New Jersey Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson
NJ OCO
Summary
The Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson (N.J.S.A. 52:27EE-26 et seq.; P.L. 2019, c.288, expanded by 2020 Dignity Act) is an independent agency allocated to the Department of the Treasury but free from departmental supervision. The Ombudsperson is appointed by the Governor for a five-year term and may only be removed for neglect of duty, misconduct, or inability to perform. The OCO has statutory authority to conduct unannounced inspections of all NJDOC facilities, subpoena witnesses and documents, require testimony under oath, and access all inmate records within 20 business days of demand. A citizens' advisory board appointed jointly by the Governor, Senate President, and Assembly Speaker advises the office. The OCO issues public annual reports and inspection reports.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Executive appointment |
|---|---|
| Term length | 5 years |
| Removal standard | For cause only |
| Budget independence | Legislative line item |
| Subpoena power | Yes |
| Compel testimony | Yes |
| Records access | Full access |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Corrections Ombudsperson Act (as amended by the Dignity Act)
- Citation
- N.J.S.A. 52:27EE-26 et seq.; P.L. 2019, c.288
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
New Jersey Department of Corrections state prisons and incarcerated persons