A4680

An Act establishing the “Youth Detention Task Force.”

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

1. a. There is established the “Youth Detention Task Force.” The purpose of the task force shall be to assess the current condition of youth detention in this State and to recommend a system that would best serve this population. The task force shall recommend whether existing county youth detention facilities, facilities managed by the Youth Justice Commission, or an alternative system of detention would best serve the youth of this State. The task force may examine factors including, but not limited to, available resources, logistical considerations, safety protocols, staff training, rehabilitation opportunities, and security requirements.

b. The task force shall consist of 25 members as follows:

(1) four legislative members, who shall include two members of the Senate, who shall not be of the same political party, and two members of the General Assembly, who shall not be of the same political party. The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly each shall appoint one legislative member.

(2) ten ex officio members or their designees, who shall include the following:

(a) the Attorney General;

(b) the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts;

(d) the Commissioner of Education;

(e) the Commissioner of Children and Families;

(f) the Commissioner of Human Services;

(g) the Public Defender;

(h) the Superintendent of State Police;

(i) the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice; and

(j) the Chair of the Governor’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee.

(3) four public members appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall include the following:

(a) a representative of the New Jersey Association of County Youth Services Commission Administrators who has been recommended by the Youth Justice Commission;

(b) a county prosecutor who has been recommended by the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey;

(d) a county commissioner serving in a county which does not have a youth detention facility.

(4) four public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who shall include the following:

(a) a representative of the New Jersey Juvenile Detention Association;

(b) a representative of the New Jersey County Jail Wardens Association;

(d) a County Human Services Director.

(5) three members of the public with training or experience in the adjudication of youth offenders, who may be retired Family Court judges or attorneys in private practice, to be appointed by the Governor.

c. The members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.

2. a. All appointments to the task force shall be made within 90 days of the effective date of this act. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. The task force shall elect a chairperson from among its members. The Youth Justice Commission shall provide staff and administrative support to the task force.

b. The chairperson shall call an initial organizational meeting of the task force within 60 days of the appointment of a majority of the task force members. The task force may meet at the call of its chairperson at the times, and in the places it may deem appropriate and necessary to fulfill its duties, and may conduct public hearings at any place it shall designate. The presence of a majority of its members shall constitute a quorum.

c. The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the 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.

d. The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including legislative proposals, to the Governor and to the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1) within 18 months of its initial organizational meeting.

3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire 30 days after the submission of the report pursuant to subsection d. of section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the “Youth Detention Task Force.”

The purpose of the task force is to assess the current condition of youth detention in this State and to recommend a system that would best serve this population. The task force is to recommend whether existing county youth detention facilities, facilities managed by the Youth Justice Commission, or an alternative system of detention would best serve the youth of this State. The task force may examine factors including, but not limited to, available resources, logistical considerations, safety protocols, staff training, rehabilitation opportunities, security requirements, and overall facility conditions.

The task force is to consist of 25 members. Four legislative members are to be appointed to the task force including two members of the Senate and two members of the General Assembly. The task force is to have ten ex-officio members, including: the Attorney General; the Administrative Director of the Courts; the Executive Director of the Youth Justice Commission; the Commissioners of Education, Children and Families, and Human Services; the Public Defender; the Superintendent of the State Police; the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice; and the chair of the Governor’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee.

An additional four public members are to be appointed to the task force by the President of the Senate, including: a representative of the New Jersey Association of County Youth Services Commission Administrators who has been recommended by the Youth Justice Commission; a county prosecutor who has been recommended by the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey; a county commissioner serving in a county which has a youth detention facility; and a county commissioner serving in a county which does not have a youth detention facility.

An additional four public members are to be appointed to the task force by the Speaker of the General Assembly, including: a representative of the New Jersey Juvenile Detention Association; a representative of the New Jersey County Jail Wardens Association of New Jersey; a representative from the Sheriffs’ Association; and a County Human Services Director.

Furthermore, three members of the public with training or experience in the adjudication of youth offenders, who may be retired Family Court judges or attorneys in private practice, are to be appointed by the Governor.

This bill becomes effective immediately upon enactment. All appointments to the task force are to be made within 90 days of the bill’s effective date and the task force is to organize within 60 days of the appointment of a majority of the members. The task force will choose a chairperson from among its membership and the Youth Justice Commission will provide administrative support. The task force is entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the 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. Within 18 months of its initial organization meeting, the task force is required to submit a report of its findings, including any legislative proposals, to the Governor and the Legislature. The task force will expire 30 days after the submission of its report.

In December 2024, the Superior Court ruled that the Youth Justice Commission is responsible for the placement of detained youth in this State. In light of this decision, it is the intent of the sponsor to comprehensively examine the State’s current youth detention system and assess whether it should be maintained or replaced with an alternative system that would best serve New Jersey’s youth.