Page 21 - 2018 NJDOC Annual Report

20
Department of Corrections • 2018 Year in Review
The Office of Legal & Regulatory Affairs also is responsible for the
following areas:
• • • • • • • Administrative Administrative Rules Unit (ARU) - The primary responsibilities of the
ARU ARU is is is to develop maintain and promulgate New Jersey Administrative Administrative Code 10A rules for the
the
the
the
the
NJDOC NJDOC As such ARU staff staff staff coordinates rulemaking proceedings with NJDOC NJDOC administrative staff staff staff staff staff staff of of of of the
the
the
the
the
the
the
Office Office Office of of of of the
the
the
the
the
the
the
Governor the
the
the
the
the
the
the
Office Office Office of of of of the
the
the
the
the
the
the
Attorney General the
the
the
the
the
the
Office Office Office of of of of Administrative Law and LexisNexis (the publisher) Rulemaking proceedings include but are not limited to to formulating new rules rules repealing amending and and and readopting existing rules rules timely responding to to petitions for for rule rule rule changes and and and meeting publication and and and other time-sensitive deadlines as required by New Jersey law Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Unit - The ADA ADA coordinator reviews grievances from staff and and and inmates and and and ensures that the
the
the
NJDOC is is is is in in in in in in compliance with with the
the
the
federal ADA ADA and and and the
the
the
New Jersey Law Against Discrimination regarding disabilities The ADA ADA coordinator advises on all disability-related matters Disciplinary Hearing Unit - This unit provides hearing officers to to all state correctional facilities to to adjudicate inmate disciplinary charges in in in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a timely and efficient manner in in in in in in in in accordance with the
United States Supreme Court’s decision in in in in in Wolff v McDonnell Government Records Records - - The unit is responsible for ensuring compliance with with the
the
Department with with the
the
the
Open Public Records Records Act (OPRA) N N J J S A A A A A 47:1A-1 et seq To accomplish this mission every OPRA OPRA request request received by the
the
the
the
the
NJDOC is is is is reviewed to to determine whether all or or or or part of the
the
the
the
the
the
request request request for document(s) can be released to to the
the
the
the
the
the
public in in in accordance with with the
the
the
the
the
the
law All government record requests directed to to to the
the
the
the
the
the
Department are processed and responded to to within the
the
the
designated time period Inmate Litigation Unit - This unit ensures that all inmate litigation directed toward the
the
the
NJDOC NJDOC is is processed in in in in in accordance with the
the
the
the
the
policies and and procedures of of the
the
the
the
the
NJDOC NJDOC and and the
the
the
the
the
the
the
Office Office of of of of the
the
the
the
the
the
the
Attorney Attorney General General The litigation staff maintains a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a working relationship with the
the
the
the
the
the
the
Office Office of of of the
the
the
the
the
the
the
Attorney Attorney General General during the
the
the
the
the
the
the
preparation of of of legal representation for cases involving the
the
the
the
the
the
the
NJDOC provides support and and and and direction to to the
the
the
the
the
the
the
litigation liaisons in in in in each correctional facility and and and and updates and and and and advises the
the
the
the
Commissioner on on on on on on on the
the
the
the
status and and and and potential impact of pending litigation Legislative Services - The unit keeps abreast of proposed and and and current legislation
that may impact the
the
the
NJDOC and and and and and maintains a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cooperative and and and and and informative working relationship with the
the
the
the
state legislature and and and and and committee aides the
the
the
the
Governor’s Office Office and and and and and the
the
the
Office Office of Legislative Services in in order to to to to respond to to to to inquiries and and and and requests for constituent assistance and and and to to to to provide provide comments and and and necessary amendatory language during the
the
process of enacting law In addition the
the
unit provides staff with updates regarding legislative initiatives in in in in in in an an an effort to track and disseminate any proposed legislation
or or amendments that may require a a a a a a a a a a a a a position by the
NJDOC Equal Employment Division (EED) - The NJDOC is is committed to providing its employees employees and prospective employees employees with a a a a a a a work environment free from discrimination or or or harassment The mission of of the
the
the
the
EED is is is is is to ensure compliance with with the
the
the
the
Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in in in in in in in in in the
the
the
the
Workplace through dissemination of of the
the
the
the
policy training and and investigations and and providing remedial action where necessary The EED is is responsible for keeping all staff current on on on policies procedures and legal requirements relevant relevant to the
the
the
the
Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in in in in in in the
the
the
the
Workplace through through the
the
the
the
annual distribution of the
the
the
the
policy and and relevant relevant documents as as well as as through through training and educational workshops