STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANTHONY S. VERRELLI
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman SHAVONDA E. SUMTER
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DOC to report certain information concerning halfway houses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning residential community release programs and supplementing chapter 4 of Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Corrections shall report quarterly to the Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly in accordance with section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1) on the operation of each residential community release program in this State.
b. The report required by subsection a. of this section shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) the total reimbursement provided;
(2) the rate of reimbursement received for each inmate;
(3) the number of inmates for which reimbursement was received;
(4) the number of inmates imprisoned for violent crimes and the total number of days the inmate was imprisoned;
(5) the number of inmates imprisoned for non-violent crimes and the total number of days the inmate was imprisoned;
(6) the total number of inmates imprisoned for violent crimes who escaped or absconded and the total number of inmates imprisoned for non-violent crimes who escaped or absconded;
(7) the actions taken to protect inmates imprisoned for non-violent crimes from inmates imprisoned for violent crimes;
(8) the number of documented incidents involving physical violence;
(9) the disciplinary actions taken against inmates accused of violent activity; and
(10) the actions taken to prevent violent behavior from occurring.
2. In addition to the reports required by section 3 of P.L.2009, c.329 (C.30:4-91.15), the Commissioner of Corrections shall analyze the effectiveness of each residential community release program in this State, with a particular emphasis on recidivism rates for each program. The commissioner shall annually report to the Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly in accordance with section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1) the results of this analysis and make recommendations on how to improve recidivism rates in each program.
3. This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the Commissioner of Corrections to report quarterly to the Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly on the operation of residential community release programs in this State. These programs include assessment and treatment centers, halfway houses, and substance abuse treatment programs that assist inmates in transitioning back into society after completing their term of incarceration.
The bill specifically requires these quarterly reports to include information on the total reimbursement provided; the rate of reimbursement received for each inmate; the number of inmates for which reimbursement was received; the number of inmates imprisoned for violent crimes and the total number of days the inmate was imprisoned; the number of inmates imprisoned for non-violent crimes and the total number of days the inmates were imprisoned; the total number of inmates imprisoned for violent crimes who escaped or absconded and the total number of inmates imprisoned for non-violent crimes who escaped or absconded; the actions taken to protect inmates imprisoned for non-violent crimes from inmates imprisoned for violent crimes; the number of documented incidents involving physical violence; the disciplinary actions taken against inmates accused of violent activity; and the actions taken to prevent violent behavior from occurring.
The bill also would require the Commissioner of Corrections to annually report to the Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly on the effectiveness of each residential community release program in this State, with a particular emphasis on recidivism rates for each program.