NEWARK, NJ – A federal judge has formally ended the Newark Police Department’s long-standing consent decree, marking the conclusion of a nine-year federal oversight process designed to reform policing practices and rebuild public trust.
The decision, issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo, followed findings that Newark had achieved full and sustained compliance with the decree’s core requirements.
City officials, including Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, called the ruling a milestone in Newark’s transformation toward constitutional and accountable policing.
Federal oversight officially lifted
The consent decree was first established in 2016 after a Department of Justice investigation found systemic civil rights violations, including unlawful stops, excessive force, and biased policing.
Under the decree, Newark implemented broad reforms related to use of force, internal affairs, community engagement, and officer training. The city also operated under the supervision of an independent monitoring team led by Peter Harvey.
In her termination order, Judge Arleo cited verified compliance across all required areas, affirming that the department now meets federal standards without continued oversight.
Officials highlight community trust and reform success
“We are most grateful for the decision to terminate the Newark Consent Decree,” Mayor Baraka and Director Miranda said in a joint statement. “Over the past nine years, we have eagerly strived to strengthen community trust through focused compliance with the decree’s requirements.”
They credited the police division’s leadership and officers for reaching the milestone “on our own merits,” emphasizing that the Independent Monitor’s final report confirmed Newark’s sustained progress.
Justice Department praises Newark’s progress
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said the department was proud to support Newark’s motion to end federal oversight.
“Over the last decade, the Newark Police Division has made tremendous improvements to ensure constitutional policing and to increase community trust,” Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba added.
The Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office initiated the investigation in 2011, leading to the consent decree five years later. Several sections of the decree were phased out in 2024 before the court’s final termination ruling this week.
