A popular topic of conversation of late is qualified immunity and how it impacts police officers. There are many misconceptions about what this actually means and how it can help people who believe that they have had their rights violated by the police. Furthermore,...
National police reforms are lagging, but New Jersey is moving forward
Certain congressional leaders have been continuously pushing for an end to qualified immunity as part of sweeping police reforms around the nation -- along with bans on problem behaviors like no-knock warrants, carotid holds and chokeholds. So far, there’s been a lot...
The police use force far too often in some parts of New Jersey
Police officers in New Jersey have dangerous jobs, and they use force during about 1 in 30 arrests to either overcome a resisting suspect; prevent him or her from fleeing; or protect themselves, their colleagues, or members of the public from harm. State guidelines...
How does New Jersey help fight police brutality?
Police brutality has been an issue for as long as governments have authorized individuals to enforce the law. With the rise of digital communications, information about police violence has never been more readily accessible or easy to share. Growing awareness about...
What to do if a police officer pulls your vehicle over in New Jersey
Whether you are in New Jersey or elsewhere in the nation, having a police officer ask you to pull over to the side of the road can be an unnerving experience. You might be aware of something you have done wrong, such as exceeding the speed limit or allowing a broken...
New rules aim to reduce police brutality
In December 2020, the New Jersey Attorney General issued details of a new policing policy that will come into force in December 2021. One of its aims is to reduce incidents of police brutality. The year-long delay is to allow the police time to put the necessary...
Tips for reacting to acts of police brutality
New Jersey residentswho believe that they are witnessing an act of police brutality are discouraged from directly intervening. Those who do intervene may put their safety at risk and may also be taken into custody for obstructing a police officer. However, there are...
Anger can lead to police overreactions
The reason that we feel anger is because it's a natural response. When you feel threatened in some way, anger powers an aggressive and often selfish mindset. For most people, this is a common response even to a mild issue -- like getting stuck in a traffic jam on the...
Police officers should attempt to de-escalate a situation
It seems that, all too often, police officers rush to take aggressive action to resolve a situation. They see everything as a conflict. They may even escalate tensions as they try to get people to comply.This is the wrong approach, some experts claim, saying that...
Factors that contribute to how police officers react
When police officers react to a situation, it happens in a split second. They make quick decisions that can have a lasting impact. For instance, if the police react too aggressively, the situation could escalate to one of stark police brutality. When considering the...
