Scorecard : How New Jersey Government Agencies Are Responding to the Civil Rights Concerns of the Sikh American Community
Progress on Key Areas of Concerns
[Hate Crimes] [Schools] [Employment Discrimination] [Religous Discrimination]
| Hate Crimes |
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| Relevant Agencies: |
New Jersey Attorney General and the United States Attorney’s Office |
Recommendation: |
:Designate a contact person in your office who can regularly communicate with the Sikh Community on hate crime issues: |
Progress: |
Contacts are known in both offices. Communication is not regular. |
Recommendation: |
Encourage Sikhs-Americans in New Jersey to report Hate Crimes By visiting our gurdwaras and translating materials to Punjabi: |
Progress: |
New Jersey Attorney General’s office representatives have visited the major Sikh gurdwaras in New Jersey. |
| Relevant Agencies: |
New Jersey State Police, New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation Field Office in New Jersey, and the New Jersey Bias Crime Officers Association |
Recommendation: |
Train Officers and Agents on Sikh Americans: |
Progress: |
The vast majority of law enforcement officers in New Jersey have no training on Sikhs. |
| School Recommendations |
| Relevant Agencies: |
New Jersey Attorney General, New Jersey Division of Civil Rights, New Jersey Department of Education, and United States Department of Education |
Recommendation: |
Meet with Sikh Representatives to Discuss Our Concern |
Progress: |
Sikh representatives met with New Jersey Department of Education officials in January 2004. |
Recommendation |
Educate all School Children on Sikhs in New Jersey: |
Progress: |
No such education exists at present. |
Recommendation |
Designate a Contact Person in Your Office Who Can Regularly Communicate With the Sikh Community on School Harassment Issues: |
Progress: |
Contacts are known in all offices. Communication is not regular. |
| Employment Discrimination Recommendations |
| Relevant Agencies: |
State Division on Civil Rights and the Philadelphia District Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission |
Recommendation: |
Designate a Contact Person in Your Office Who Can Regularly Communicate With the Sikh Community on Employment Discrimination Issues: |
Progress: |
Contacts are known in all offices. Communication is not regular. |
Recommendation |
Encourage Sikhs-Americans in New Jersey to Report Employment Discrimination By Visiting Our Gurdwaras and Translating Materials to Punjabi: |
Progress:: |
New Jersey Division on Civil Rights became the first New Jersey agency to translate its materials in Punjabi in October 2004. |
| Religous Profiling Recommendations |
| Relevant Agencies: |
New Jersey Attorney General and County Prosecutor’s Association: |
Recommendation: |
Provide Guidelines On How To Handle The Prosecution Of “Kirpan” Cases Where A Sikh Is Charged With Unlawful Possession Of Weapon Under N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5: |
Progress: |
No such guidelines exist. |
|
Community News
New Jersey Division on Civil Rights along with Sikh Coalition translate rights materials into Punjabi
New Gurdwara Opens in Carteret
NJ Gurdwaras
Gurdwaras in New Jersey
Central Jersey Sikh Association Robbinsville, New Jersey
Dasmesh Darbar, Carteret, New Jersey
Garden State Sikh Association, Basking Ridge, NJ
Guru Nanak Society of Delaware Valley, Deptford, New Jersey
Khalsa Darbar of South Jersey, Springfield Township, NJ
Sikh Sabha of New Jersey Lawrenc
Singh Sabha, Inc., Port Reading, New Jersey
Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Glenrock, NJ
Sikhs in NJ Make a Difference
Seema Singh
Sutinder Singh Dhanjal
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