Prison officers would have to wear body cams under bill passed swiftly by N.J. panel
Updated May 18, 2021;
A group of New Jersey lawmakers swiftly approved several prison reforms Tuesday, including a mandate that all officers wear body cameras behind bars and a new criminal penalty for staff who retaliate against prisoners making complaints.
The six bills passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee in less than an hour without a single “no” vote, including some proposals that had stalled for months.
Many were directed at the state’s only women’s facility, which is likely to soon come under federal oversight and where 10 officers have been charged in a growing criminal probe over alleged beatings.