NEW JERSEY COPS ■ MARCH 2014
Top, Assemblyman Charles Mainor of Jersey City and State
Corrections Local 105 President Lance Lopez speak at the
news conference.
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lights the need for the state to pass proposed legislation – NJ
State Assembly Bill A3999 - to establish a compensation program for state corrections officers and juvenile corrections officers who suffer bodily injury as the result of a riot or assault by
the inmates or detainees under their custody and care.
During his terms in office, President Wieners has helped initiate many improvements for corrections and repeatedly
reminded elected officials and all law enforcement that corrections officers walk the toughest beat. He believes that legislators
need to act now to prevent even one more assault by inmates
on officers.
“This bill is something that’s long overdue,” Wieners asserted. “It’s a benefit that most of my municipal officers enjoy every
day.”
During the attack on Feb. 6, Then, in her second year on the
job, suffered head injuries, was choked and suffered neck bruising, contusions on her right eye and nose and cuts to her cheek
and eyebrow. Then will undergo physical therapy four days
each week, but may never work again.
Since she began her career in June 2012, Then would not be
eligible for extended benefits, according to current state corrections provisions. That is the injustice Local 105 is working to
make known and fight.
“We owe it to their families and those that are considering
careers working in our state’s prisons,” Lopez said. “They place
their lives on the line each day to protect and serve all New Jersey residents. Making sure they are protected in case of serious
injury is the honorable thing to do.”
As a result of Then’s brutal attack, it is imperative that Assembly Bill A3999, which was introduced in April 2013, be reintroduced and passed along with its companion Senate bill, PBA