[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 158

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblyman BUCCO

An Act concerning certain juvenile detention officers and supplementing chapter 8 of Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. a. A juvenile detention officer in a county juvenile facility who has successfully completed a training program in the use and effects of chemical agents and their natural equivalents, such as capsicum pepper, shall carry such chemical agents or natural equivalents while engaged in the actual performance of his official duties ¹when so required by his superior officer¹. The training program on the use and effects of chemical agents and their natural equivalents required under this section shall be approved and certified in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-66 et seq.).

    b. Any juvenile detention officer who, pursuant to the provisions of subsection a. of this section, is authorized to carry a chemical agent or natural equivalent shall be justified in using or discharging that agent or equivalent prior to any physical confrontation if the officer reasonably believes such use or discharge is immediately necessary for the purpose of protecting himself and to avoid physical harm.

    2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the second month following enactment.

Authorizes trained county juvenile detention officers to carry chemical agents while on duty.