From Jerry Coleman:

Ban Racial Profiling- End Consent Searches - Establish Civilian Review Boards

"Racial Profiling" has been at the height of discussion in New Jersey for the past few years. There have been various attempts by elected officials and by community leaders to bring about a change in the attitude that police officers display when they interact with members of the African American community. Many individuals and organizations have called for laws to outlaw " Racial Profiling".

State of New Jersey officials have admitted that "Racial Profiling" does exist within the rank and file of the state police department. As a matter of fact, the top brass within the department has encouraged its officers to target African Americans for stops based on the type of car that they drive. Many people in the the African American community have coined a phrase entitled "Driving While Black". In New Jersey, this greatly increases your chances of being stopped by the police.

Any law that address the issue of racial profiling must hold officers accountable for their actions. In addition racial profiling laws must include a component that requires
all police officers to take cultural diversity training classes prior to employment and every year while employed as a police officer. Cultural diversity training is comparable to an officer being required to go to the firing range each year to maintain proficiency in the use of firearms. Any law should also include in it a provision that establishes a monetary fine as a penalty against any police officer who is found guilty of violating any of the provisions of the racial profiling laws.

"Consent Searches" are currently used by various police officers. These type of searches also can be a tool to continue to promote racial profiling and intimidation by officers. As the law stands now, an officer can ask permission to search a vehicle
for any reason that the officer wants to give to the vehicle operator. The driver does
not have to be a suspect of any crime and the vehicle that is driven does not have to fit the description of being involved in a crime. In order to remove any arbitrary acts
of harassment on the part of the police, New Jersey must end consent searches
immediately.

"Civilian Review Boards" In order to evaluate and review the activities of the police
an independent civilian review board must be established. These board must have subpoena power. I think that each municipality should have a civilian review board.
These boards should be elected by the people. The number of members of the review board should be the same as the number of members on the the local governing body. In addition, County and State police departments should come under review by the board in the town in which the incident takes place.

Everyone should realize that the establishment of a civilian review board is not a condemnation of law enforcement. These boards will actually help the law enforcement agencies by removing them from making internal review of their own members that may be brought up on charges before the review board. Those that oppose the establishment of review boards should realize that the police cannot police itself. I believe that a conflict of interest exists when police are left to police themselves. In order to break down the "Blue Wall of Silence" those on the outside must be allowed to review the actions of those on the inside. I believe that the tax payers of New Jersey will benefit from the establishment of civilian review boards because it should reduce the number of financial settlements and court ordered awards that taxpayers would have to pay out because of the actions of a small number of law enforcement officers who act outside of the realm of their authority.

Green Party gubernatorial candidate Jerry Coleman announced that he strongly agrees with the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey's position that the state’s next governor should be truly committed to ending racial profiling.

Coleman, the former president of the Rahway city council, stands with the Black Ministers Council in calling for a ban on police consent searches and passage of legislation outlawing racial profiling.

Coleman called on Jim McGreevey and Bret Schundler to join him in supporting the Black Ministers Council positions on racial profiling and consent searches.

A consultant to numerous African-American community organizations, Coleman also reiterated his support for several additional initiatives to significantly increase protection of civil rights in New Jersey:
1) Coleman pledges to implement a state civil rights law allowing the prosecution of police officers for civil rights violations.
2) Coleman supports the formation of independent citizen review boards with the authority to ensure fair police practices in all New Jersey municipalities
3) Coleman favors a return to the Constitutional standard of probable cause for motor vehicle and street stops.

Coleman said, "These steps are necessary in order to restore basic confidence in the criminal justice system."

"With over twenty years of church, community and government service, Jerry Coleman is the only candidate for Governor truly dedicated to protecting the rights of all New Jersey citizens," said Green Party chair Joe Fortunato. "Unlike McGreevey and Schundler, Jerry is not afraid to support a ban on consent searches."

Green Party of the United States Platform:

Any attempt to combat crime must begin with restoration of community; positive approaches that build hope, responsibility and a sense of belonging.
We recommend establishing effective, independent CIVILIAN REVIEW of complaints of police misconduct.

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