The New Jersey Attorney General Guidelines governing Police Internal Affairs Police and Procedures direct each police agency to periodically release a brief synopsis of all complaints where a fine or suspension of ten days or more was assessed to a member of the agency. The synopsis shall not contain the identities of the officers or complainants.
The outcomes of Internal Affairs investigations are closed with one of the following four dispositions.
Sustained: An allegation is determined to be sustained if a preponderance of the evidence shows a member violated any law, regulation, protocol, general order, directive, or training.
Unfounded: An allegation is determined to be unfounded if a preponderance of the evidence shows that the alleged misconduct did not occur.
Exonerated: An allegation is determined to be exonerated if a preponderance of the evidence shows the alleged conduct did occur but did not violate rules, regulations, protocol, general orders, directives, or training.
Not Sustained: An allegation is determined to be not sustained when the investigation is unable to produce enough evidence to decide whether the alleged act occurred.
