Publications

Internet access restrictions for prisoners have long been a complicated topic, particularly regarding the overarching goals and whose interests are served by these restrictions. By examining existing literature, we hope to grasp a better understanding of the purpose behind these restrictions and evaluate their implications on prisoners’ rights, rehabilitation, and societal reintegration. It is presumed […]

This ongoing project involves the collecting and coding of all appellate decisions in which New Jersey’s higher courts conceded prosecutorial misconduct between 2010 and 2015. Over this five-year period, hundreds of appeals brought before either the Superior Court Appellate Division or the Supreme Court of New Jersey involved concessions of prosecutorial misconduct by the higher […]

Developing a policy for internet use in state prisons might appear to be a matter for prison administrators and state officials alone; however, internet access for imprisoned people entails a surprisingly wide body of constitutional law at the federal level as well, balancing the rights of prisoners and the public in complex ways. Much of […]

As one of the most significant federal grants to local governments in American history, the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPA-SLFRF) were designed to provide robust support to local governments in addressing the public health and economic challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. As highlighted in a previous New […]

When people think of scientists, engineers, or healthcare professionals, they likely imagine them working in labs, hospitals, or industrial buildings. Some, however, are also policymakers at all levels of government, shaping and enacting consequential policies that impact crucial sectors of our society including technology, health, finance, energy and more. As many legislative decisions are complex […]

In the past few weeks, President Trump has followed through on his campaign promises to begin terminating climate, environmental justice, and equity-based federal funds and initiatives (among a flurry of other far-reaching, punitive executive actions). There is considerable confusion ongoing regarding which agency funds are frozen, how federal agencies should implement guidance from the White […]

New Jersey’s state higher education plan, “Where Opportunity Meets Innovation – A Student-Centered Vision for New Jersey Higher Education” (the Plan), was introduced in 2019. It envisions an ecosystem where every resident can attain high-quality credentials regardless of their circumstances. This report aims to assess how New Jersey has progressed toward the goals of this […]

In partnership with the New Jersey State Policy Lab and the New Jersey Reentry Corporation, the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration launched an innovative initiative to transform mental health and addiction treatment services for people involved in the justice system in New Jersey. Using the Appreciative Inquiry methodology and the SOAR framework (Strengths, […]

Upon its inception in April 2021, the New Jersey State Policy Lab (NJSPL) aspired to produce work that is both relevant to current policy issues in the state of New Jersey and academically rigorous. The evidence that we have had success in the first of these missions includes the twice weekly blogs and the many […]

New Jersey’s journalism landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation, driven by technological change and evolving economic realities. A contemporary analysis reveals that while traditional print media faces significant challenges, the industry isn’t dying – it’s evolving. The recent decision by NJ Advance Media to end print operations of several newspapers symbolizes this shift, reflecting broader […]

Taylor Hughes is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Public Policy degree at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. She serves as a research assistant with the New Jersey State Policy Lab.   The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the United States’ most extensive integrated healthcare system, providing care at […]

In New Jersey, the state government has been proactively advancing equity for several years through a range of initiatives including the creation of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in the Office of the Governor in 2021. However, success in addressing inequities in government services across population subgroups is difficult to track as […]