ASSEMBLY, No. 1881

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 6, 1996

By Assemblywoman TURNER, Assemblymen GUSCIORA and Dalton

An Act concerning the ownership, operation and management of correctional facilities or jails by private entities.

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

    1. a. No private entity shall own, operate or manage any correctional facility or jail within this State after the effective date of this act unless the entity owns, operates or manages the facility or jail pursuant to a contract entered into before the effective date of this act between the entity and the public body which has jurisdiction over the facility or jail. No public body shall, after the effective date of this act, enter into, renew or extend the terms of a contract with any private entity for the keeping of any person within a correctional facility or jail.

    b. For the purposes of this section:

    "Correctional facility or jail" means any secure building, camp, farm or other facility used to house persons in the custody of any law enforcement agency of a public body;

    "Private entity" means any private individual, person, corporation, partnership, association business or other entity;

    "Public body" means the State of New Jersey, any instrumentality or agency of the State, or any of its political subdivisions.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill prohibits any private entity from owning, operating or managing any correctional facility or jail within the State, unless the entity is operating or managing the facility or jail pursuant to a contract entered into with a public body before the bill took effect. The bill prohibits a public body from, after the bill takes effect, entering into, renewing or extending the terms of a contract with any

private entity for the keeping of any person within a correctional facility or jail.

Concerns private entities that own, operate or manage correctional facilities or jails.