Bill Text: NJ AR124 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requests State Comptroller to conduct follow-up audit of residential community release programs.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-12-06 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [AR124 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR124-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOSEPH CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Requests State Comptroller to conduct follow-up audit of residential community release programs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution requesting the State Comptroller to conduct a follow-up audit of this State's residential community release programs.
Whereas, Eligible inmates in this State who are near the end of their prison terms are placed into residential community release programs (RCRPs), commonly referred to as halfway houses, to receive substance abuse treatment, education, employment training, and other services to prepare them for a successful transition into society; and
Whereas, This State's RCRPs are under the jurisdiction of the Office of Community Programs in the Department of Corrections (DOC) and include assessment and treatment centers, halfway houses, and substance use disorder treatment centers; and
Whereas, The State Comptroller conducted an audit of this State's RCRPs for the period of July 1, 2008 through May 4, 2011 and in his report dated June 15, 2011 identified significant weaknesses in the DOC's oversight of RCRPs, its disciplinary process for inmates housed in RCRPs, and its enforcement of contracts with RCRP providers; and
Whereas, A June 2012 three-part New York Times series highlighted serious problems in this State's RCRPs, including escapes, violence, drugs, and gang activity; and
Whereas, In response to the State Comptroller's audit and the New York Times expose, the Legislature held investigatory hearings concerning the RCRPs, including a Senate Legislative Oversight Committee hearing on July 19, 2012 and an Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee hearing on July 23, 2012.; and
Whereas, The Commissioner of Corrections has stated that the DOC has taken corrective actions to implement recommendations made by the State Comptroller to address problems in the RCRPs; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for the General Assembly to request the State Comptroller to conduct a follow-up audit of this State's RCRPs to evaluate whether the systemic problems in this State's RCRPs are being addressed by the DOC in a comprehensive manner and whether accountability has been imposed; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully requests the State Comptroller to conduct a follow-up audit to an initial audit of this State's residential community release programs conducted from July 1, 2008 through May 4, 2011, the results of which were reported on June 15, 2011.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Governor of New Jersey, the State Comptroller, and the Commissioner of Corrections.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution respectfully requests the State Comptroller to conduct a follow-up audit to an initial audit of this State's residential community release programs (RCRPs) conducted from July 1, 2008 through May 4, 2011, the results of which were reported on June 15, 2011. The first audit identified significant weaknesses in the Department of Correction's oversight of RCRPs, its disciplinary process for inmates, and its enforcement of contracts with RCRP providers. The purpose of this follow-up audit is to evaluate whether the systemic problems in this State's RCRPs are being addressed by the DOC in a comprehensive manner and whether accountability has been imposed.
