ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 855

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 3, 1997

      The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 855 (1R).            Senate Bill No. 855 (1R) amends the "Parole Act of 1979," P.L.1979, c.441 (C.30:4-123.45 et seq.) to require that a person convicted of a first or second degree crime involving violence be required to serve, without exception, a minimum of 85 percent of the term of incarceration imposed by the court.

      Under the provisions of the bill, any person convicted of a first or second degree crime involving violence would serve a minimum of 85 percent of his court-ordered term of incarceration, regardless of the number of commutation credits, work credits or minimum custody credits earned. Further, the bill would not reduce any mandatory minimum period of parole eligibility.

      The committee amendment, technical in nature, was adopted to make the effective date identical to the effective date of companion bill, Assembly Bill No. 1541.