Bill

Bill > A4906


NJ A4906

Limits use of restrictions on telephone calls as discipline measure during incarceration.


summary

Introduced
10/17/2024
In Committee
10/17/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2024-2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill is in response to the recommendations made by the New Jersey Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson in its April 2024 report titled, "Visits and Phone Calls," and provides for limiting the use of suspension of telephone privileges as a disciplinary measure for incarcerated persons. The bill establishes rules and regulations concerning disciplinary sanctions that limit the use of telephone privileges of an incarcerated person. Pursuant to the bill, in instances where a disciplinary sanction suspending telephone privileges is imposed on an incarcerated person, the Administrator of the correctional facility will allow the incarcerated person at least one opportunity every two weeks to place a telephone call. The Administrator will also either notify the emergency contact of the incarcerated person, or allow the incarcerated person to notify the emergency contact, that telephone access has been suspended. Further, no suspension of telephone privileges will exceed 90 consecutive days and will not exceed 180 days in a given year of incarceration. The Commissioner must also ensure that suspension of telephone privileges will not be imposed on an incarcerated person who has been placed in a Restorative Housing Unit. Finally, no telephone sanctions will be imposed within 60 days of the date that the incarcerated person is scheduled to be released. If sanctions were imposed prior to 60 days before release date, the sanctions will be terminated for the 60 day period before release. The Commissioner may adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement this act.

AI Summary

This bill is in response to recommendations made by the New Jersey Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson and aims to limit the use of suspending telephone privileges as a disciplinary measure for incarcerated persons. The bill establishes rules and regulations regarding disciplinary sanctions that limit the use of telephone privileges, including requiring correctional facility administrators to allow incarcerated persons at least one phone call every two weeks during a suspension, notifying the incarcerated person's emergency contact, and prohibiting suspensions from exceeding 90 consecutive days or 180 days per year. The bill also prevents telephone sanctions from being imposed within 60 days of an incarcerated person's scheduled release date, and terminates any existing sanctions during that 60-day period. The Commissioner of Corrections is authorized to adopt additional rules and regulations as necessary to implement the act.

Committee Categories

Military Affairs and Security

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee (on 10/17/2024)

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