New Jersey County Jail Wardens Association

New Jersey County Jail Wardens Association

Regular Monthly Meeting: September 9, 2009

Meeting called to order at 10:25 AM, quorum present.

Meeting Minutes: Copies of the July 2009 meeting, which were posted on the website, were distributed. Motion to waive reading of minutes was made, seconded, (Hudson/Hunterdon), and passed.

Executive Board Meeting: Highlights of the Executive Board meeting held on August 7, 2009, were read. Mentioned was the number of Conference registrations per county as well as the need for counties to provide the names of their Corrections Officer of the Year Awards to President Cicchi. Also discussed was that Attorney George Hardin met with the Board concerning the strip search issue. Copies of these minutes were provided to members of the Executive Board.

Treasurer’s Report: Copies of the report were distributed to membership. Warden Hendricks reported the following account balances:

Scholarship Account: $23,348.88

General Checking: $63,847.80

Investment Account (Scholarship) $100,000.00

Total Assets: $187,196.68

Warden Hendricks reported that 26 vendors are registered for the Conference and paid.

A $250 check is not included in the balances above.

President’s Report: Warden Cicchi advised the membership that the Association should consider moving the annual conference to the Ocean Place location. He felt that the location and facility would be better than the Cape May location. Warden Cicchi added that the Executive Board and membership should discuss merger of our Conference with Juvenile Corrections, which has its Conference at approximately the same time. Combining the two organizations may provide a better turnout and be more profitable. Further discussion will be held on these issues.

Legislative Report: Tony Fuccello reported that the Legislature in Trenton was quiet. There were several minor bills passed. Pertinent information will be placed on the Association’s website in the near future.

Scholarship Committee: Warden Thomas advised that thirteen (13) Scholarship Applications have been received. The final decision concerning scholarship recipients will be made by the end of September.

Conference: Director Wagner advised that there are 124 persons registered for the Conference to date. This number does not include retired Wardens or other invited guests. Those retired invited guests in attendance, as well as, several new vendors will be announced at the banquet Wednesday night. All speakers are confirmed for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Golf: Director Aviles provided golf brochures to all in attendance. Approximately eighty (80) golfers have signed up with more expected. Golf shirts for the event have been ordered.

Police Training Commission: President Cicchi advised that he attended the recent meeting but nothing about county corrections was discussed.

C-TAC: There was no report as Lt. Marazo was not in attendance.

Membership: No report.

CCIS: Paul Dermody sent a report to Secretary O’Neill which stated that Essex County has agreed to begin entry into the CCIS STG Gang Module in September, 2009. He added that the CCIS-Live Scan interface in continuing with twelve counties fully implemented.

DOC: Joe Hartman advised the inmate count was 1479. He added the proposed amendments to the strip search policy are being reviewed by the Governor’s policy staff. There was no report from CRAF.

Dr. Ralph Woodward, Medical Director, NJ DOC spoke writing of a proposal to the Federal Government for the development of a computerized program for Electronic Health Records for inmates in all jails in the state. This program would provide software that is corrections specific and fully secure. Cost to each county would be for the hardware needed to run the software. Information concerning specific health issues of inmates in a facility could be easily queried to track certain problems. Dr. Woodward asked the membership to email him if they were interested in being part of this program and proposal.

CJIS: There was not report.

OAG: Nick Deluca reported that a meeting was held with Atlantic County about the Inmate Uniform Transportation Form. All Departments having Live Scan in the county will allow each inmate incarcerated to be admitted to the jail with an SBI number.

-Essex County has agreed to input gang information into CCIS, beginning on September 2, 200.

Bills and Correspondence: None.

Unfinished Business: None.

New Business: Attorney George Hardin addressed the membership concerning the strip search lawsuits which he is overseeing for Meadowbrook Insurance Company. He would like the Wardens Association to join the suit to present their viewpoint concerning the interests of the institutions they represent. A motion was made by Director Wagner to have the Executive Board meet with an attorney recommended by Attorney Hardin leading to writing an amicus brief on this issue. The motion was seconded by Director Aviles. A vote of the membership was unanimous to approve this meeting as soon as possible.

Good of the Order: None.

Meeting was adjourned at 11:30 AM.

Counties in Attendance: Middlesex, Somerset, Essex, Hunterdon, Hudson, Ocean, and Mercer.