SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1640

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 16, 1997

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1640.

      This bill submits to the voters for their approval a law requiring the Commissioner of Corrections to close the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center (ADTC) at Avenel, the State's specialized correctional facility for sex offenders, through the attrition of inmates. The commissioner would be authorized to remove inmates through parole, expiration of maximum sentence or transfer to another correctional institution. All sex offenders thereafter would be housed with the general prison population. The costs savings realized by the closure of the ADTC would be used for the treatment of juvenile sex offenders. The closure would not become effective unless it is approved by the voters.