One of New Jersey’s greatest strengths is the diversity of its people. The Attorney General’s Office has a responsibility to reflect that diversity in the workforce of the Department of Law and Public Safety and imbed the values of equity and inclusion in the work we do. We are not only an employer of a large and talented workforce, we also are mindful that the Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the State, and that the Department employs thousands of sworn police officers in the Division of State Police, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, and the Juvenile Justice Commission. We are also the largest single employer of attorneys in New Jersey, with over 700 lawyers who represent and/or provide counsel to the State of New Jersey across a number of our divisions. We are also a regular purchaser of professional services, including outside legal counsel and we look to our suppliers to value, reflect and promote diversity as well, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because we know that diverse organizations produce better results and are more successful.
Over time, we have taken meaningful steps towards fostering a more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization, including forming the Department’s Diversity Council in 2013, and in 2016, creating a senior leadership role within OAG, dedicated to DEI, filled by Assistant Attorney General Lora Fong, our Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer (CDEIO).
Most recently, Acting Attorney General Platkin has issued a Directive formally establishing the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) within the Department.
Click Here for AG Directive
Click Here for Press Release regarding August 2022 ODEI launch
Click Here for our latest Division-specific Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plans
Click Here for our most recently published metrics on LPS workforce demographics
Additional DEI initiatives and programs include:
- Extensive DEI training throughout the Department, and focused implicit bias training for senior leaders, police and prosecutors, civil practice attorneys, and specific divisions
- Creation of Employee Resource Groups for employees sharing different dimensions of diversity and their allies
- Adelante, for Hispanic/Latino employees and their allies
- The Alliance, for LGBTQ+ employees and their allies
- APA-ERG, for Asian American Pacific Islander employees and their allies
- Black Employee Resource Group, for African American/Black employees and their allies
- Military Employee Resource Group, for active and former Military service members and their families and allies
- Women’s Employee Resource Group, for women employees and their allies
- Recognizing significant multi-cultural diversity-related observances and creating educational opportunities to create greater understanding and awareness
- Expansion of job opportunity publication and distribution of vacancy notices
- Supplier diversity focus for approved outside counsel
- Requiring divisions to identity opportunities to improve racial equity in their operations
- Providing enhanced support for lactation facilities, restroom accessibility, and “quiet rooms” for silent reading, prayer, mediation or reflection.
To learn more about the Department’s DEI initiatives or contact our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please email Diversity@NJOAG.gov