GEAR COMMISSION RELEASES DRUG FREE SCHOOL ZONE REPORT

TRENTON -The Governor's Government Efficiency and Reform (GEAR) Commission today released the report of its Task Force on Sentencing and Corrections. The task force conducted a broad review of proposals concerning Drug Free School Zones developed by the Commission to Review Criminal Sentencing.

The report can be found online at http://www.state.nj.us/governor/.

"I thank Chief Justice Poritz and the task force for their work and recommendations on how best to ensure public safety and more effectively use our law enforcement resources," Governor Corzine. "These reasonable changes have a broad base of support that includes every county prosecutor in New Jersey and a diverse group of leaders in the corrections and law enforcement community."

"The task force carefully analyzed the commission's proposal and findings," Supreme Court Chief Justice Deborah Poritz said. "We believe that the commission proposal actually will better support the intent of the original law, to create safety zones around New Jersey schools and public areas, so as to protect children and young people from the drug trade."

"This will toughen penalties for those who peddle drugs near our schools, which was the original intent of the legislation - to get the drug dealers away from our children," Attorney General Milgram said. "At the same time, this is part of a broader anti-crime strategy aimed at putting violent offenders in jail. We will seek tougher laws to put in jail people who carry illegal guns, and increase penalties for those who would intimidate witnesses."

"All of the state's 21 County Prosecutors support the legislation reducing the size of drug-free school zones and drug-free public properties with the upgrades of crimes for distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances to second degree crimes," said Cumberland County Prosecutor Ronald J. Casella, President of the County Prosecutors Association. "By focusing on properties more likely to be connected to school and public activities and by enhancing the penalties, we send a message that we are serious about keeping schools and public property truly free of drug activities.

Governor Corzine created the Government Efficiency and Reform Commission in April 2006 to evaluate the budget, structure and organization of New Jersey's government. The Commission is chaired by Richard C. Leone.

The Task Force on Sentencing and Corrections was chaired by Chief Justice Deborah Portiz. It's members include: Peter Barnes, Chair State Parole Board; Judge Philip Carchman, Director Administrative Director of the Courts; Supreme Court Justice James Coleman (retired), Porzio Bromberg and Newman; Michellene Davis, Acting State Treasurer; John Degnan, Former Attorney General, Chubb Corporation; Kathleen DiChiara, Founder/Director Community Food Bank; Paula Dow, Essex County Prosecutor; Professor Eddie Glaude, Princeton University; Hazel Gluck, MBI Gluck Shaw; Commissioner George Hayman, Department of Corrections; Attorney General Anne Milgram; Darryl Hooper, Tully House; Daniel Lombardo, President and CEO Volunteers of America-Delaware Valley; Larry Lustberg, Esq. Gibbons Del Deo; Sandra McGowan, Victims Coordinator Attorney General's Office; Mark Murphy, Fund for New Jersey; Anne Piehl, Rutgers University; Ralph Rivera, Undersheriff Bergen County; Bill Rodgers, Rutgers University, Heldrich Center; Edwin Stier, Esq., E.H. Stier, LLC and Dean Adam Graycar, Rutgers School of Criminal Justice.

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Photos and audio and video clips from Governor Corzine's public events are available in the Governor's Newsroom section on the State of New Jersey web page, http://www.nj.gov/governor/news/