Bill Text: NJ S2380 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires residential community release programs to install cameras in certain facilities and provide telephone access to ombudsperson; requires ombudsperson to investigate reports.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-12-17 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S2380 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-S2380-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator ROBERT M. GORDON
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires residential community release programs to install cameras in certain facilities and provide telephone access to ombudsperson; requires ombudsperson to investigate reports.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning residential community release programs and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Every residential community release program facility that is under contract with the State to provide 100 or more beds for inmates shall contain closed circuit security cameras throughout the facility. The cameras shall be used to monitor activity at the facility, but shall not be placed in areas that would violate any privacy rights of the inmates.
b. The Commissioner of Corrections shall, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the implementation of this act.
2. a. Every residential community release program facility shall contain a separate telephone line that provides inmates with direct access to the Corrections Ombudsperson for the purpose of reporting conditions such as fraud and abuse and those that may adversely affect the health or safety of staff or inmates in the facility. The telephone line shall be available to the inmates at all times. An inmate may make the report anonymously.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 28 of P.L.2005, c.155 (C.52:27EE-28), upon receiving a report from an inmate regarding a condition in a residential community release program facility, the Corrections Ombudsperson shall conduct a prompt and thorough investigation. The inmate who reported the condition, if the inmate's identity is known, shall be promptly notified that action is being taken.
c. When the investigation is completed, the findings and recommended action shall be prepared in a written report and submitted to the Commissioner of Corrections. A copy of the report shall be provided to the inmate, if the inmate's identity is known.
3. This act shall take effect of the first day of the third month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires residential community release program (RCRP) facilities to install closed circuit security cameras in certain facilities and to provide inmates with direct telephone access to the Corrections Ombudsperson for the purpose of reporting conditions in the facility. In addition, upon receipt of a report, the Corrections Ombudsperson is required to investigate and provide a written report with findings and recommended action.
Under the provisions of this bill, the RCRP facilities that are under contract with the State to provide 100 or more beds for inmates are required to have closed circuit security cameras throughout the facility for the purpose of monitoring the inmate's activity. However, the cameras cannot be placed in any area that would violate any privacy rights of the inmates.
In addition, this bill requires all RCRP facilities to have a separate telephone line that provides inmates with direct access to the Corrections Ombudsperson for the purpose of reporting any condition in the facility; for example abuse, fraud or any conditions that affect the health or safety of the staff or inmates. The telephone line must be available to the inmates at all times. In addition, the inmates are permitted to make the report anonymously.
Lastly, under the provisions of this bill, upon receipt of a report from any inmate, the Corrections Ombudsperson is required to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation. The inmate, if the inmate's identity is known, must be notified that action has been taken. When the investigation is completed, the Corrections Ombudsperson must provide a written report with findings and recommended action to the Commissioner of Corrections. A copy of the report must also be provided to the inmate, if the inmate's identity is known.
