newjerseynewsroom.com

One idea is making them part of Attorney General's office

Gov. Chris Christie Friday signed an executive order establishing a commission to examine the feasibility of modifying New Jersey's county prosecutor system in an effort to provide greater efficiency at less cost.

One idea the County Prosecutors Study Commission will consider is the possibility of placing county prosecutors within the state Attorney General's Office.

"At a time of limited resources, we must ensure governments at every level function as efficiently and effectively as possible," Christie said. "Through this Study Commission, I am directing Attorney General Paula Dow to conduct a thorough review of the current system governing the county prosecutor's offices and to determine whether efficiencies, cost savings and a more equitable allocation of resources can be achieved."

While prosecutors are appointed by the governor, and fall under the supervision of the Attorney General, their county offices often have their own separate operating structure, resulting in what the governor maintains are inefficiencies, administrative redundancies, caseload discrepancies and inconsistent salary compensation among county offices.

"During these hard economic times, all areas of government, including law enforcement, must look for ways to operate with maximum efficiency without compromising public safety," Dow said. "I look forward to working with county officials throughout the state, my director of the Division of Criminal Justice, and the county prosecutors to explore this important and challenging issue."

The commission will examine the concerns raised by county officials, explore and provide recommendations to the Governor on a number of issues, including:

• the viability of a total or partial state takeover of the prosecutor's offices
• potential areas of waste redundancy and inefficiencies
• alternatives to a state takeover that can achieve costs savings and efficiencies, including regional consolidation and shared services
• current funding of county prosecutor's offices and whether the funding mechanisms are appropriate including viability of the County Prosecutor Funding Initiative Pilot Program

Dow will chair the Study Commission which will be comprised of Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff; Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.; Morris County Administrator John Bonanni; Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson; Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise; Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes; Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi; Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow; Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes; state Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor; Dean Patrick E. Hobbs, Dean of Seton Hall University School of Law; and former Attorney General W. Cary Edwards.

The commission will issue its final report to Christie no later than Dec. 15, 2010. The members will serve without pay.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM