Is the primary responsibility of the Division of Operations to receive, classify and house offenders who have been remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections. The division includes 12 adult male correctional facilities, one correctional institution for women and a central reception/intake unit.

Field Services Unit

The Field Services Unit's primary responsibility is to oversee and ensure the effectiveness of the Department of Corrections' food service operations through the provision of nutritionally adequate meals to the inmate population and department staff.

The unit has five basic areas of administrative responsibilities:

• Food Service Management -- The unit coordinates efforts to control the department's food expenditures. Using the central menu as a basis, the Field Services Unit works with the New Jersey Department of Treasury Purchase Bureau, Distribution and Support Services in establishing contracts with vendors to monitor and manage the food costs at each institution.
• South Woods' Regional Production Facility (SWRPF) -- The unit manages the development and directs the operation of the SWRPF. This cook-chill facility has been a valuable resource to the department, currently providing 28 meal components to each correctional facility, totaling 2.6 million portions each month. The cook-chill meal production has assisted with growing productivity through larger but fewer batches, increasing product shelf life, saving money and standardizing meal quality. Management of this operation requires coordinating SWRPF's product expansion with the department's facilities, DEPTCOR warehouse and trucking, AgriIndustries and the Department of Treasury Purchase Bureau and Distribution and Support Services.
• Nutritional Consultation -- The unit is responsible for developing and promoting quality nutritional care services based on the overall needs of the inmate population in accordance with policies, procedures, practice, guidelines, licensure, legislation and standards of professional practice. The consulting dietitian plans and coordinates efforts with the department's clinical dietitians to ensure that individual therapeutic nutritional needs are met.
• Child Nutrition Program -- To assure that the department meets state and federal guidelines required to participate in the Child Nutrition Program, the consulting dietitian conducts audits of the participating facilities and fulfills the necessary monthly reporting requirements to the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Child Nutrition. The department receives federal reimbursement of more than $600,000 annually.
• Sanitation/Waste Management/Recycling Program -- Cost-effective recommendations are made to facilities for achieving the most efficient sanitation, waste management/recycling efforts, which are incorporated into state waste removal and recycling contracts and communicated with the Department of Health. The unit provides oversight of the Department of Health Chapter 12 sanitation inspections and Department of Environmental Protection requirements. The Department of Corrections has implemented recycling programs at all of its facilities as well as the Central Office. Effective waste management lowers waste disposal costs and increases recycling activity. Administration of this effort entails institutional program oversight, monitoring, data collection and department reporting. The department currently recycles approximately 40 percent of its waste stream.

In addition, the Field Services Unit provides recommendations to the Department of Treasury to ensure cost-effectiveness for contracts for various food items, food service equipment, waste removal, dishwashing, janitorial and laundry chemicals, inmate shoes, multi-material recycling, pest control, coffee dispensing systems and edible plate waste. The unit also has responsibility for the administration of the Central Laundry at Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility, and Department of the Treasury, Fixed Asset Coordination. The unit has oversight of the Employer Trip Reduction Program, as mandated by the Clean Air Act.

The unit also is responsible for the distribution of surplus foods and equipment on a system-wide basis. Contacts with other state agencies are established and maintained to ascertain if non-food surplus property of value is available to the Department of Corrections, as well as relocating equipment internally that is no longer useful to individual facilities.

The Field Services Unit, in cooperation with AgriIndustries and DEPTCOR, manages a surplus/donated commodities acquisition and distribution program. Quality products are acquired from various sources, such as the Department of Agriculture and the private sector, and provided to the correctional facilities.

002 Committee

The 002 Committee, which gets its name from the NJDOC paperwork required to make staffing changes, has employed three primary initiatives in line with Gov. James E. McGreevey's Best Practices to increase efficiency in government:

• a post-by-post analysis to determine appropriate staffing levels;
• development of a computerized baseline reporting system to allow continual monitoring of staffing assignments by post, shift and day; and
• an enhanced recruiting and training schedule to help fill position counts to required staffing levels.

And with the goal of right-sizing and further reducing overtime, the committee also has ensured that each of the NJDOC's 14 major facilities have been provided with the management tools to stay on course to ensure that those goals are reached in the next fiscal year.

The boost in computer technology, for example, allows prison administrators and committee members to see, at the touch of a button, all baseline staffing assignments, daily housing population reports, and daily and bi-weekly overtime reports for each institution. Staff numbers on maintenance, food service and custody officers are all there for immediate review, which allows for instant adjustments.

Based on an intensive review at each institution, several specialized housing units (i.e.: mental health treatment and administrative segregation units) were consolidated or relocated, existing cells were double bunked, and other housing areas were refurbished. As a result, more than 500 additional general population beds were made available and are occupied. As a result, the institutions will operate in a more efficient, safer and more cost-effective manner.

AgriIndustries

The objective of the AgriIndustries Revolving Fund, established in 1977, is to offer various foods and dairy items to different governmental departments at a saving. AgriIndustries operates five dairy farms and satellite operations that produce crops to support the dairy herds.

AgriIndustries has milk processing plants at Jones Farm and Bayside State Prison Farm, as well as dairy herds located at Skillman Farm, Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility Farm and Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility Farm. In 2002, the Bayside State Prison Farm rejoined the Holstein Association, which provides genetic tracking, registering of cows and interaction with breeding organizations. These and other services ensure that the state herds are raising outstanding animals. AgriIndustries' cooperation with the breeding cooperatives results in the cutting of semen costs by as much as 50 percent annually.

The Riverfront State Prison meat processing plant produces ground beef, hamburger patties, meal loaf and various other beef items.

The South Woods State Prison processing plants are the newest additions to the AgriIndustries operation. The South Woods meat processing plant provides turkey and pork products, primarily distributed by the Department of Treasury, and minute steaks utilized by the Department of Corrections. South Woods' produce processing plants have a variety of functions. One processing plant prepares and packages salads for distribution throughout the NJDOC, while another processing plant produces fruits and vegetables. This marked the first year of interaction with the Department of Agriculture on the Jersey Fresh program, whereby AgriIndustries utilizes a waiver setup to purchase overproduced or undervalued products for institutional menus.

The departments of Corrections, Human Services, and Military and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Juvenile Justice Commission, utilize products from AgriIndustries. In addition, products are produced in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture to assist the Feed the Hungry program.

AgriIndustries is a self-supporting operation without appropriated funds. Annual revenues total approximately $9 million, with substantial savings to all users.

The various AgriIndustries food production plants utilize and train about 100 inmates daily in all areas of food production technology. The food production industry is the largest employer in New Jersey, and inmates receive training and experience that may qualify them to gain employment when they leave the prison system.

Capital Reporting Unit

The Capital Reporting Unit determines or accesses departmental priorities relating to capital construction projects. The unit is responsible for the following:

• Monthly Financial Status Summary -- This report contains financial summaries for both capital and capital bond appropriations, which identify the status of appropriations as they relate to the cost of the individual capital projects. The report also provides the status of individual capital projects funded via capital appropriations, capital bond funds or institutional Direct State Services funding.
• Annual Capital Budget -- This document, which is prepared for presentation to the New Jersey Commission on Capital Budgeting and Planning, reflects the new and/or additional funding needs of the department for capital projects.
• Institutional Capital Project/Priority Report -- This report provides a consolidated listing of capital/renovation needs of the NJDOC's 14 major institutions and prioritizes the capital needs that are of the most immediate concerns to each facility.

The unit also coordinates the Agency Consultant Program for the Capital Planning and Construction Unit. This program was established by the Division of Property Management and Construction in the Department of Treasury to assist client agencies in the planning, design and administration of small construction projects; in developing scopes of work for major capital construction projects; and in the investigation of infrastructure-related problems.

Central Medical/Transportation Unit and Central Communications

This unit was created in May 1986 to reduce the overtime costs to the Department of Corrections. Central Transportation is responsible for the safe and secure transport of state-sentenced inmates from the state adult and youth correctional facilities. Originally, the primary roles of the Central Transportation Unit and its sister program, the Central Medical Unit, were medical and criminal/civil/family/federal/ municipal court transports.

Central Transportation now is responsible for inter-institutional transfers, emergency transfers, the Electronic Monitoring Program, the parole/immigration/Intensive Supervision Program and Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center evaluations and hearings. The unit also is responsible for funerals, bedside visits, interstate escorts for all out-of-state prisoners, parole violators, escapees or interstate correction compact cases returning to New Jersey, pickup and delivery of institutional mail to and from Central Office, movement of inmate property and medical center discharges.

In addition, Central Transportation transports inmates involved in civil litigation where the inmate is to reimburse the state for the transportation fees, in matters not involving their incarceration. The unit's most recent undertaking is the transportation of sexually violent predators to and from their civil commitment hearings as well as medical appointments.

Central Medical is responsible for the safety and security of inmates housed at the St. Francis Medical Center Prison Unit, outside rooms, including the intensive care unit, cardiac care unit, labor and delivery, operating room, emergency room, step-down units and other outside facilities. The unit also escorts inmates throughout the facility while undergoing therapy, x-rays, radiation and follow-up care. Social services also are provided to inmates housed at this facility. These services include notification of death, critical status, visits various parole issues.

The department and the federal government have explored the idea of an agreement that would allow federally sentenced inmates requiring inpatient medical treatment to be housed at Central Medical.

In September 2002, the Central Communications Unit and Wants and Warrants Unit staff joined the staff at Central Medical/Transportation.

The Central Communications Unit provides radio transmissions and teletype communications for the NJDOC, State Parole Board, Juvenile Justice Commission, Intensive Supervision Program and Administrative Office of the Courts over a broad bandwidth. In addition, the unit monitors Department of Corrections inmates and parolees who are in the Electronic Monitoring Program. Central Communications also handles paging services to all Central Office employees and confidential paging for all NJDOC institutions, parole officers, Juvenile Justice Commission staff and Intensive Supervision Program staff. Motor vehicle inquiries are processed for the department's Special Investigation Division, correctional facilities as well as State Parole Board and Juvenile Justice Commission investigations. The also unit processes monthly validations of NJDOC escapees.

The Wants and Warrants Unit is responsible for entering and clearing all absconders and wanted parolees. It also processes monthly validations of the 13 parole districts, Interstate Services, the Juvenile Justice Commission and the Parole Fugitive Unit.

Health Services Unit

The Health Services Unit establishes Department of Corrections policy regarding the provision of medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy and mental health care services of inmates held in state custody. The unit monitors professional services to insure compliance with applicable rules, regulations and statutes related to inmate healthcare, with a goal of assuring that community standards are maintained.

The unit's Quality Assurance Section develops formal auditing instruments that allow for the performance of objective audits of all areas of inmate healthcare services. Activities and records are reviewed, and reports are created and made available to appropriate administrative authorities.

In addition, the Health Services Unit serves as a link to other state agencies and appropriate community organizations regarding professional healthcare matters. The unit has been represented in bodies such as the Governor's AIDS Advisory Council and the New Jersey Mental Health Planning Council. The unit also serves as a link to professional colleagues regarding correctional healthcare matters on a regional and national basis.

Litigation/Legal Support Services Unit

The Litigation/Legal Support Services Unit is responsible for the review, processing
and proper handling of all incoming litigation or legal documents with which the
Department of Corrections or individual departmental officials and employees are served, including the following:

• Civil Actions (United State District and Superior Court complaints);
• Superior Court appellate cases;
• Appeals of matters involving trials and convictions;
• Small claims complaints;
• Municipal complaints;
• State tort claims; and
• Subpoenas (for records, documents or witness testimony).

A close working relationship is maintained with various units of the Office of the Attorney, the department's legal representative, during the entire course of the litigation process. Litigation liaisons at each major NJDOC facility process and provide support services for cases emanating from inmates or employees thereof.

Notification Unit - Central Office

This unit was developed in May 2000 to oversee and supervise all aspects of the institutional release process for all offenders. The unit ensures that inmates who are scheduled for release are processed correctly in terms of prosecutor release notification.

Release Notification Unit

This unit oversees the processes by which all Megan's Law releases are properly identified and registered, or those identified as potential predators are referred for civil commitment evaluation. The Release Notification Unit is the NJDOC's liaison for the State of New Jersey and is responsible for ensuring that all offenders eligible for DNA sampling are identified, helping to maintain the integrity of the statewide DNA database.

The Release Notification Unit is also responsible for maintaining a computerized tracking system developed to monitor the estimated 3,500 Category 1 offenders in the state's correctional system. The tracking system provides weekly updates of detailed data and ensures in an automated fashion that offenders with current or prior sex offenses, or those with psychiatric histories, are properly alerted and tracked within the computer system.

The unit also develops policies, directives and procedures in accordance with various state and federal statutes to ensure standardization and uniformity. In addition, this unit transmits an annual report in January of each year to the county prosecutors that includes the anticipated release dates for all Category 1 offenders whose release is estimated to occur during that year and who may be subject to civil commitment under law.

In conjunction with the Office of Information and Technology, this unit continues to develop a web site that will provide information to the public regarding state-sentenced inmates, including the offender's name, description and the offense for which the offender is incarcerated. This web site will provide quick access of information to victims, prosecutors and other interested parties regarding all offenders in the state system.

Classification Technical Support Unit

This unit serves as the department's liaison to the State Parole Board in areas related to parole release, eligibility algorithm and special programs. The unit also is responsible for providing max date sentence calculation support to institutional staff, assisting staff with special projects related to modifications in statute, providing on-site training as needed, and seeking and implementing agency advice from the Office of the Attorney General on issues requiring clarification or legal guidance. This unit provides technical support to Central Office executive and administrative staff in reconciling matters of dispute in the areas of classification and parole. In addition, the unit is responsible for investigating and responding to correspondence associated with offender complaints.

This unit recently assumed responsibility for developing, implementing and monitoring a comprehensive model of discharge planning for those offenders being released to the community. Recognizing that discharge planning is critical to the successful reintegration of offenders into the community, the unit will be responsible for developing the following:

• a systematic review process to identify offenders close to their release date;
• a database of state, county and local services available to newly released offenders;
• a standardized curriculum to provide the maximum amount of information to the target population as well as specific guidance to address individual needs;
• an evaluative tool to access the effectiveness of the standardized curriculum; and a regional discharge center to centralize resources.

Training/Auditing Unit

The unit provides formalized training to all existing and new classification staff members and issues annual training updates relating to new laws and regulations that impact on the classification of the state's inmates. Two training phases have been created to establish operational uniformity and standardization of classification processes at all facilities. All staff members who successfully complete each training phase are issued a certificate of proficiency.

This unit also provides in-depth audits of institutional classification functions in an effort to verify that the policies, procedures and processes, as well as the various computerized information systems, are being efficiently utilized in each institution. Each audit consists of an on-site review to monitor all classification department operations, committee meetings and other relative work responsibilities to determine unit efficiency and productivity.

Parole Monitoring Unit

This unit is responsible for ensuring the department's compliance with the parole settlement agreement. Working in conjunction with the State Parole Board, the unit identifies those offenders eligible for a parole release hearing and ensures the timely completion of pre-parole packages. In addition, this unit ensures that the department is compliant with the terms of the settlement.

The Parole Monitoring Unit also acts as a liaison between the Department of Corrections and the State Parole Board regarding matters mandated by the settlement.

Office of Interstate Services

This office is responsible for administering all matters under the interstate corrections compact and Interstate Agreement on Detainers. In addition, the office is involved in related or ancillary tasks in the areas of extradition of fugitives and escapees, inmates serving time out of state who also are serving a New Jersey sentence, the Federal Witness Protection Program, pardons and clemencies, and international treaties.

Special Operations Group

Special Operations provides correctional facilities with the tactical and technical support that is required during a crisis situation. The department's liaison with the State of New Jersey's Office of Emergency Management, Special Operations maintains mutual aid agreements with local, state and federal agencies.

Special Operations is comprised of a variety of entities.

• Canine Unit -- Units are deployed throughout the state on a daily basis. The Canine Unit, consisting of seven handlers and more than a dozen canines, can perform a variety of tasks, from narcotic searches of people and property to the tracking of criminals as well as missing persons. Other functions include explosive device detection, evidence recovery and criminal apprehension. The unit also provides demonstrations to schools and civic organizations.
• Regional Search Teams -- The teams assist the staff at the various Department of Corrections facilities with the location and seizure of contraband. By utilizing specialized equipment, the regional search teams ensure a safe environment for both the staff and inmates.
• Critical Incident Negotiation Team -- The team responds to high-risk situations by resolving problems as quickly as possible. The preferred method of intervention is negotiation.
• Radio Maintenance Unit -- The unit provides technical support for all wireless telecommunications for the Department of Corrections. The unit designs, installs, maintains, programs and repairs audio-visual /radio communication equipment, such as emergency warning light systems and public address systems. The unit supports two types of radio systems: conventional and trunking. Conventional systems are used in correctional facilities to provide adequate communications throughout the institutions. The trunking system is the statewide coverage radio system used by canine units, search teams, negotiation teams and the Special Investigations Division in assisting in everyday operations and emergency response. The Radio Maintenance Unit provides 24-hour emergency response for both systems. The unit's responsibilities also include the decaling of correctional vehicles.

Stabilization and Reintegration Program

The Stabilization and Reintegration Program (SRP) provides a comprehensive blend of discipline, education, work, substance abuse treatment and cognitive skills training for selected inmates ages 18 to 30.

CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Academic and vocational assessments are available to offenders at each of the New Jersey Department of Corrections' major facilities.