30:1B-41 Establishment of inmate abuse reporting program for State correctional facilities.

3. a. The Commissioner of Corrections shall establish an inmate abuse reporting program for State correctional facilities. The program shall provide, at a minimum, that employees of a State correctional facility are:

(1) trained in recognizing probable incidents of or behavior that constitutes inmate abuse and other abuse prevention strategies;

(2) informed of the duty to report the suspected inmate abuse pursuant to this act; and

(3) provided with the name and telephone number of the person designated by the Commissioner of Corrections who shall be notified of any suspected inmate abuse.

b. The Commissioner of Corrections shall designate one or more employees of the Department of Corrections who are not employees of any State correctional facility to serve as a contact person for an employee of a State correctional facility or any other person to notify if the employee or person has reasonable cause to suspect that an inmate is being or has been abused by any other employee of the correctional facility.

c. The designated contact person shall transmit all reported incidents or allegations of inmate abuse to the Commissioner of Corrections or a designee. The commissioner shall cause a prompt investigation of any report of inmate abuse.

d. The Commissioner of Corrections or a designee shall promptly report all instances of suspected inmate abuse, as determined by an investigation, to the county prosecutor of the county in which the State correctional facility is located. The report to the county prosecutor shall be in accordance with regulations or internal policies adopted by the commissioner in consultation with the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey and the Attorney General.

e. Upon receipt of a report pursuant to subsection d. of this section, the county prosecutor may conduct a review of the suspected inmate abuse and take any appropriate action.

f. Nothing in this section shall preclude the Special Investigations Division in the Department of Corrections from conducting an investigation.

L.2019, c.408, s.3.