Establishes Prison Gang Violence Task Force to study security and safety in State correctional facilities.

AR126

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 126

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes Prison Gang Violence Task Force to study
security and safety in State correctional facilities.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Assembly
Resolution
establishing a task force to
study security and safety in the State�s correctional facilities.�

Whereas,

The final report of the first Assembly Prison Gang Task Force found a number of
serious issues concerning gang violence in the State�s correctional facilities
that compromise the safety and security of State correctional police officers
and civilian employees; and

Whereas,

The report recommended gang training for State correctional police officers and
civilian staff, hiring practices designed to prevent gang members from
obtaining employment within correctional facilities, new and additional
equipment necessary to keep State correctional police officers safe from gang
violence, and modifications to intelligence gathering procedures and
dissemination of information in and between correctional facilities; and

Whereas,

A subsequent report by the State Commission of Investigation found that the
number of gang-affiliated inmates continued to rise and that these inmates
utilized increasingly sophisticated methods for exploiting the security
vulnerabilities of correctional facilities; and

Whereas,

These facts raise serious questions about the continued prevalence of gangs and
gang-related activities in the State�s correctional facilities; the
appropriateness of the State�s programs and tactics for addressing the gang
issue; the adequacy of State correctional police officer and facility
administrator training and preparedness; the availability and utilization of
safety equipment and apparel for and by State correctional police officers; the
effectiveness of the intelligence gathering methods currently being used to
uncover and thwart threats to the efficient and tranquil operation of the
State�s correctional facilities; and the efficacy of the current policies and
procedures for investigating incidents, disruptions, riots, and other occurrences
which pose a danger or risk to the safety, security, or well-being of the
employees and inmates of the facility; and

Whereas,

It is, therefore, altogether fitting and proper, and within the public
interest, to establish a task force to study security and safety in the State�s
correctional facilities; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� There
is established a task force, to be known as the "Prison Gang Task
Force," to review and study security and safety in New Jersey's
correctional facilities, including, but not limited to:

���� a.���� the
availability and utilization of administrative segregation for dangerous and
disruptive inmates;

���� b.��� the
availability and utilization of safety equipment and apparel for and by State
correctional police officers;

���� c.���� the
adequacy of training and preparedness, particularly the level and effectiveness
of Correctional Emergency Response Training (CERT);

���� d.��� the
prevalence of gangs and gang-related activities in the State's correctional
facilities and the adequacy and appropriateness of the State's programs and
tactics for addressing the problem;

���� e.���� the
intelligence gathering methods currently being used to uncover and thwart
threats to the efficient and tranquil operation of the facility; and

���� f.���� the
State's policies and procedures for investigating incidents, disruptions, riots,
and other occurrences which pose a danger or� risk to the safety, security, or
well-being of the employees and inmates of that facility.

���� 2.��� The
task force shall consist of 11 members appointed by the Speaker of the General
Assembly, as follows:

���� a.���� Two
members of the General Assembly, no more than one of whom shall be a member of
the same political party;

���� b.��� Three
State correctional police officers currently employed by a State correctional
facility;

���� c.���� Two
former State correctional police officers who retired from employment in a
State correctional facility;

���� d.��� One
member, who by education or experience, has expertise in gangs and gang-related
activities;

���� e.���� Two
members, who by education or experience, have expertise in correctional
facility safety and security; and

���� f.���� One
member, who by education or experience, has expertise in the operation and
administration of correctional facilities.

���� 3.��� The
task force shall organize as soon as possible after the appointments of its
members, but in no case later than 60 days after the approval of this
resolution.� From among themselves, the members shall select a chairperson and
a vice chairperson.� The members also shall appoint a secretary, who need not
be a member of the task force.

���� Any
vacancy in the task force shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as
the original appointment was made.

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

���� 4.��� The
task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and shall 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.� The task force shall further be entitled to employ
counsel and stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other
miscellaneous expenses as it may deem necessary to perform its duties, within
the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for its purposes.

���� 5.��� The
task force may conduct public hearings in furtherance of its general purposes
at such place or places as it shall designate, at which it may request the
appearance of officials of any federal, State, or interstate department, board,
bureau, commission, agency, or authority and solicit the testimony of
interested groups and the general public.

���� 6.��� The
task force shall report its progress to the Speaker and the members of the
General Assembly no later than 120 days after its organization and shall report
its final findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals it
may wish to make, to the Speaker and the members of the General Assembly no
later than the first day of the thirteenth month following its organization.

STATEMENT

���� This Assembly Resolution
establishes the Prison Gang Violence Task Force to study security and safety
issues in the State�s correctional facilities.�

���� The task force is to consist
of 11 members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, as follows: two
members of the General Assembly, no more than one of whom shall be from the
same political party; three State correctional police officers currently
serving in State correctional facilities; two retired State correctional police
officers; an expert in gangs or gang-related activities; two experts in
correctional facility safety and security; and one expert in correctional
facility operations and administration.�

���� Among the topics and issues
the task force is to study are: the availability and utilization of
administrative segregation for dangerous and disruptive inmates; the
availability and utilization of safety equipment and apparel for and by State
correctional police officers; the adequacy of training and preparedness,
particularly the level and effectiveness of Correctional Emergency Response
Training (CERT); the prevalence of gangs and gang-related activities in the
State�s correctional facilities and the adequacy and appropriateness of the
State�s programs and tactics for addressing the problem; the intelligence
gathering methods currently being used to uncover and thwart threats to the
efficient and tranquil operation of the facility; and the State�s policies and
procedures for investigating incidents, disruptions, riots, and other
occurrences which pose a danger or risk to the safety, security, or well-being
of the employees and inmates of that facility.� The task force may conduct
public hearings in furtherance of its general purpose.�

���� The task force is to report
its findings, along with any recommendations, to the Speaker and the members of
the General Assembly no later than one year after it organizes.�

���� While the task force members
are to serve without compensation, they may be reimbursed for any expenses they
incur in the performance of their duties, if funds are made available.� Any
vacancies in the membership are to be filled by appointment in the same manner
as the original appointment.�

���� The final report of the first
Assembly Prison Gang Task force found a number of serious issues concerning
gang violence in the State�s correctional facilities that compromise the safety
and security of State correctional police officers and civilian employees.� In
addition, a subsequent report by the State Commission of Investigation found
that the number of gang-affiliated inmates continued to rise, and that these
inmates utilized increasingly sophisticated methods for exploiting the security
vulnerabilities of correctional facilities.� These issues continue to raise
serious questions about the safety and security in our State correctional
facilities.� This task force is being established to study these issues.