This bill amends existing New Jersey law regarding the involuntary civil commitment of mentally ill and dangerous sexual offenders. It empowers the New Jersey State Parole Board, along with the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, the Attorney General, the Juvenile Justice Commission, and county prosecutors, to refer inmates who may be dangerous to themselves or others due to mental illness or who are classified as sexually violent predators for involuntary commitment evaluations. The bill specifies that this referral process can occur not only when an inmate's maximum term is set to expire but also when they become eligible for parole.

Key changes include the explicit inclusion of the State Parole Board in the referral process and the expansion of the notification timeline to include parole eligibility. The bill also mandates that relevant information regarding the inmate's mental condition and behavior be shared with the Attorney General and county prosecutors to facilitate the evaluation process. Additionally, it establishes confidentiality protections for the information shared during this process and provides immunity from civil and criminal liability for individuals acting in good faith while assessing an inmate's need for involuntary commitment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 30:4-82.4