ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 22

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblymen GARCIA and ROMANO

An Assembly Resolution urging the Department of Corrections to identify those inmates who possess outside sources of income, and to charge these inmates for the cost of incarceration.

Whereas, As of December 31, 1993, there were 19,652 State sentenced inmates housed in State prison facilities; and

Whereas, As of December 31, 1993, there were an additional 4,356 State sentenced inmates housed in county facilities; and

Whereas, The Department of Correction's FY 1994 adjusted budget totalled $577 million for Direct State Services, $88 million for State Aid, and $5 million for capital construction; and

Whereas, Section 4 of P.L. 1969, c.22 (C.30:4-91.4) requires the Department of Corrections to deduct up to two-thirds of an inmate's work release wages to pay for the inmate's cost of confinement, dependent support, necessary travel expenses to and from work, and the payment of debts; and

Whereas, There are approximately 260 inmates participating in work release programs contributing about $362,000 toward their upkeep annually; and

Whereas, The remaining inmates in the State prison system, while employed by the system and paid a nominal wage, are not required to contribute toward the cost of their incarceration; and

Whereas, Many inmates may have outside sources of income besides that which is earned while incarcerated; and

Whereas, This income could be used to reimburse the State for the cost of housing the inmate during the inmate's term of incarceration; now, therefore;

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The Assembly, urges the Department of Corrections to identify those inmates who possess an outside source of income, and to charge these inmates a per diem rate for the cost of their incarceration.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this concurrent resolution signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections and to the Governor of the State of New Jersey.

STATEMENT

    This resolution urges the Department of Corrections to determine which inmates have outside sources of income, and to charge these inmates for the costs of incarceration.

Urges the Department of Corrections to determine which inmates have outside sources of income.