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News from the office of
Assemblyman
Pennacchio

For Release:
Immediate
January 8, 2004

Contact:
Amie Forgatch
973-984-0922

Pennacchio Calls Administration's Criminal Policy "Bi-Polar"
Morris Plains, NJ -According to Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris/Passaic), Commissioner Devon Brown, who has been an outspoken critic of New Jersey's drug and alcohol policies, has been eerily silent about legislation which is due to be voted on at the Monday, January 12th Assembly Voting Session. "Commissioner Brown has recently been advocating a policy that would grant prisoners early release for `good time' credits," said Assemblyman Pennacchio. "It seems Commissioner Brown and the administration are looking to let out prisoners as fast as we put them in. What is going on here?"

On Monday, the Assembly is due to vote on two bills which would affect criminal sentencing. The first, A-682 reduces the blood alcohol level at which a person is consideredd to be guilty of drunk driving from 0.10% to 0.08%, opening up a new class of criminal sentencing. Although not an offense that would put a 0.08 driver in jail, it would count toward the sentencing guidelines for future alcohol infractions.

The second bill, A-3342, "Michael's Law," imposes mandatory jail time and rehabilitation for third subsequent drunk driving offenses. "I think Mr. Brown's criticisms are rather odd and a direct contradiction to current legislative policy. The commissioner is looking to weaken sentencing while the legislature is going in the opposite direction," stated Assemblyman Pennacchio. "I would hope that the administration stops its bi-polar actions,"

Mr, Brown has also chastised New Jersey's Drug and Alcohol laws directed to "target selected populations" and causing an "economic blithe" in many of those communities by sending those criminals to state prisons. "An odd statement," said the Assemblyman.

Pennacchio has also criticized new administrative directives which direct parole officers to "look the other way" when paroled criminals have drug and alcohol Infractions. When it comes to safeguarding the citizens of New Jersey this administration does not have a clue. It's obviously amateur hour in Trenton," concluded the Assemblyman.

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