Girgenti Calls For Bayside-Related Corrections Reforms

TRENTON – On Monday, the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee will consider three bills, sponsored by Committee Chairman, Senator John A. Girgenti, which would make vital prison reforms in the wake of a New Year’s Day incident at Bayside State Prison in which nearly 30 Corrections officers were hospitalized with injuries.

Senator Girgenti said he anticipated bipartisan support for the three bills, which were introduced following two Law and Public Safety Committee hearings earlier this year on the outbreak of violence at Bayside Prison. The bills, S-2536, S-2537 and S-2538, would direct the Commissioner of Corrections to study deficiencies in a facility when violence occurs there, implement a telecommunications voice mail system to inform staff of potential prison uprisings during shift changes, and would require corrections officers in State facilities to complete continued education training in a number of topics, including gang control in prison.

TRENTON – Senate President Steve Sweeney issued the following statement today regarding Assembly passage of legislation that will establish the use of integrity monitors to oversee the spending of Sandy recovery funds:

“As billions of dollars continue to flow into our state, the use of integrity monitors will prove critical in preventing waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer funds. Monitors helped saved millions of dollars during the post 9-11 recovery process and can bring that same level of critical review to New Jersey.

“The Senate will be moving on this legislation in the near future. I want to thank the Speaker for pressing ahead and I look forward to working with the governor so that we can have these monitors in place as soon as possible.”

My recommendations – in the aftermath of the violence at Bayside State Prison – call for enhanced training of corrections officers, system-wide improvements in communications and a required facilities review after every future prison incident involving a death or serious injury.

What became clear after two hearings on the incident by the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee is that officers need more training in dealing with gangs and in containing violent inmate outbursts that are either planned or spontaneous.

TRENTON – Three bills, crafted in response to the New Year’s Day gang-related uprising of inmates at Bayside State Prison, were released today by the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee.

“We learned from our hearings that the officers need more effective training in dealing with gangs and that the Corrections Commissioner should be required to investigate disturbances and recommend fixable remedies after there is a serious injury or death at a prison,” said Senator John A. Girgenti, the committee Chairman.