ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 41

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

 

 

By Assemblymen MALONE and HOLZAPFEL

 

 

A Concurrent Resolution creating a Legislative commission to monitor the operation and reform of the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center.

 

Whereas, The Legislature finds that significant shortcomings exist in this State's programs for the incarceration, treatment and safe management of repetitive and compulsive sexual offenders; and

Whereas, These shortcomings have contributed to the premature release of dangerous sexual offenders, who have received little or no effective treatment, into an unsuspecting public, where they have committed additional heinous crimes, all too frequently against children; and

Whereas, After identifying and analyzing the problems in the State's sexual offender programs, the Joint Legislative Task Force to Study the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center, has recommended measures to improve the operation of the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center, as well as the creation of an ongoing commission to monitor the implementation of its recommendations; now, therefore,

 

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

 

    1. There is hereby established a commission to be known as the "Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center Review Commission." The commission shall consist of six members to be appointed as follows: two members appointed by the President of the Senate, no more than one of whom shall be a member of the same political party; two members by the Speaker of the General Assembly, no more than one of whom shall be a member of the same political party; one public member appointed by the President of the Senate, and one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

 

    2. a. The commission shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members and shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.

    b. The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes. The commission shall further be entitled to employ counsel and stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as it may deem necessary to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for its purposes.

 

    3. The commission shall monitor the progress of the Department of Corrections in carrying out the changes recommended by the Joint Legislative Task Force to Study the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center and shall recommend such other changes as in its considered judgment may be required to effectuate the goals of the task force or to further improve State programs for the incarceration, treatment and safe management of sexual offenders, including the determination that the facility be closed.

 

    4. The commission shall annually report to the Legislature and the Governor concerning the progress of efforts to reform sexual offender programs and shall include in the report its recommendations for continued improvements, along with any recommended legislation.

 

    5. The commission shall expire on the 31st day of December in the fourth year following its organization.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    The Joint Legislative Task Force to Study the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center (ADTC) was created by ACR 8 of 1994 in the wake of a series of crimes perpetrated by sex offenders who had been incarcerated at the center. The task force was charged with examining the effectiveness of the ADTC in treating and rehabilitating sexual offenders. After completing its study, the task force issued a series of recommendations for improving the operation of the ADTC. The task force also urged creation of a commission to monitor the implementation of its recommendations.

    This concurrent resolution would establish such a body, to be known as the "Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center Review Commission." The commission would consist of six members: two members appointed by the President of the Senate, no more than one of whom would be a member of the same political party; two members by the Speaker of the General Assembly, no more than one of whom would be a member of the same political party; one public member appointed by the President of the Senate, and one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly.

    The commission would be responsible for monitoring the progress of the Department of Corrections in carrying out the changes recommended by the Joint Legislative Task Force to Study the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center and recommending such other changes as in its considered judgment may be required to effectuate the goals of the task force or to further improve State programs for the incarceration, treatment and safe management of sexual offenders, including the determination that the facility be closed.

    The commission would report annually to the Governor and Legislature. The commission would expire on December 31 of the fourth year following its establishment.

 

 

 

Creates commission to monitor ADTC.