Creates "Youth Detention Task Force."

A4680

ASSEMBLY, No. 4680

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 16, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� JERRY WALKER

District 31 (Hudson)

Assemblywoman� VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Venezia

SYNOPSIS

���� Creates "Youth Detention Task Force."

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

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;

���� (c)�� the Executive Director
of the Youth Justice Commission;

���� (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;

���� (c)�� a county commissioner
serving in a county which has a youth detention facility; and

���� (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;

���� (c)�� a representative from
the Sheriffs� Association of New Jersey; and

���� (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.