Guarding Inmates' Rights
The Corrections Ombudsman addresses concerns of people confined to state prisons. Below are answers to commonly asked questions. What type of complaints does the ombudsman handle? Can the ombudsman help me, a friend or family member who is incarcerated in a state prison? How do I contact the Corrections Ombudsman? What is the Corrections Ombudsman? The Ombudsman’s role has a long and honorable tradition as a means of protecting against abuse, bias and other improper treatment or unfairness. The Office of the Corrections Ombudsman provides a mechanism for the continuing resolution of issues, problems or complaints of inmates sentenced within New Jersey’s correctional system regarding their living conditions and other matters. The office investigates complaints when an inmate has failed to get satisfactory results through available institutional channels. Serving as a designated neutral, the Corrections Ombudsman is an advocate for fairness who also acts as a source of information and referral, aids in answering questions and assists in the resolution of concerns during critical situations. Since the office is independent from and external to the correctional facilities, it ensures objectivity and credibility among inmates and staff. In considering any given instance or concern, the interests and rights of all parties who may be involved are taken into account.  Any person, over the age of 18 years, who is convicted under the laws of the State of New Jerseyand sentenced to a correctional facility for more than 364 days is a “state-sentenced” inmate and considered to be among the individuals who may properly seek help from the Corrections Ombudsman. The Corrections Ombudsman can investigate a variety of concerns, including conditions of confinement and any acts on the part of the prison administration that may violate an inmate’s rights. Essentially, complaints investigated include those the Corrections Ombudsman believes might be:
The Corrections Ombudsman may decide not to investigate because:
Declining to investigate a complaint shall not bar the Corrections Ombudsman from investigating an administrative act whether or not included in the complaint. Primary Inmate Issues and Concerns During 2006 Records (2,526). Common inquiries center on the accuracy of the calculation of inmates’ anticipated maximum release dates, requests for updated calculations of their time, earned work and minimum status credits, and concerns regarding sentencing information noted on their records. (24 percent of inquiries) Parole (1,346). These inquiries involve requests for updated parole eligibility dates, accuracy of the calculations of their parole eligibility release dates, status of parole hearing results and complaints that they are overdue for hearings. (13 percent of inquiries) Program (1,122). Inquiries regarding the inmates' eligibility for reduced custody, community release, work assignments and visitation programs, as well as concerns about inmates being denied admission to these programs. (11 percent of inquiries) Medical (986). Inquiries deal with dissatisfaction with medical treatment or complaints about a lack of medical treatment, delays with processing medication, delays in referrals for outside consultations, discrepancies concerning medical co-pays and being treated poorly or with disrespect by medical personnel. (9 percent of inquiries) In addition to the Corrections Ombudsman’s work, the department also undertook two other projects to help ensure the humane treatment of inmates in state institutions. The Office of the Corrections Ombudsman supplements, but does not replace, the existing correctional facility's remedy/grievance process. Therefore, inmates should use all institutional resources and grievance procedures prior to contacting the Office of the Ombudsman. (Inmates that do not use the institutional remedy process first may be declined services until proper institutional procedures are followed). Inmates should first try to achieve an informal resolution to the complaint, concern, question, problem and/or grievance by using issue specific departmental forms or having an informal interview with the correctional facility area custody supervisor or appropriate civilian employee. If it proves unsuccessful they may file aDepartment of Corrections Inmate Remedy System form IRSF-101. TheInmate Remedy System form IRSF-101 is a 3 section form, (the “Routine Inmate Request”, the “Interview Request” and the “Administrative Appeal”) that shall be used to provide routine information, refer the person for an in-person interview or as a remedy to address complaints and or grievances. If these institutional remedies fail or the inmate is not satisfied with the correctional facility’s responses, they may then contact the Corrections Ombudsman for further review of the issue or concern. Inmates can contact the office by completing an Inmate Request for Assistance Form that is available at the correctional facilities, writing directly to our central office or by calling our inmate toll free number. (Note: Inmates should not use the Department of Corrections Inmate Remedy System form IRSF-101when communicating with the office.) Inmates requesting information or services from the Office of the Corrections Ombudsman should contact: NJ Department of the Public Advocate Mail direct to or from the Office of the Corrections Ombudsman is Classified "Legal, Confidential and Official" State sentenced inmates that temporarily may not have been assigned a PIN or experience problems calling our office may request a legal phone call through any of the correctional facilities’ Social Services Departments or Law Library Coordinators and by calling (609) 292-8020. (Calls to the Office of the Corrections Ombudsman are classified as official, legal and confidential.) State sentenced inmates housed in community release centers may call collect via (609) 292-8020. We do not accept collect calls from inmates housed in county or out-of-state facilities since we are unable to determine if they are pre-trial detainees, serving county jail terms (sentences of less than one year), or are state-sentenced (one year or more). Our current jurisdiction is to address issues and concerns of state sentenced inmates only. We also do not accept collect calls from family, friends, or other interested parties. Corrections Ombudsman Department of the Public Advocate P.O. Box 855 Trenton, NJ 08625
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