(a) General Causes (4) Attendance N.J.A.C. 4A: 2-6.2 Resignation not in good standing (C)- An employee who has not returned to duty for five or more consecutive business days following an approved leave of absence shall be considered to have abandoned their position and shall be recorded as a resignation not in good standing. HRB 84-17, as amended A2c - Failure to return from an approved leave of absence for 5 consecutive work days at expiration of leave of absence
Separated while IA pending
No
Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)
On November 24, 2024, South Woods State Prison Senior Correctional Police Officer Austin Valentine failed to return from his approved leave of absence, the Department of Corrections reported. Valentine was notified that he had to submit documentation and either return to work or extend his leave, and on February 26, 2025, his request to use FMLA coverage was denied. He signed a settlement agreement for a 15-day suspension on May 8, 2025.
Synopsis as reported by the agency
On 11/24/24, South Woods State Prison’s Senior Correctional Police Officer (SCPO) Austin Valentine failed to return from his approved leave of absence. Thereafter, SCPO Valentine was notified that he was required to submit documentation and to either return to work or to extend his leave. On 2/26/25 SCPO Valentine was sent a denial letter for his request to use FMLA coverage from 12/30/24-1/31/25. On 5/8/25, SCPO Valentine signed a settlement agreement for a 15-day suspension.
Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)
On July 13, 2024, Senior Correctional Police Officer Austin Valentine was arrested by the New Jersey State Police Marine Division for boating while intoxicated on the Maurice River on July 3, 2024. The Department of Corrections sustained a charge of conduct unbecoming a public employee, and Valentine received a 60-day suspension.
Synopsis as reported by the agency
On July 13, 2024 Officer Valentine was arrested by NJ State Police Marine Division for a DWI while boating in the Maurice River on July 3, 2024.
an employee; Violation of a rule. Regulation, policy or procedure
Other sanction
Training, coaching, or counseling
Separated while IA pending
No
Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)
SCPO Austin Valentine received a 90 day suspension from the Dept Of Corrections in 2023 for conduct unbecoming an employee and violation of a rule, regulation, policy or procedure. The record states Valentine was in a single vehicle accident in which he struck a telephone pole, was uncooperative with Vineland PD, and refused a breathalyzer. He was charged with DWI, reckless driving, unsafe lane change, and refusal to submit to a chemical test. He also received training, coaching, or counseling.
Synopsis as reported by the agency
Single vehicle car accident, struck a telephone pole. Was uncooperative with Vineland PD, refused breathalizer. Charged with DWI, reckless driving, unsafe lane change and refusal to submit to chemical test.
The amount is as reported by the New Jersey Department of the Treasury in its YourMoney pension data, as of March 31, 2026. It is the pension-basis figure and may not include overtime, accrued leave, stipends, or other pay. The link between this officer and this pension record is a records-based match at high confidence (exact name and exact employing agency), not a certified identity. If it is wrong, we will remove it: corrections.
Sources
[1]New Jersey Major Discipline Data, 2020-2025. New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Sheet "Major Discipline Data", row 747. Snapshot retrieved 2026-07-03. ↩
[2]New Jersey Major Discipline Data, 2020-2025. New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Sheet "Major Discipline Data", row 1313. Snapshot retrieved 2026-07-03. ↩
[3]New Jersey Major Discipline Data, 2020-2025. New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Sheet "Major Discipline Data", row 1922. Snapshot retrieved 2026-07-03. ↩
[4]YourMoney Active Pension Members (PFRS/SPRS subset). New Jersey Department of the Treasury. Row 216244, snapshot as of March 31, 2026. Derived from the public YourMoney Active Pension Members dataset, https://www.yourmoney.nj.gov/. ↩