JANUARY 12, 2001

MERCER COUNTY PROSECUTOR PRESENTS $10,000 CHECK TO THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE AS PART OF INNOVATIVE “SCORE” PROGRAM

Trenton, NJ — Today, Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto presented a $10,000 check to Colonel Carson Dunbar, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), for use in financing criminal record background checks on those seeking employment or volunteer work with non-profit, youth serving organizations in Mercer County.

The background checks are a portion of an innovative program being introduced by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office entitled SCORE – Stop Crimes & Offenses at Recreational Events.  The SCORE program aims to create a safe environment for Mercer County youth during sporting and recreational activities.

“The recent rash of violence and criminal offenses occurring at youth sporting and recreational events, not just in Mercer County but throughout the country, continues to pose a threat to our children,” Prosecutor Giaquinto stated.  “The increase in inappropriate, and sometimes criminal, behavior at these events needs to be addressed so that we can return to the true purpose – athletic development, sportsmanship and fun for our youth.” 

The SCORE program consists of three components.  The first element is the underwriting of criminal record background checks on employees and volunteers who would have supervisory, instructional or teaching interaction with participating youth.  All Mercer County non-profit youth serving organizations are eligible to participate, but must agree to 1) conduct criminal record background checks on all supervisors; 2) be governed by N.J.S.A. 15A:3A-1 and any related administrative regulations; and 3) exclude from program participation any individual who refuses to comply with policy provisions.

“Under New Jersey law, every youth organization has the right to determine who is supervising its children,” Prosecutor Giaquinto stated.  “I urge the volunteer organizations to take advantage of this seed money, at no expense to the taxpayers, and conduct the background checks.”

The $10,000 was allocated from the Prosecutor’s Forfeiture Fund and represents money seized and forfeited from drug dealers and criminal enterprises.  The monies will be deposited into the account of the NJSP Records and Identification Section.  The NJSP will be authorized by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office to debit the account for each criminal background check performed.

The second component of SCORE is the approach the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office will take in handling crimes and offenses that occur in and around recreational events.  As part of the program, municipal police departments will be directed to advise the prosecutor’s office of any indictable or disorderly persons offense committed in or around an ongoing youth recreational event so that the office can engender special treatment of the case.  These cases will be prioritized and subject to limited, if any, plea-bargaining.  Cases involving assaults or offenses against athletic officials, coaches or managers will be dealt with sternly.

“The New Jersey Legislature has recognized that an offense committed against a sports official, coach or manager is an aggravating factor for sentencing purposes under 2C:44-1a(8),” Prosecutor Giaquinto stated. “In the same vein, we will seek convictions to the original charges and maximum sentences in these types of cases.”

The final component will be an education and prevention program.  This will consist of a partnership between the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and volunteer youth athletic directors/coaches to form a speaker’s bureau.  The speaker’s bureau will be available to address youth leagues and parent groups about proper conduct at games.  Assistant prosecutors will instruct on potential criminal and disorderly persons violations and possible penalties.  An extensive public awareness campaign will also be mounted.

“This is a subject dear to my heart.  I am a volunteer coach and I witness firsthand inappropriate and sometimes out-of-control behavior at youth games,” Prosecutor Giaquinto said.  “Fans and parents, although well intentioned, are sometimes the children’s worst enemy.  We have to set a good example for the children, and bring fun and sportsmanship back to these games.”