CJ Griffin Interviewed on WNYC News Radio on the Transparency of Police Records in New Jersey
CJ Griffin, Director of the Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden, was interviewed by “Morning Edition” host Michael Hill on WNYC News, New York Public Radio regarding the New Jersey Attorney General’s new directive addressing disclosure of police officer discipline reports after a 2020 rule created public disclosures that were criticized for being too vague.
When asked if the new directive is the beginning of a win for transparency, Griffin stated:
Well, yes and no. Previously they had to describe some discipline to us and those disclosures were insufficient. So in this regard, the directive, hopefully if agencies comply, will be an improvement. But, in other ways, the directive is a step back. As a result of a court victory earlier this year, we were able to gain access to actual internal affairs reports, and those reports would be 15, 20 pages long and we were able to really see the meat and potatoes of the investigation and learn about the misconduct. And now, the new attorney general has ordered his agencies to instead create this separate report that's designed for public consumption. It's going to be very concise and not give us the level of detail, and we believe it will be sanitized.
To listen to the interview and view the article, click here.
To view a transcript of the interview in the Gothamist, click here.