New Jersey Department of Corrections

On October 15, 2014, the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department to resolve a Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) investigation of complaints regarding the provision of language assistance services in NJDOC programs and activities. In the MOA, NJDOC committed to implement updated language access policies and procedures NJDOC had developed with DOJ, agreed to designate a language access coordinator, and agreed to submit periodic reports to DOJ. The MOA also provided for an on-site visit by DOJ within two years to assess whether NJDOC had substantially complied with the requirements of the MOA.

When DOJ staff conducted an on-site visit of NJDOC facilities in September 2016, they identified several areas of concern that were shared with NJDOC staff and included in a January 10, 2017 letter to NJDOC. That letter explained that once these concerns were addressed, DOJ could close this investigation. NJDOC addressed all of these concerns and DOJ closed this investigation in February 2021.