NCJ Number
69748
Date Published
1968
Length
214 pages
Annotation
With Particular emphasis on Newark, this report examines the causes and incidents of civil disorder in New Jersey in 1967 and recommends remedial action in such areas as police, welfare, housing, and employment.
Abstract
The central issue in examining civil disorder is the place of the black American in U.S. society. Opinion surveys conducted in Newark and elsewhere in the State show increasing polarization of the white and black community reflected in their differing views on the causes of the race riots in 1967 and on police performance, housing problems, school performance, etc. Many problems exist in Newark which may have contributed to the eruption of violence, including possible discrimination and improper functioning of the municipal courts, high unemployment, reliance on the property tax as a revenue source, inadequate welfare and antipoverty programs, and a widespread health crisis. The black community sees the police force as the prime source of crime in the city. Detailed accounts of the riots in Newark in July 1967, and of other disturbances in Plainfield and Englewood reveal a serious lack of communication between the authorities and the black community, a complete breakdown in police-community relations prior to the riots, inadequate riot control planning, major police communications problems, and an inadequate system of ammunition control. No evidence points to conspiracy. Recommendations for prompt action include consolidation of the administration and financing of certain basic services throughout Essex County, the encouragement of active black participation in the political process, a merit system for police assignments, abolishment of the municipal courts, and programs to encourage home ownership by low-income families. Photographs, footnotes, and lists of witnesses and exhibits are included.