Newark's Citizen Review Board: How Will It Make For Better Policing?

Newark, NJ – Are you wondering what powers and duties Newark’s new citizen review board will have?

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, the Newark Municipal Council, and Director of Public Safety Anthony Ambrose revealed more details about the review board during a press conference on Wednesday.

According to officials, the new department will have the power to issue subpoenas, conduct investigations and establish a mediation program to “enable complainants to resolve their complaints through informal conciliation.”

The board will review complaints concerning police behavior and have the power to receive, investigate, hear, make findings and recommend action on complaints by members of the public against uniformed police officers, including complaints made by other police officers or personnel, city officials stated.

The board’s duties will also include looking into allegations of misconduct involving excessive use of force, abuse of authority, unlawful arrest, unlawful stop, unlawful searches, discourtesy or use of offensive language, city officials said.

Board members will have the power to issue subpoenas, and their findings will be submitted to the police director for review and disciplinary action, according to municipal administrators.

City officials said that the board will meet publicly once a month, provide public reports on its activities and publish statistics on its cases and their disposition on their public website. However, investigations will be confidential to “protect the privacy of both complainants and defendants.”

With the exception of the Newark Inspector General, the new oversight board will have no police officers on it, city officials emphasized.

All members will be appointed by the mayor or the Newark City Council, or will be representatives of clergy, community organizations, such as La Casa de Don Pedro, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, the People's Organization for Progress, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People of New Jersey, the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition and the Ironbound Community Corporation, city officials stated.

"This is a historic moment for the City of Newark, in how we address the continuing issue of public safety, and improve the relationship between our police and our residents,” Baraka said during Wednesday’s press conference.

“We are correcting one of the serious issues that have long affected the Newark Police Department, an issue which led to the imposition of a federal monitor over our department. Newark's first Civilian Complaint Review Board is part of our answer to these issues, and we are creating a unique, progressive, and fully transparent board. Once this board is in operation, residents who have complaints or concerns about police behavior will be able to be certain they will be treated with support, understanding, professionalism, respect, and most importantly, action."

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Photo courtesy of the City of Newark Press Office