Bill Text: NJ A3682 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires DOC oversight of placement of pre-trial county inmates in halfway houses.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-01-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [A3682 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A3682-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ALBERT COUTINHO
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DOC oversight of placement of pre-trial county inmates in halfway houses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning county correctional inmates and supplementing chapter 8 of Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Certain counties in this State are placing county inmates awaiting trial in residential community release programs meant for State sentenced inmates who are transitioning from incarceration back into society rather than placing the inmates in the respective county jail;
b. Some of the county inmates who are placed in the residential community release programs are charged with serious offenses which has raised concerns for the safety of the public and for other inmates placed in the residential community release programs;
c. There are comprehensive regulations already in place for the Department of Corrections' oversight of county work release programs, including programs for inmate employment, vocational training, and family care; and
d. In the interest of public safety, it is therefore necessary for the Department of Corrections to implement similar comprehensive regulations for the oversight of the placement of pre-trial county inmates in the residential community release programs.
2. a. The Commissioner of Corrections, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt and enforce rules and regulations for the placement of a county inmate against whom a criminal charge is pending and for which there is no final disposition in a residential community release program facility prior to sentencing.
b. The rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall include, but not be limited to, establishment of criteria that a pre-trial county inmate shall meet in order to be eligible for placement in a residential community release program, including the nature or degree of the criminal charges pending against the inmate.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Department of Corrections to oversee the placement of pre-trial county inmates in residential community release programs, also known as halfway houses.
Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, the Department of Corrections is required to adopt and enforce rules and regulations for the placement of a pre-trial county inmate in a halfway house. The regulations must include the establishment of criteria that a pre-trial county inmate must meet in order to be eligible for participation, including the nature or degree of the criminal charges pending against the inmate.
This bill is in response to testimony heard by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee on July 23, 2012 concerning oversight and accountability of this State's halfway houses.
Safety concerns were raised about certain counties housing county inmates awaiting trial in halfway houses meant for State-sentenced inmates transitioning from incarceration back into society. Some of these county inmates in the halfway houses were charged with serious offenses. This bill addresses these concerns and requires the Department of Corrections to oversee the placement of these inmates in halfway houses.
