Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR)
Tiffany Wilson, Director
The Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR) is coordinating the Department of Law and Public Safety’s efforts to address how the Department and New Jersey’s law enforcement agencies respond to the country’s continued mental health and addiction crises. Law enforcement is often the first in the community to see the impact of these crises and the first to be asked to address them, often without the appropriate resources to do so. Traditional law enforcement responses and tools such as arrest, prosecution, and incarceration have proven inadequate in addressing the complexities of substance use disorder and mental health emergencies, often burdening frontline police officers and failing to provide effective solutions for the individual or the community impacted. This lack of success has underscored the need for alternative and coordinated strategies and solutions.
Operating within the Department of Law and Public Safety, OACR supports, coordinates, and creates strategies and collaborations aimed at enhancing public health and safety outcomes in situations where public health and public safety intersect. OACR is working to create a safer and healthier New Jersey for all by incorporating mental and behavioral health interventions, implementing innovative approaches, collaborating with communities, and promoting the well-being of law enforcement officers.
DIRECTIVE 2024-01
AG Directive 2024-01 | March 13, 2024
Directive Creating the Office of Alternative and Community Responses
PROGRAMS
PRESS RELEASES
AG Grewal Announces Three Significant Actions in New Jersey’s Battle Against the Opioid Epidemic
For Immediate Release: April 23, 2019 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralDivision of Consumer Affairs- Paul R. Rodríguez, Acting DirectorNJCares- Sharon M. Joyce, Director For Further Information: Media Inquiries-Lisa...
AG Grewal Announces Indictment in “Operation Drive Thru” Targeting Newark Drug Ring That Sold Heroin Near I-78 – New Jersey State Police & Newark Police Department seized AR-15s, handguns, heroin & cocaine
New Jersey State Police & Newark Police Department seized AR-15s, handguns, heroin & cocaineFor Immediate Release: April 15, 2019 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralDivision of Criminal JusticeVeronica Allende, DirectorFor...
Attorney General Grewal Announces Takedown Of Major Fentanyl And Heroin Mill In Hudson County – Stamps used to brand drugs at mill in Harrison bear same brand names linked to 84 deaths – Arrests made in investigation led by NJ State Police Opioid Enforcement Task Force, New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, and Law Enforcement Partners
Stamps used to brand drugs at mill in Harrison bear same brand names linked to 84 deathsArrests made in investigation led by NJ State Police Opioid Enforcement Task Force, New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, and Law Enforcement PartnersFor Immediate Release:...
State Board of Medical Examiners Permanently Revokes License of Atlantic County Doctor Convicted in Opioid Trafficking Ring
Wrote Prescriptions for Thousands of OxyContin Pain Pills Sold on the StreetsFor Immediate Release: March 21, 2019 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralNJCares- Sharon M. Joyce, DirectorDivision of Consumer Affairs- Paul R. Rodríguez,...
Twelve Arrested in “Operation Stone Wall” Targeting Criminal Network that Trafficked Untraceable “Ghost Gun” Assault Rifles and Drugs
Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police File First-Ever Charges in a Trafficking Case Under New Law Making It a Crime to Possess or Distribute Ghost Guns in New JerseyFor Immediate Release: March 18, 2019 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S....
Nine Alleged Members of Violent Set of Bloods Indicted on Charges of First-Degree Racketeering & Conspiring to Distribute Heroin in Paterson
“Operation Icebox” was led by the Division of Criminal Justice and the Paterson Police DepartmentFor Immediate Release: March 1, 2019 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralDivision of Criminal JusticeVeronica Allende, DirectorFor Further...
Philadelphia Drug Dealer Convicted at Trial of Trafficking 1.5 Kilograms of Heroin Laced with Fentanyl into New Jersey
Division of Criminal Justice secures verdict in investigation by NJ State Police & DEA HIDTA Task ForceFor Immediate Release: February 7, 2019 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralDivision of Criminal JusticeVeronica Allende,...
State Board of Medical Examiners Permanently Revokes Licenses of Two Doctors Convicted in Unrelated Criminal Cases
Includes One Doctor Imprisoned for Supplying Opioids to a Criminal Drug RingFor Immediate Release: January 24, 2019 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralDivision of Consumer Affairs- Paul Rodríguez, Acting DirectorDivision of Law- Michelle...
Drug Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Supplying Fentanyl and Heroin that Caused Two Overdose Deaths
AG's Office charged Terrill Spann under New Jersey's strict liability for drug-induced death lawFor Immediate Release: January 7, 2019 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralDivision of Criminal JusticeVeronica Allende, DirectorFor Further...
Businessman Sentenced to Seven Years in State Prison for Conspiring With Doctor to Supply Highly Addictive Opioid Pain Pills to Drug Ring
For Immediate Release: December 14, 2018 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralDivision of Criminal JusticeVeronica Allende, DirectorFor Further Information: Media Inquiries-Peter Aseltine609-292-4791Citizen Inquiries-609-984-5828TRENTON –...