New Jersey Public Safety Officers Law Blog

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Public Safety Officers Law Blog

Dedicated to Corrections Officers, Policemen, & Firemen throughout the Garden State

Tag Archives: NJDOC

Appellate Division Addressed PERC’s Authority, Security Camera Issues

By Donald Barbati on Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by the New Jersey Law Journal, the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division (“Appellate Division”) ruled that the State’s Public Employment Relations Commission (“PERC”) has near-exclusive jurisdiction over labor disputes between public workers and their employers. To this end, the three judge panel stated PERC has “exclusive jurisdiction to decide complaints arising… Continue Reading

Appellate Division Again Considers Meaning of “Undesigned and Unexpected” in NJ Public Employee Accidental Disability Appeals

By Donald Barbati on Posted in Disability Retirement
The Appellate Division once again the considered the “undesigned and unexpected” standard as it pertains to qualifying for accidental disability retirement benefits in the case of Mason v. Bd. of Trustees, Police and Firemen’s Retirement System. In the case, the appellant alleged she was injured while qualifying with a firearm for her work as a Correction Officer… Continue Reading

Crivelli & Barbati Achieve Favorable Verdict for Five State Corrections Officers Sued for Civil Rights Violations

By Frank Crivelli on Posted in Public Employee Discipline
Following a two week trial presided by the Honorable Anne E. Thompson, USDJ, in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, a jury of ten men and women unanimously returned a verdict of “No Cause of Liability” against three State Corrections Officers, a State Corrections Sergeant and a State Corrections Lieutenant.  In the suit… Continue Reading

New Jersey Does Not Need the Republicans Legislating the 2% Salary Cap Out of Fear of November’s Impending Gubernatorial Election Results

By Frank Crivelli on Posted in Uncategorized
Over the past several days, the minority leaders of the New Jersey State Legislature have become increasingly vocal in their demands to renew what is commonly called the Interest Arbitration Salary Cap.  The Interest Arbitration Salary Cap limits Interest Arbitrator’s economic awards that govern pay raises for first responders in the State of New Jersey.… Continue Reading

New Jersey State Employees to Receive Back Pay For Time Away From Work Due To Government Shutdown

By Frank Crivelli on Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by NJ 101.5, Governor Chris Christie has signed the bill granting back pay to state workers to cover the wages lost during the three-day partial government shutdown at the start of July. An estimated 30,000 to 35,000 workers were furloughed. Most of them were off the job for one day, as the first… Continue Reading

New Jersey State Senate to Vote on Supplemental Appropriations Bill to Pay Public Employees That Were Involuntarily Furloughed

By Frank Crivelli on Posted in Uncategorized
On Thursday, July 13, 2017, The New Jersey State Senate will vote on a supplemental appropriations bill to pay workers who were unable to work during the State governmental shutdown that was imposed over the last July 4th weekend.  This bill would amend the 2018 budget appropriations bill to ensure that those workers that were involuntarily furloughed be paid for… Continue Reading

State Correction Officers Win Fight Over Sick Leave Pay as Christie Signs New Bill into Law

By Michael DeRose on Posted in Public Employment Labor Law, Sick Leave Injury Benefits
As reported by Trentonian.com, following the publicity of numerous corrections officers beaten at work, Gov. Chris Christie has agreed to provide sick leave pay to prison workers assaulted by inmates. Christie signed a bill into law on Monday that will make corrections, juvenile, parole and probation officers whole — albeit on a limited basis —… Continue Reading

Sweeney Introduces Bill Seeking to Wrest Control of PFRS Away from State Treasury

By Michael DeRose on Posted in Public Employment Pension Crisis
As reported by N.J.com, furious after watching pension investment fees triple over the last three years even as their funds lost value, police and firefighter union leaders are seeking to wrest control of their underfunded pensions from the state. As Gov. Chris Christie is set to deliver his final budget address, state Senate President Sweeney (D-Gloucester) on… Continue Reading

Bill Limiting Solitary Confinement in New Jersey State Prisons is Another Bad Idea

By Frank Crivelli on Posted in Uncategorized
As reported in NJ.Com, a bill strictly limiting the use of solitary confinement in New Jersey’s prisons is headed to Governor Chris Christie’s desk after being passed by the State Assembly.  The bill requires prisons and jails to use solitary confinement only as a last resort, restricting its use to 15 consecutive days or 20 days… Continue Reading

Correction Officers Union Wants Inmates Moved After Attack, Protest

By Donald Barbati on Posted in Sick Leave Injury Benefits
As report by NJ.com, officials from the State’s Corrections Officer’s union say prison administrators reneged on an agreement to relocate inmates who staged a protest following the return of an officer injured in an attack earlier this month.  The turmoil comes after an August 3 incident in which six correction officers were injured, said Brian… Continue Reading

The US Supreme Court agrees that Paterson Police Officer’s Demotion Violated his First Amendment Right to Free Speech

By Frank Crivelli on Posted in Public Employee Discipline, Public Employment Labor Law
The U.S. Supreme Court sided with former Paterson police officer Jeffrey J. Heffernan and ruled that his First Amendment rights were violated when he was demoted after picking up a campaign sign for the mayor’s opponent.  Heffernan had been demoted after supporters of Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres saw him picking up a campaign sign for challenger Lawrence Spagnola,… Continue Reading

Crivelli & Barbati, L.L.C. Files Suit Against the State of NJ for Christie’s Refusal To Pay Step Increments

By Frank Crivelli on Posted in Contract Negotiations, Public Employment Labor Law
As reported in NJ.Com as well as NJSpotlight, the State of New Jersey recently told thousands of union members whose contracts expired June 30, 2015, that they won’t be receiving annual incremental pay increases while there’s no new deal in place.  In the past, State employees have received their annual increases if their performance merited the… Continue Reading

NJ League of Municipalities Warns that Christie’s Proposed Pension Reform Could Disenfranchise Workers and Trigger a Mass Exodus of Local Employees

By Frank Crivelli on Posted in Contract Interpretation, Contract Negotiations, Interest Arbitration, Public Employment Labor Law, Retiree Benefits
As reported in NJ.Com, the New Jersey League of Municipalities stopped short of taking an official position on Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed pension reforms but stated the proposed changes could disenfranchise workers and trigger a mass exodus of local workers.  Executive Director Bill Dressel shared the league’s concerns in a letter to the governor late last… Continue Reading

The Unforseen Costs of Overtime in New Jersey’s County Correctional Facilities

By Frank Crivelli on Posted in Contract Negotiations, Interest Arbitration, Pay and Overtime, Public Employment Labor Law
As reported this week in NJ.Com, County Correctional facilities across New Jersey spent approximately $185.7 million on overtime for correction officers, who clocked in approximately 3.9 million hours at the time and a half rate between 2010 and 2012, according to a report by the New Jersey State Comptroller. Out of the 21 counties ranked by… Continue Reading

NJ Inmate Indicted for Attempting To Beat Female Corrections Officer To Death

By Frank Crivelli on Posted in Uncategorized
As reported on NJ.Com, a man serving a 30-year prison sentence for robbery and kidnapping now faces accusations he tried to beat a female corrections officer to death in February.   Fuquan Alexander, 29, was indicted last week by a Mercer County grand jury on charges of first-degree attempted murder and first-degree aggravated assault.   … Continue Reading

Lawmaker Suggests Police Internal Affairs Functions Be Transferred To AG’s Office

By Donald Barbati on Posted in Internal Affairs
  As reported by nj.com, the internal affairs functions of every law enforcement agency in New Jersey would be transferred to the Attorney General’s Office under a bill proposed by an assemblyman, who contends politics and bias too often creep into investigations when police departments police themselves. Assemblyman Peter Barnes III (D-Middlesex), the son of… Continue Reading

NJ Attorney General Blocks Public Knowledge Of State Police Overtime Pay

By Donald Barbati on Posted in Uncategorized
  As reported by nj.com, in what some advocates of open government call an unprecedented overreach, Attorney General Paula Dow has blocked the public from knowing how much overtime State Police troopers and other state law enforcement officials earn. Dow’s rule, which took effect this month, is part of a larger effort by the Attorney General… Continue Reading

Former NJDOC Official Pleads Not Guilty to Bribery, Attempted Extortion Charges

By Donald Barbati on Posted in Uncategorized
  As reported by nj.com, former Department of Corrections’ official Lydell Sherrer pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery and attempted extortion today in federal court. Sherrer is accused of taking bribes from corrections employees he supervised while serving as assistant commissioner.  Federal authorities said he offered jobs, transfers and help with a lawsuit against the… Continue Reading

Denial of Accidental Disability for Mental Injury Sustained

By Donald Barbati on Posted in Disability Retirement
  On January 21, 2010, the Appellate Division decided In the Matter of Rosemarie Tatusko, Docket No.: A-2888-08T3. The case involved an appeal from a final decision of the Board of Trustees of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System which denied Rosemarie Tatusko’s (“Appellant”) application for an accidental disability pension. Appellant was employed by the… Continue Reading
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