Bill designating corrections officers as police passes

County corrections officers will be known as county correctional police officers under a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Parker Space that passed the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.
The bill would direct the Civil Service Commission to add the word “police” to every county corrections officer’s title.
“This bill helps clarify the powers that county corrections officers already possess and eliminates any confusion over their authority,” said Space (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris).
In January last year, a bill was enacted that similarly changed the titles of state corrections officers. In the event of public emergencies or natural disasters, county corrections officers serve as first responders and can be assigned to outside operations.
“County corrections officers should be respected as authority figures with police powers, especially in the event they are responding to emergencies,” added Space.
The title changes apply to all corrections officers employed by the counties, including counties that are not civil service.
The bill sponsored by Senator Steve Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) and has passed the Senate. The bill now goes before the full Assembly for a vote.