as precious to someone as Victoria Lee, who was shot by Fort Lee police responding to her mental health call in July 2024, was to her family,” said Amber Reed, Executive Director of AAPI NJ. “This historic legislation will help to ensure our state keeps moving forward in reducing excessive use of force by law enforcement and affirms our shared commitment to a future where everyone can access help safely when they need it.”

“This legislation, paired with continued investment in crisis response teams and community-based intervention models, creates more opportunities for law enforcement to think critically, humanely, and innovatively, “ said Liza Chowdhury, Founder and Executive Director of Reimagine NJ, Inc. “It opens the door for responses rooted in care rather than aggression especially in situations involving mental illness or acute crisis so that help is delivered, and lives are saved whenever possible.”

"With the rise of deaths at the hands of police, this bill (S2348/A4175) is a step in the right direction. It helps to ensure that police intervention in these matters are truly about honoring and respecting the sanctity of life and that there is a legitimate attempt to de-escalate tensions that might arise,” Rev. Weldon M. McWilliams, Senior Pastor of Christ Temple Baptist Church. “The use of deadly force has been questionable in too many instances, and this bill seeks to make sure that it is only used as a last resort. I am also supportive of the component of the bill that states the AG must review, and if necessary, revise this policy on a recurring basis. This shows a commitment to follow up and adaptation to change when and if necessary. Again, I stress this is just a first step, and we must continue to advocate for policies and systems that make police killings of unarmed citizens totally unacceptable and non-negotiable."

These reforms represent the collective demands raised in Black churches across the state and reflect the persistent advocacy of SandSJ and partners committed to confronting New Jersey’s long history of inequitable policing.

For more information on the "Use of Force Directive," visit https://www.njoag.gov/policing/.