Discipline
630 New Jersey Civil Service Commission decisions on discipline, with the governing rules explained and outcomes by year.
The governing rules
Major discipline means removal, disciplinary demotion, or a suspension or fine of more than five working days at one time (N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.2). The causes for discipline are listed in N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3: incompetency or failure to perform duties, insubordination, chronic absenteeism or lateness, conviction of a crime, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty, and other sufficient cause, among others.
An employee who receives a Final Notice of Disciplinary Action may appeal to the Commission within 20 days of receiving it (N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.8). Many of these appeals are heard first by an Administrative Law Judge at the Office of Administrative Law, whose initial decision the Commission then accepts, modifies or rejects. Where a penalty is reversed, N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.10 provides for back pay, benefits and seniority, and it may award them when a penalty is modified.
The rules that govern this issue: N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.2, N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3, N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.8, N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.10. This page explains what they say; it is not legal advice. The Civil Service Commission decides each matter on its own record.
Recent decisions
- In the Matter of Sykeema Bell, Judiciary, Vicinage 7-Mercer County
- In the Matter of Barbara Diller, Hunterdon Developmental Center, Department of Human Services
- In the Matter of Devon Kelly, Gloucester County, Department of Emergency Response
- In the Matter of Lasheta Montigue, South Woods State Prison, Department of Corrections
- In the Matter of Vincent Vidinha, Newark Fire Division
- In the Matter of William Johnson, Irvington Township, Department of Public Works
- In the Matter of Julio Rodriguez, City of Hoboken, Department of Parks Recreation and Public Works
- In the Matter of Matthew Ruding, Monmouth County, Department of Parks
- In the Matter of Tiffany Cobourne, Camden County Board of Social Services
- In the Matter of Jean Lormine, New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home- Menlo Park, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
- In the Matter of Keeon Rodgers, Hudson County, Department of Parks, Engineering and Planning
- In the Matter of DaQuan Adams, Department of Human Services, New Lisbon Developmental Center
- In the Matter of J.I., City of Passaic
- In the Matter of Donald Kilpatrick, Department of Corrections
- In the Matter of Richie Lopez, South Woods State Prison, Department of Corrections
- In the Matter of Milagros Torres, Rowan University
- In the Matter of Sheila Christophe, Department of Health, Trenton Psychiatric Hospital
- In the Matter of Michael Kelly, Jackson Township, Department of Law and Public Safety
- In the Matters of Christopher Massey, Borough of Bergenfield, Police Department
- In the Matter of A.O., Department of Human Services, Hunterdon Developmental Center
On the record
630 decisions on the Commission's record since January 16, 2019 carry this issue; 608 of them are classified under it as their main question. Outcomes are our reading of the meeting minutes.
| Outcome | Decisions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Penalty upheld | 300 | 48% |
| Penalty modified | 100 | 16% |
| Penalty reversed | 68 | 11% |
| Dismissed | 42 | 7% |
| Denied | 40 | 6% |
| Granted | 39 | 6% |
| Sent back to the Office of Administrative Law | 11 | 2% |
| Settlement acknowledged | 10 | 2% |
| Granted in part | 8 | 1% |
| Adopted | 6 | 1% |
| Referred for further review | 2 | 0% |
| Different results for different parties | 1 | 0% |
| Earlier decision reaffirmed | 1 | 0% |
| Ordered | 1 | 0% |
| Noted | 1 | 0% |
By year
| Year | Decisions |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 71 |
| 2020 | 74 |
| 2021 | 89 |
| 2022 | 91 |
| 2023 | 85 |
| 2024 | 82 |
| 2025 | 83 |
| 2026 | 55 |
Rules these decisions cite most
- N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.10 cited in 171
- N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.12 cited in 158
- N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3 cited in 25
- N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.2 cited in 17
- N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.5 cited in 15
- N.J.A.C. 4A:4-4.7 cited in 13