Police Data Collection Request (2016-2020)

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:

Thank you for your interest in open public records of Jersey City OPRA Center.  This will serve to acknowledge receipt of your Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request.  Your request was received in this office on 12/26/2022.  Kindly refer to the reference number C004630-122622 when communicating with our office in this regard.  Your request mentioned:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by year, from 2016-2020 (for example, 302 use of force incidents in 2016, 287 use of force incidents in 2017, etc.)

2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used from 2016-2020 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2016, baton incidents in 2016, etc.)

When available, I would appreciate being sent individualized data for each item in this request in spreadsheet format. If individualized data are unavailable, please send information that includes aggregate statistics for the item instead.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Your request will be forwarded to the relevant City department(s) to locate the information you seek and to determine the volume and any costs associated with satisfying your request. You will be contacted about the availability and/or provided with copies of the records in question.  PLEASE NOTE: The State Public Information Act does not require a governmental body to create new information, to do legal research, or to answer questions.
You can track and monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed. Again, thank you for using the Jersey City OPRA Center.
Jersey City, NJ

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of December 26, 2022, Reference # C004630-122622

Dear Mr. Sinyangwe,

The City received a public information request from you on December 26, 2022. You requested:

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by year, from 2016-2020 (for example, 302 use of force incidents in 2016, 287 use of force incidents in 2017, etc.)

2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used from 2016-2020 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2016, baton incidents in 2016, etc.)

When available, I would appreciate being sent individualized data for each item in this request in spreadsheet format. If individualized data are unavailable, please send information that includes aggregate statistics for the item instead.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

The City has reviewed its files and has located records responsive to your request. Please log in to the Jersey City OPRA Center at the following link to retrieve them:
Open Public Records Act - C004630-122622
Please be advised that information corresponding to the identities of minors was redacted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-9 and N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60(h).  N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60(h) states that “whoever, except as provided by law, knowingly discloses, publishes, receives, or makes use of or knowingly permits the unauthorized use of information concerning a particular juvenile derived from records listed in subsection a. or acquired in the course of court proceedings, probation, or police duties, shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.”

Additionally, data that detailed the name, incident location, gender, ethnicity and age were removed for anyone who was not arrested and attempted suicide, or was designated as an EDP or "Emotionally Disturbed Person" pursuant to Executive Order 26 (McGreevey). Executive Order 26 states that "[t]he following records shall not be considered to be government records subject to public access pursuant to [OPRA] . . . Information concerning individuals as follows . . .Information relating to medical, psychiatric or psychological history, diagnosis, treatment or evaluation[.]"
Furthermore, social security numbers, an address for a domestic violence call, the license plate and VIN number for the owner of a vehicle and dates of birth were redacted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 which states that a public agency has a responsibility and an obligation to safeguard from public access a citizen's personal information with which it has been entrusted when disclosure thereof would violate the citizen's reasonable expectation of privacy."

This OPRA request is now deemed closed.
Sincerely,

John Hallanan
Deputy City Clerk
Office of City Clerk