NJ Law Enforcement Revises Use of Force Policy to Ensure Safer Outcomes with Barricaded Individuals

New policy mandates mental health professional involvement, expanded ARRIVE Together program, and increased training for tactical teams to de-escalate crises.

NEW JERSEY - Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has announced significant revisions to New Jersey's Use of Force policy, aimed at increasing the likelihood of peaceful resolutions during encounters between law enforcement and barricaded individuals, particularly those experiencing behavioral or mental health crises.

“Encounters involving barricaded individuals are often difficult and high risk, regularly involving individuals in the midst of crisis who are armed,” said Attorney General Platkin. “This policy represents the first statewide policy of its kind in the country, and is the result of an intensive process that involved law enforcement leaders, mental health professionals, violence intervention experts, and community stakeholders. Our goal is to provide first-responders with the tools to slow and stabilize these standoffs, empowering officers to navigate the dangerous first minutes of these encounters, so proper resources can be deployed to intervene and resolve the situations safely without force, significant injuries, or death.”

“Barricaded individuals present law enforcement officers with difficult challenges that can threaten the safety of the individuals, officers, and third parties,” said Drew Skinner, Executive Director of OPIA. “The amended policy and additional ARRIVE Together resources will give law enforcement the best opportunity to resolve these incidents safely for all involved.”

The updated policy, developed with input from law enforcement, mental health experts, community stakeholders, and faith leaders, focuses on enhancing the training, resources, and strategies used by tactical and crisis negotiation teams. Key components include:

• Mental Health Integration: Tactical and crisis negotiation teams will now include qualified mental health professionals who can assist law enforcement during incidents involving barricaded individuals or hostages. These professionals will either guide law enforcement or directly communicate with the individuals in crisis. Regular training sessions with these mental health professionals are now mandatory.
• De-Escalation Strategies: First-responding officers are advised to wait for the arrival of appropriate resources before attempting to resolve barricaded situations, unless immediate action is necessary to prevent harm. Officers should establish communication and assess the status of the barricaded individual, particularly if the person may be in crisis.
• Tactical Disengagement: In certain situations, law enforcement may opt for tactical disengagement—delaying contact or custody until conditions improve—especially if continued engagement poses an unreasonable risk. The policy encourages the inclusion of community crisis response teams or mental health providers through the ARRIVE Together program in these strategies.
• Supervisory and Tactical Response: An on-duty supervisor must respond immediately to barricaded situations, establishing incident command and determining the necessary resources, including tactical teams. Only tier 1 or tier 2 SWAT teams, as defined by the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA), will be deployed in these cases, ensuring teams with the highest capabilities are involved.
• Less Lethal Weapons and Enhanced Communication: Tactical teams must now be equipped with less lethal weapons, such as Tasers and impact munitions, to resolve incidents without deadly force. Enhanced communication and intelligence-gathering devices will also be provided to these teams.

The revisions are supported by funding from the state legislature and Governor Murphy, allocated to expand the ARRIVE Together program, which integrates mental health professionals with law enforcement. The program will now provide grant funds to ensure that critical incident tactical and negotiation teams across all counties have round-the-clock access to experienced mental health professionals.

“Law enforcement officers are often expected to be mental and behavioral health experts at times when actual experts are what is needed,” said Tiffany Wilson, Director of OACR. “With these updates and the funding of this newest ARRIVE Together model we are arming the officers tasked with addressing the most delicate and high-risk situations with much needed tools and resources, namely a blueprint and a mental health expert.”

The new policy, including mandatory supervisory response and the deployment of tier 2 SWAT teams, will take effect in October 2024, with other provisions phased in later to allow for adequate staffing and resource preparation.