SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 113

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 1997

By Senator CIESLA

A Concurrent Resolution requesting that the Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey develop a one-year pilot program in Brick Township creating a model municipal drug court.

Whereas, Every municipality is required to establish a municipal court which has jurisdiction to hear a range of matters, including: violations of motor vehicle and traffic laws, violation of municpal ordinances, disorderly and petty disorderly offenses, violations of fish and game laws and any other proceeding where jurisdiction is granted by statute; and

Whereas, Municipal courts currently have jurisdiction over certain juvenile cases which involve disorderly or petty disorderly offenses or motor vehicle offenses; and

Whereas, The Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part currently handles some juvenile cases involving drug offenses; and

Whereas, The Family Part's caseload, which is overcrowded with juvenile cases, may be reduced if those juvenile cases involving drug offenses are redirected to municipal courts; and

Whereas, Municipal court judges may be more aware of the resources available in the community which may provide needed services to the juvenile in need of assistance, especially those juveniles with a drug problem; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

    1. That the Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey is respectfully requested to develop a one-year pilot program in Brick Township creating a model municipal drug court. The pilot program shall authorize the municipal court to have jurisdiction where a juvenile has been charged with delinquency for a violation of an offense defined in chapter 35 or 36 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.

    2. The Administrative Office of the Courts shall submit a written report to the Legislature describing and assessing the implementation, operation and results of the pilot program within 6 months after the completion of the pilot program.

    3. Duly authenticated copies of this concurrent resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the Chief Justice and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey.

STATEMENT

    This concurrent resolution would request that the New Jersey Supreme Court develop a one-year pilot program in Brick Township creating a model municipal drug court. The pilot program would authorize the municipal court to have jurisdiction in matters where a juvenile has been charged with delinquency for a violation of an offense defined in chapter 35 or 36 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes (controlled dangerous substances). The Administrative Office of the Courts, within 6 months after completion of the pilot program, would be required to submit a written report to the Legislature assessing the pilot program's implementation, operation and results.

Requests the New Jersey Supreme Court to develop a one-year pilot program in Brick Township creating a model municipal drug court.