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| New escape regulations proposed for N.J. prisons |
| By Vineland Daily Journal |
| Published: 02/16/2004 |
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The N.J. Department of Corrections received a special delivery message last Thursday to update its inmate-escape warning procedures. Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, D-1, unveiled a bill to require the department to notify newspapers and other media within one hour of an inmate escape. "With all of the technological advances in communication, it is not burdensome to ask the Department of Corrections to contact local newspapers and TV stations in an effort to reach more residents," he said. Deputy Mayor Andrew Sarclette and Township Committeeman Norman Franckle appeared with Van Drew at a press conference here. Presently, the departmental routine is to notify local officials, the county Prosecutor's Office, state police and other agencies. Media outlets only learn of an escape if one of the individuals or agencies that are notified chooses to pass along the information. Sarclette said the warning system has been working well recently, but there still is no way to individually notify residents. The impetus for the bill, A-2327, is the Jan. 3 escape of inmate Corey Palmer from Bayside State Prison. Palmer was serving time for resisting arrest, armed burglary, robbery and weapons offenses. He was caught Jan. 28 in Stone Mountain, Ga. DOC spokesman Matt Schuman said the department has no position on the Van Drew measure. Schuman said that, in response to the Palmer incident, the DOC has been working on adding a new informational feature to its Web site. The feature would be a way of delivering information on similar incidents and in terms of starting is on "the near horizon." Sarclette said the system should not cost the state additional money. |
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