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S 3530

A bill to amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 to prohibit discrimination based on energy source in the use of certain authorities under title I and title III of such Act, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Kevin Cramer

The act creates a Division of Women’s Services in the NJ DOC to implement gender-responsive policies, services, and oversight for incarcerated women, including training, reentry su

Introduced in Senate
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Bill Summary · S 3530

Summary — S.3530 "Incarcerated Women’s Protection Act" (1st Reprint)

Status: Introduced Jan 28, 2025; reported out of Senate Law & Public Safety with amendments (June 19, 2025) and reported favorably by Senate Budget & Appropriations (Nov 13, 2025). Current status: Reported out of Senate Committee, 2nd Reading. Sponsor: Sen. Robert Ortt. Effective date: immediate (per committee amendments).

Purpose

To create a statutory framework directing the New Jersey Department of Corrections (DOC) to adopt gender‑responsive policies, services, and oversight specifically for incarcerated women, strengthen sexual victim investigation and PREA compliance, and require training and reentry supports tailored to women’s needs.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the "Incarcerated Women’s Protection Act" and a Division of Women’s Services within DOC to develop policies, programs, and services for incarcerated women (e.g., trauma treatment, parenting, child reunification).
  • Requires DOC to provide a gender‑responsive risk and needs assessment as part of institutional classification, based on principles such as gender equity, safety, trauma‑informed care, and access to programs comparable to men.
  • Mandates a system of community supervision and reentry with comprehensive, collaborative services and prioritized direct supervision by correctional staff.
  • Requires mandatory annual in‑service training for every correctional police officer who supervises female incarcerated persons on gender‑responsive policies and PREA‑related topics (terminology, reporting options, confidentiality, access to emotional support).
  • Establishes a PREA Compliance Unit within the Division of Women’s Services; requires a Special Victims’ Unit under DOC’s Special Investigations Division to investigate sexual assault/misconduct allegations and ensure investigators receive ongoing trauma‑ and gender‑informed training. (Committee amendments removed an explicit statutory staffing/funding mandate for the unit.)
  • Requires provision of doula services and permission for a support person during labor/childbirth (support person attendance subject to commissioner approval); mandates parenting classes and family reunification programs (available to those within six months of release in amended language).
  • Provides opportunity, upon request, for pre‑release case management and discharge planning and access to approved nonprofit reentry resources.
  • Repeals the statutory requirement to forward female inmate complaints to the Division on Women in DCF and repeals the youth correctional facilities board of managers statute.
  • Requires establishment of boards of trustees for all adult male and all adult female State correctional facilities.

Who is affected

  • Incarcerated women in State correctional facilities (services, classification, pregnancy/parenting supports).
  • Correctional police officers who supervise women (annual training requirements).
  • DOC operations (new Division/unit responsibilities, reentry systems, boards of trustees).
  • Victims of sexual misconduct in facilities (investigative procedures and training).

Fiscal impact

The Office of Legislative Services estimates an indeterminate annual State expenditure increase for DOC. DOC provided an informal estimate of $355,439 for adopting a gender‑responsive risk/needs classification tool but did not provide a full cost breakdown. DOC indicated some provisions are already addressed via existing units and training; doula services are expected to be volunteer‑provided though ancillary medical or administrative costs are unclear. Some costs could be partially offset by Inmate Welfare Fund resources.

Procedural / notable amendments

  • Title changed from "Female Incarcerated Person's Rights Protection Act" to "Incarcerated Women’s Protection Act."
  • Division leadership language changed to allow commissioner discretion (director or assistant commissioner).
  • Clarified/expanded DOC duties (e.g., DOC — not the Division alone — responsible for developing services).
  • Removed certain staffing/funding mandates for the Special Victims’ Unit; added commissioner approval language for doula/support attendance.
  • Effective immediately.

Related legislation

Companion and prior-session bills include A.4694 / A.9258 (companions) and prior-session S.6798, S.3660, S.5168, S.5168, S.5168 (listed as prior sessions).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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