TRENTON — Senate President Nick Scutari called for the appointment of an Independent Monitor to oversee the Office of Public Integrity andAccountability in the Department of Law and Public Safety.
The OPIA, established in 2018 with the responsibility of investigating violations of public trust, has been beset with a series of failed prosecutions, flawed investigations and wrongful conduct. Recently, a judge threw out a criminal indictment brought by the office against prison guards and administrators accused of beating women incarcerated at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, citing “unconstitutionally vague” indictments, and the “negligence” and “mismanagement” of prosecutors.
“It is clear from the track record of the office that greater oversight and accountability are needed,” said Senator Scutari. “The credibility of law enforcement is at stake. The public needs to have confidence in the ability of the office to carry out its responsibilities fairly, effectively and with adherence to the law. An independent monitor will help restore trust in the OPIA.
The office reports only to theAttorney General without oversight by any agency.
The same request for a monitor has been made by Richard Smith, President of the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, Bishop Jethro James, President of the Newark/North Jersey Committee of Black Churchmen, Charles Wowkanech, President, New Jersey State AFL-CIO, and a bipartisan group of legislators, Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez, Senator Gordon Johnson, Senator John Burzichelli, Senator Robert Singer and Senator Michael Testa, Jr.
