Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblywoman NANCY F. MUNOZ
District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)
Assemblywoman GABRIELA M. MOSQUERA
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman NICHOLAS CHIARAVALLOTI
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Handlin, Rodriguez-Gregg, McKnight, Lampitt and Assemblyman Space
SYNOPSIS
Urges New Jersey Supreme Court and Attorney General to revise their jointly-created County Domestic Violence Working Groups to add additional members and responsibilities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the New Jersey Supreme Court and Attorney General to revise their jointly-created County Domestic Violence Working Groups to add additional members and responsibilities.
Whereas, In September 1991, the New Jersey Supreme Court and Attorney General issued a joint memorandum requesting that each Presiding Judge of the Family Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court, and each County Prosecutor convene, or reconvene a previously established, County Domestic Violence Working Group in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties; and
Whereas, The working groups were organized to include representatives from the judicial branch, county and municipal prosecutors, law enforcement, and the legal community; and
Whereas, The working groups, as originally constituted in the wake of the enactment of the “Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991,” P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.), were tasked with assisting in the design and monitoring of countywide implementation of the act, as well as the Domestic Violence Procedures Manual jointly developed by the Supreme Court and Attorney General; and
Whereas, The working groups have in the past, and at present, work closely with the Supreme Court’s State Domestic Violence Working Group and with the State’s Advisory Council on Domestic Violence; and
Whereas, While the working groups have played significant roles with respect to countywide implementation and monitoring of the “Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991” and the Domestic Violence Procedures Manual, these groups, given their familiarity with the law and its implementation over the past 25 years, could be even more helpful in their implementation and monitoring role by providing annual written reports to their respective Superior Court Presiding Judge of the Family Part, the Assignment Judge for the vicinage in which the county lies, and the Judiciary’s Administrative Director of the Courts summarizing accomplishments and obstacles; and
Whereas, The working groups’ implementation and monitoring role could also be strengthened with the addition of more members who are focused on domestic violence matters at the local level, such as local domestic violence liaisons to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families, and municipal court division managers; and
Whereas, The working groups, based upon their familiarity with the many resources tied to the implementation of the “Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991,” could also serve as a stronger resource for victims of domestic violence by collecting and maintaining up-to-date information regarding available domestic violence programs and services, such as the domestic crisis teams established pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection b. of section 4 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-20), legal assistance to victims, pro bono lawyer referrals, counseling and mental health services for victims, abusers and children, interpreting services, shelters and transitional housing, and child care arrangements and transportation assistance for court appearances; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The New Jersey Supreme Court and Attorney General are respectfully urged:
a. to revise the membership of their jointly-created County Domestic Violence Working Groups for the 21 counties to add members focused on domestic violence matters at the local level, such as local domestic violence liaisons to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency and municipal court managers, in order to strengthen the working groups’ implementation and monitoring of the “Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991,” P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.);
b. to require that all working groups provide annual written reports to their respective Superior Court Presiding Judge of the Family Part, the Assignment Judge for the vicinage in which the county lies, and the Judiciary’s Administrative Director of the Courts summarizing accomplishments and obstacles, in order for the working groups to be even more helpful in their implementation and monitoring role; and
c. to require that all working groups collect and maintain up-to-date information regarding available domestic violence services, in order for the working groups to serve as a stronger resource for victims of domestic violence.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, New Jersey’s Attorney General, and all 21 of New Jersey’s County Prosecutors.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the New Jersey Supreme Court and Attorney General to revise their jointly-created County Domestic Violence Working Groups for the 21 counties to add additional members and responsibilities.
The working groups were established by a September 1991 joint memorandum issued by the Supreme Court and Attorney General, which requested that each Presiding Judge of the Family Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court, and each County Prosecutor convene, or reconvene a previously established, a County Domestic Violence Working Group in each county. These working groups were organized to include representatives from the judicial branch, county and municipal prosecutors, law enforcement, and the legal community.
The working groups, as originally constituted in the wake of the enactment of the “Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991,” P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.), were tasked with assisting with the design and monitoring of county implementation of the act, as well as the Domestic Violence Procedures Manual jointly developed by the Supreme Court and Attorney General. Also, the working groups have in the past, and at present, work closely with the Supreme Court’s State Domestic Violence Working Group and with the State’s Advisory Council on Domestic Violence.
As stated in the resolution, the Supreme Court and Attorney General are respectfully urged:
- to revise the working groups’ membership to add members focused on domestic violence matters at the local level, such as local domestic violence liaisons to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families, and municipal court managers, in order to strengthen the working groups’ implementation and monitoring of the “Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991,” P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.);
- to require that all working groups provide annual written reports to their respective Superior Court Presiding Judge of the Family Part, the Assignment Judge for the vicinage in which the county lies, and the Judiciary’s Administrative Director of the Courts summarizing accomplishments and obstacles, in order for the working groups to be even more helpful in their implementation and monitoring role; and
- to require that all working groups collect and maintain up-to-date information regarding available domestic violence services, such as such as the domestic crisis teams established pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection b. of section 4 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-20), legal assistance to victims, pro bono lawyer referrals, counseling and mental health services for victims, abusers and children, interpreting services, shelters and transitional housing, and child care arrangements and transportation assistance for court appearances, in order for the working groups to serve as a stronger resource for victims of domestic violence.
This bill embodies recommendation 10 of the Report of the Supreme Court Ad Hoc Committee on Domestic Violence issued June 2016.