[directive] 1  Introduction  1.0.1  The purpose of Internal Affairs Policy & Procedures is to assist the State’s law enforcement agencies with investigating and resolving complaints of police misconduct that originate with members of the public or are generated by the supervisors, officers, or employees of a law enforcement agency.  The goals of the policy are to enhance the integrity of the State’s law enforcement agencies, improve the delivery of police services, and assure the people of New Jersey that complaints of police misconduct are properly addressed.  This policy can also be more broadly applied to non-law enforcement employees.  1.0.2  State and federal courts have emphasized the importance of the internal affairs function for protecting the constitutional rights and civil liberties of the State’s residents.  Case law generally requires that law enforcement agencies do three things under the internal affairs function.  First, agencies must implement an internal affairs policy that provides for a meaningful and objective investigation of complaints and other evidence of police misconduct.  Second, agencies must monitor and track the behavior of police officers for incidents of misconduct.  Third, when officers are found to have engaged in misconduct, agencies must correct the behavior.  The courts have with increasing frequency issued decisions that set minimum standards of performance for the internal affairs function.  1.0.3  The New Jersey Legislature also recognized the importance of the internal affairs function in 1996 with the enactment of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-181.  The statute provides that:  Every law enforcement agency shall adopt and implement guidelines which shall be consistent with the guidelines governing the "Internal Affairs Policy and Procedures" of the Police Management Manual promulgated by the Police Bureau of the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety, and shall be consistent with any tenure or civil service laws, and shall not supersede any existing contractual agreements.  1.0.4  In accordance with this mandate, and recognizing that proper administration of internal affairs is a critical priority for the State’s criminal justice system, Attorneys General have periodically issued updated versions of this Internal Affairs Policy & Procedures document through the Division of Criminal Justice.  This most recent round of revisions reflects the need to incorporate emerging best practices into the State’s internal affairs system, and to ensure that all law enforcement agencies in the State are adhering to the guidelines.  1.0.5  It is important for county and municipal law enforcement agencies to recognize that, as they conduct internal affairs investigations, they do so under the general supervision of the Attorney General.  The Criminal Justice Act of 1970 designates the Attorney General as the State’s chief law enforcement officer.  See N.J.S.A. 52:17B-98.  As such, the Attorney General is responsible for the general supervision of the State’s law enforcement agencies to 1  INTERNAL AFFAIRS POLICY & PROCEDURES | June 2021 provide for the efficient administration of the criminal justice system.