Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Requires correctional police officers to wear body worn cameras under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning body worn cameras 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. A correctional police officer acting in the performance of the officer’s official duties in a State correctional facility shall wear a body worn camera:
(1) when designated by the Department of Corrections as a member of the Special Operations Group;
(2) while in a close custody unit;
(3) while in a housing unit;
(4) when providing mobile security; and
(5) when in contact with a member of the public.
b. For the purposes of this section:
“Body worn camera” means a device worn by a law enforcement officer that makes an electronic audio or video recording of activities that take place during any law enforcement action, excluding a mobile video recording device mounted inside a police vehicle or an electronic recording device worn by a law enforcement officer while acting in an undercover capacity.
"Close custody unit" means an area within a correctional facility designated for assigning inmates who are removed from the general population for disciplinary or administrative reasons.
"Housing unit" means a cell, dormitory, or other type of sleeping area within a correctional facility.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires correctional police officers in this State’s correctional facilities to wear body worn cameras under certain circumstances.
The bill specifically requires correctional police officers employed in State correctional facilities who are acting in the performance of their official duties to wear a body worn camera: (1) when designated by the Department of Corrections as a member of the Special Operations Group; (2) while in a close custody unit; (3) while in a housing unit; (4) when providing mobile security; and (5) when in contact with a member of the public.
According to the sponsor, the use of body worn cameras in correctional facilities enhances the surveillance capabilities in the facility, particularly blind spots, which can result in a reduction in instances of sexual assault. The cameras also provide unbiased accounts of use of force occurrences, provide evidence in prosecutions and intelligence gathering, deter negative behavior by both staff and inmates, and provide protection against frivolous lawsuits.