New Jersey Civil Service Commission, Employment Discrimination, New Jersey 2024

New Jersey Civil Service Commission and the state of New Jersey have been accused of racial discrimination in the promotion of police sergeants throughout the state.

The Justice Department announced today that it has entered into a settlement that, if approved by the court, will resolve the department’s allegations that the state of New Jersey and the New Jersey Civil Service Commission (collectively “New Jersey”) violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by discriminating against African-Americans and Hispanics in the promotion of police sergeants throughout the state.

According to the United States’ complaint, the state’s pass/fail use of its written examination for screening candidates for promotion to police sergeant, and its use of candidates’ scores on the written examination to certify candidates in descending rank order on eligible lists from which appointments were made, resulted in a disparate impact upon African-Americans and Hispanics.

“Police officers, whose daily responsibilities include protecting the public and ensuring the safety of others, have the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of race or national origin on the job,” said Thomas Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.

The consent decree requires that New Jersey no longer use the written examination challenged by the United States for selecting police sergeants and requires that New Jersey develop a new lawful selection procedure that complies with Title VII.

The consent decree, if approved by the court, also requires that New Jersey pay one million dollars into settlement funds towards back pay to African-American and Hispanic officers who were harmed by the promotional practices challenged by the United States and who are determined to be eligible for relief.

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