ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 25

with Committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 3, 1997

      The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 25 with Assembly committee amendments.

      Assembly Bill No. 25, as amended by the committee, establishes a Parole Advisory Board in, but not of, the Bureau of Parole. The board would review and comment on the development and implementation of supervision standards, drug and alcohol treatment programs for inmates and parolees, and any special assignments requested by the Commissioner of Corrections. The advisory board is to pass on any recommendations it may have on these matters to the Commissioner of Corrections, the Parole Board, the Governor and the Legislature. It would also sponsor conferences with criminal justice administrators and community members, including treatment providers, on a variety of related issues.

      The panel would consist of 23 members, representing a wide variety of agencies and organizations that have an interest in supervision and treatment programs for inmates and parolees. It will include two members of each house of the Legislature appointed by their respective leaders. The board would, from among its members, select a chairman and vice-chairman.

      In the course of reviewing and commenting on its findings and recommendations, the board would be encouraged to consider the Bureau of Parole's research findings regarding these matters. It would utilize the staff resources of the Bureau of Parole and meet at least semiannually.

      The committee amendments added the Department of Law and Public Safety and the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse to the membership of the advisory board.

      This bill is based on a recommendation of the Governor's Study Commission on Parole.