the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, The General Assembly Leadership announced today that members of the Assembly will join the Senate to investigate how sexual assault and misconduct allegations against Albert J. Alvarez were handled prior to, and after his hiring as a high-level state employee, and oversee an analysis of the criminal justice system’s approach to addressing accusations of sexual harassment, assault and abuse.
The bipartisan Select Committee will be tasked with determining reforms necessary to hold abusers accountable throughout the hiring process, and to make recommendations to improve related hiring practices. The panel will also review systemic issues within current policies to ensure victims have the confidence that they will be heard and that the justice they deserve will always be attainable.
“Ms. Brennan was remarkably brave to come forward with her heartbreaking account of the assault she endured. Her description was painful to read, as it detailed the abhorrent behavior to which she was subjected,” said Speaker Coughlin. “Ms. Brennan deserved to be heard, respected and believed. Unfortunately, that did not happen. I will not allow future victims to be subjected to the same unacceptable response. This committee will determine why the current system failed Ms. Brennan and what reforms must be enacted.”
Senator Kristin Corrado praised the formation of a bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Investigation to investigate the handling of the sexual assault allegations against a former high-level state official, examine government hiring practices and background checks, and conduct a review of the criminal justice system’s procedures for responding to allegations of sexual assault, abuse and harassment.
Following his calls for the Legislature to conduct a bipartisan investigation into the Governor’s hiring practices and a review of New Jersey’s criminal and civil statutes regarding sexual assault, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean commended the creation of a special Senate Select Committee on Investigation to address these matters:
“The Senate is taking the right step in forming a select committee to investigate government hiring practices, review the handling of the allegations raised by Ms. Brennan, and examine how our criminal justice system handles cases like hers,” said Kean. “I sincerely hope our colleagues in the General Assembly will demonstrate their understanding of the importance of this effort and make this a joint effort by the full Legislature.”
