WHEREAS, in
1867, the New Jersey Training School for Boys in Monroe Township
(the "Training School for Boys") was opened in an agricultural area
of the State of New Jersey to provide a location for the rehabilitation
of juvenile delinquents; and
WHEREAS, since
1867, juvenile crime has greatly increased, at the same time becoming
more serious and often more violent; and
WHEREAS, since
1867, communities throughout the State of New Jersey, including
the community surrounding the New Jersey Training School for Boys,
have experienced population growth and development; and
WHEREAS, the
State of New Jersey seeks to maintain secure juvenile facilities
for the housing and care of juveniles committed to the custody of
the Juvenile Justice Commission; and
WHEREAS, the
State of New Jersey seeks to maintain the safety and security of
its communities and neighborhoods;
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, Governor of the State of New Jersey,
by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
1. The creation
of the Advisory Committee to Study the Future of the New Jersey
Training School for Boys in Monroe Township (the "Advisory Committee").
2. The Advisory
Committee is charged with providing input to the Juvenile Justice
Commission (the "Commission") during the Commission's study of
the feasibility of closing the Training School for Boys, which
study has been ordered by the Legislature pursuant to the Annual
Appropriations Act, P.L. 1997, c.131, page 140, lines 12 through
14. Among the issues the Advisory Committee shall address are:
public safety as it relates to security at the Training School
for Boys; whether the current physical facility meets the needs
of the Commission in the context of its responsibility for the
custody and care of juveniles; the impact that closure of the
facility would have upon the Commission in the context of its
responsibility for the custody and care of juveniles; the cost
effectiveness of closure, including a fiscal analysis of whether
the current facility should be renovated and/or whether the State
should undertake new construction elsewhere; and, if new construction
is recommended, possible alternative locations.
3. The Advisory
Committee shall conduct at least one public hearing in order to
obtain the positions and viewpoints of the members of the community
surrounding the Training School for Boys.
4. The Advisory
Committee shall be composed of up to twelve members including
the Attorney General or his designee; the Executive Director of
the Commission or his designee; the State Treasurer or his designee;
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget or her designee;
the Superintendent of the Training School for Boys or her designee;
a Senator to be appointed by the Senate President; an Assemblymember
to be appointed by the Assembly Speaker; a member of the Advisory
Council to the Juvenile Justice Commission to be appointed by
the Governor; a member from the Monroe Training School for Boys
Citizens Review Board to be appointed by the Governor; and no
more than three members of the public to be appointed by the Governor
based upon professional experience and expertise in juvenile justice
or upon demonstrated involvement in and concern for the local
communities surrounding the Training School for Boys. The Governor
shall designate a chair and vice-chair from among the members
of the Advisory Committee. The members shall serve without compensation,
but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties subject to the availability of funds
therefor.
5. The Advisory
Committee shall organize and meet as soon as possible after the
appointment of its members. The chair shall appoint a secretary
who need not be a member of the Advisory Committee. Vacancies
on the Advisory Committee shall be filled in the same manner as
the original appointment.
6. All State
departments and agencies are hereby directed, to the extent not
inconsistent with law and within budget constraints, to cooperate
with the Advisory Committee and to respond to requests for such
information, personnel and assistance as are necessary to accomplish
the purposes of this Order.
7. The Advisory
Committee shall assist the Commission by providing recommendations
in a timely fashion, in order to allow the Commission to fully
consider the Advisory Committee's views prior to presenting the
Legislature with the Commission's findings and conclusions on
the feasibility of closing the Training School for Boys. Pursuant
to the Annual Appropriations Act, P.L. 1997, c.131, page 140,
lines 12 through 14, that presentation is to be completed no later
than December 31, 1997. The Advisory Committee and the Commission
are directed to coordinate their efforts to ensure compliance
with this deadline.
8. This
Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal
this 29th day of September, in the
year of Our Lord, One Thousand
Nine Hundred and Ninety Seven,
and of the Independence of the
United States, the Two Hundred
and Twenty-Second.
/s/
Christine Todd Whitman
Governor
Attest:
/s/ Michael
P. Torpey
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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