Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Urging/Supporting Senate Bill S-2003 and Certain Reforms to the New Jersey Juvenile Justice System
Purpose: Urging the Governor to Sign S-2003 into law.
Additional Information:
Sponsor/Council Member Eddie Osborne
body
WHEREAS, the New Jersey Senate recently passed Bill S-2003("the bill") by a vote of 24-10, which revamps the State's law governing waiver of juveniles to adult criminal court and increases certain extended sentences for juveniles; expands family court jurisdiction under certain circumstances; requires due process before a juvenile can be transferred to an adult correctional facility; and places limitations on the use of room restriction to discipline incarcerated juveniles; and
WHEREAS, the bill repeals the current juvenile waiver statute and replaces it with a streamlined process for determining whether a juvenile case should be transferred to adult criminal court; and
WHEREAS, the bill provides that the court may remand a case back to juvenile court if it appears the interests of the public and the best interests of the juvenile require access to programs or procedures uniquely available to that court and the interest of the public is no longer served by waiver to the adult criminal court; and
WHEREAS, S-2003 also provides that a juvenile whose case was waived would serve his or her sentence in a juvenile facility rather than an adult facility; and
WHEREAS, the bill further allows for certain juvenile cases waived to an adult criminal court to be remanded to the juvenile court for sentencing, which is referred to as disposition under the juvenile code, and changes the current law governing extended sentences for juveniles; and
WHEREAS, S-2003 places limitations on the use of solitary confinement, or what is referred to as "room restriction", in State juvenile correctional facilities and juvenile detention centers; and
WHEREAS, the Juvenile Justice System was created because research suggests the overwhelming majority of juveniles can be rehabilitated; and
WHEREAS, Juveniles remanded to adult prisons are at a greater risk of sexual assault and other violence; and
WHEREAS, Juvenile detainees placed in solitary confinement or "room restriction" can endure serious effects on their mental and physical health; and
WHEREAS, the proposed reforms give New Jersey Courts more discretion to adjudicate Juvenile offenders as juveniles while maintaining public safety standards and encouraging rehabilitation.
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Municipal Council of the City of Newark supports New Jersey Senate Bill S-2003 as passed on May 18, 2015; and encourages the Governor to sign the bill into law after receiving final legislative approval.
2. The City Clerk of the City of Newark shall transmit certified copies of this resolution to the Governor of the State of New Jersey, members of Essex County's State Legislative Delegation, and to the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
STATEMENT
A Resolution supporting the passage of Senate Bill S-2003 and Certain Reforms to the New Jersey Juvenile Justice System, and urging the Governor of the State of New Jersey sign the legislation into law.