HOW TO REPORT

Misconduct or Discrimination

by Law Enforcement Ocers or Agencies

Law enforcement ocers are sworn to protect and serve all members of the public. If you believe that

you have been mistreated by a police ocer, including if an ocer in any way discriminated against you

or harassed you, then you have the right to le a formal complaint against them. By law, all complaints

against police ocers must be thoroughly investigated. You have the right to be told the outcome of

your complaint, and whether or not the police ocer in question received any discipline as a result.

There are multiple options for ling a complaint against an ocer, depending on the ocer’s employer,

the type of misconduct at issue, and your personal preferences. No matter which method you choose, you

always have the option of ling a complaint anonymously if you are uncomfortable with giving your identity.

It is against the law for any police ocer or police department to retaliate against you for ling a complaint.

If your complaint is against a State Trooper,

then you may le a complaint with the State

Police’s Oce of Professional Standards, which

will investigate your complaint. You can le a

complaint by calling the toll free hot line at 1-877-

253-4125, or by making a complaint in-person at

any State Police facility. For more information, visit

www.njsp.org/information/complaint.shtml.

If you believe that a police ocer or

department discriminated against or

harassed you because of your race, religion,

national origin, gender, sexual orientation,

disability, or gender identity or expression,

or retaliated against you for complaining about

such conduct, then you may also le a complaint

with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR)

under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination

(LAD). For example, if an ocer used a racial

slur during an encounter, then you could le a

complaint with DCR, and DCR will investigate to

determine if the LAD has been violated. For more

information, you can contact DCR at 973-648-2700,

or visit their website at www.NJCivilRights.gov.

If your complaint is against a local law

enforcement ocer, then you can le a

complaint with your local police department.

You can le a complaint by visiting the police

station, or if you are unable to do so, an ocer

can meet you elsewhere. Police departments

are required by law to accept your complaint

at any time, and may not turn you away. Many

police departments also accept complaints

by telephone or email. Your complaint will be

investigated by that police department’s internal

affairs staff. Routine complaints should be

resolved within 45 days, and only rarely should

complaints take more than 180 days to resolve.

If you are uncomfortable making a complaint

to the local police department, or were in any

way discouraged from making a complaint

by the police, then you may contact the County

Prosecutor’s oce. Contact information for each

office can be found at www.nj.gov/oag/dcj/

county-prosecutor.html. If you feel as though the

County Prosecutor has not adequately handled

the issue, then you may also contact the Attorney

General’s Oce at www.nj.gov/oag/safestopnj/

complaint or by phone at 833-472-3365.

8 .10.2 0

NJ Oce of the Attorney General www.nj.gov/oag