NJ AJR115

New Jersey Legislature formally condemns all forms of hatred, hate-based violence, incitements to violence, and bias or discrimination targeting individuals based on race, religion, ethnicity, disability, age, marriage, familial status, gender, or sexual orientation.

Cites an alarming increase in hate and bias crimes in New Jersey and across the United States in recent years, including violent crimes, threats, and other bias-motivated incidents.

References existing state efforts including the Attorney General's 2022 Summit on Combatting Bias, the 2020 Youth Bias Task Force report, the Bias Crime Unit in the Division of Criminal Justice, and County Prosecutor Bias Crime Units.

Calls on the Governor and Attorney General to continue providing victim assistance, improving hate crime reporting systems, pursuing prosecutions, enhancing security at religious institutions, and improving preparedness for targeted groups.

Urges ongoing research and development of new methods to understand and combat hatred and bias crimes throughout the state.