SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, No. 2690

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  NOVEMBER 14, 2013

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably a Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 2690.

      This committee substitute establishes a program to facilitate the reintegration of certain domestic violence victims back into the community.

      This program, known as the supervised community reintegration program, is designed to assist individuals who have been convicted and incarcerated for committing crimes against their abusers.  To qualify for the program, an inmate must be found to present a low risk of re-offense and must have served one-third of the sentence imposed by the court or 10 years, whichever is less.

      Under the provisions of this committee substitute, inmates selected for the program are to undergo reentry training, agree to a reentry plan outlining their responsibilities under the program, and follow a transition plan that might include assignment to a residential facility, as determined appropriate by the State Parole Board, or home confinement with global positioning system monitoring and work release as appropriate.  Under the committee substitute, eligible inmates are prohibited from being assigned to residential community release programs, also known as halfway houses.

      When reviewing an inmate’s application to participate in the program, the State Parole Board is to give notice to the sentencing court, along with the prosecuting authority (either the county prosecutor or the Attorney General) and any victim or member of the victim’s family, advising the parties that they may submit comments to the board.

      The committee substitute requires that the reintegration plan for each participant must include the name of the inmate’s community sponsor, verification of the availability of appropriate placement in a residential facility or home confinement with global positioning system monitoring, when necessary, and any other conditions the board deems appropriate.

      Participants who fail to fulfill their responsibilities under their reintegration plan or who violate the provisions of the program are to be removed from the program.