SENATE, No. 1487

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 19, 1996

By Senator LESNIAK

An Act concerning abolishing parole in certain cases and creating a commission to study possible solutions to prison overcrowding.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Notwithstanding any law or regulation to the contrary, an adult sentenced by the court to imprisonment in a State correctional facility for committing a crime on or after the effective date of this act shall not be eligible for parole. Such person shall not be granted progressive time credits for good behavior pursuant to R.S.30:4-140 or credits for diligent application to work and other institutional assignments pursuant to R.S. 30:4-92.

    2. There is hereby established a commission to be known as the "Commission to Study Solutions to Prison Overcrowding." The commission shall consist of ten members to be appointed as follows: two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; no more than one of whom shall be of the same political party; two members of the General Assembly to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, no more than one of whom shall be of the same political party; the Attorney General; the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections; the President of the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey; the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts; the Chairman of the State Parole Board and the Chairman of the Violent Crimes Compensation Board. The commission shall undertake a study of possible solutions to prison overcrowding which might result from the abolishment of the current parole system.

    The commission shall meet as soon as practicable after the appointment of its members. Vacancies in the membership shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.

    3.    The commission shall organize as soon as possible after 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.

    4.    The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of 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 in order to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.

    5.    The commission shall have all of the powers provided by the provisions of chapter 13 of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

    6.    The commission shall file a report with the Governor and the Legislature with recommendations for any legislative bills within 180 days after the first meeting of the commission.

    7.    Section 1 of this act shall take effect on the first date of the sixth month following enactment; sections 2 through 6 of this act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill would abolish parole for adult offenders imprisoned in State correctional facilities. Under this bill, any adult sentenced to imprisonment in a State correctional facility for a crime committed after the bill’s enactment would be ineligible for parole or for early release as a result of “good time” or work credits. This abolishment of parole would take effect on the first date of the sixth month following the bill's enactment.

    This bill would also create a commission to study possible solutions to any prison overcrowding which might result from the abolishment of the current parole system. The commission would consist of 10 members as follows: two members of the Senate to be appointed on a bipartisan basis by the President of the Senate; two members of the General Assembly to be appointed on a bipartisan basis by the Speaker of the General Assembly; the Attorney General; the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections; the President of the County Prosecutor's Association of New Jersey; the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts; the Chairman of the State Parole Board and the Chairman of the Violent Crimes Compensation Board. The commission shall issue a report within 180 days after its first meeting to the Governor and Legislature, along with any proposed recommendations for legislation.

Eliminates parole for adult offenders imprisoned in State correctional facilities and establishes commission to the study possible solutions to prison overcrowding.