FISCAL NOTE TO

SENATE, No. 1338

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 3, 1997

      Senate Bill No. 1338 of 1996 increases penalties for a person who commits a first, second or third degree crime while released on bail after being charged with committing a crime of the first, second or third degree and who is subsequently convicted of committing that earlier offense. Upon conviction for the second crime, the defendant would be sentenced to an extended term of imprisonment, and subject to a fine that is double the fine authorized.

      The Department of Corrections states that no data are available to determine the number of offenders who commit additional offenses while on bail. Thus it is not possible to determine the bill's fiscal impact. The department notes, however, that any increase in offender length of stay would increase the department's prison population and operating costs.

      The Office of Legislative Services concurs and adds that the cost of incarcerating an offender in one of the State's institutions totals about $26,000 annually. If it becomes necessary to construct additional bed space to house these offenders, the State would incur one-time capital construction costs of $80,000 per bed.

This fiscal note has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67.