ASSEMBLY, No. 481

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblywoman VANDERVALK

An Act to establish a senior citizens crime prevention program, and supplementing chapter 17B of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

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

    1. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Crime Prevention Advisory Committee established under the provisions of P.L.1985, c.1 (C.52:17B-77.1 et seq.), the county prosecutors of this State, and the American Association of Retired Persons, shall develop and establish a senior citizens crime prevention program. The program shall include, but not be limited to:

    a. Informational services and educational awareness programs specifically designed to address the needs of senior citizens in the areas of personal safety, home security, and those types of non-violent property crimes to which senior citizens are especially susceptible, such as scams and swindles;

    b. Information and training programs relating to the organization and operation of specialized neighborhood watch and crime prevention programs; and

    c. Informational services and educational awareness programs for local law enforcement departments to assist them in meeting the specialized needs of the senior citizens in their communities and which may include an outline of suggested programs and services a local law enforcement department may initiate to address those special needs, such as the establishment of a senior citizens bureau within the department to provide and coordinate the community's senior citizens crime prevention programs and activities.

    2. Each county prosecutor shall transmit a copy of the senior citizens crime prevention program developed pursuant to section 1 of this act to each local law enforcement department situated within the county. The prosecutor may conduct such informational and training seminars for local law enforcement officers as shall be deemed appropriate and necessary to effectively implement the senior citizens crime prevention program in the county.

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill directs the Attorney General, in consultation with the Crime Prevention Advisory Committee, the county prosecutors, and representatives of the American Association of Retired Persons, to develop and establish a senior citizens crime prevention program.

    The program is to consist of informational services and educational awareness programs designed to address issues of special concern to senior citizens such as personal safety, home security, and how to avoid scams and swindles; information and training programs relating to the organization and operation of specialized neighborhood watch and crime prevention activities; and programs designed to help local law enforcement departments address the needs of the senior citizens in their communities.

Establishes senior citizens crime prevention program.