ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2460

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 3, 1997

      The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2460.

      Assembly Bill No. 2460 provides for a supplemental appropriation of $7 million to the Department of Corrections to be used to hire additional parole officers. The purpose of hiring these additional officers is to reduce the current average caseload of an officer by one-third, from 70 parolees per officer to 47.

      The committee amendments enable the department to use this funding to hire additional officers, as well as provide them with needed equipment to perform the duties of their positions. The amendments also specifically designate $1.6 million of the $7 million appropriation to establishment of a sex offender parole unit within the Bureau of Parole. It is anticipated that the $1.6 million will be used for the salaries of parole officers, supervisors and clerical staff, specialized training for the officers assigned to the new unit and to supply the officers with vehicles and radios. Officers in the new unit are anticipated to have a maximum caseload of 25 persons.

      The provisions of this bill, as amended by the committee, are identical to the provisions of Senate Bill No. 235 (2R).