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NJ Reentry Digest:
The New Jersey Institute
For Social Justice, Inc.
Newark, NJ 07102
www.njisj.org
ReentryListserv@njisj.org
IN THIS ISSUE
- Colorado Supreme Court Upholds Law Prohibiting Parolees from Voting >>
- Second Chance Act Passed by House Judiciary Committee >>
- New Report on Parole and Reentry by the Center for Effective Public Policy >>
- New National Institute of Justice Report on Reducing Juvenile Gun Violence >>
- New Report on Mental Health Needs of Juvenile Justice Involved Youth >>
- MDRC Releases Background Paper on Employment Programs for Former Prisoners >>
- Council on Crime and Justice Releases Report on the Collateral Effects of Incarceration on Families >>
- Upcoming Conference: National Transitional Jobs Conference Being Held in Atlanta, October 12-13th >>
- Upcoming Conference: Reentry and the Faith Community at John Jay College on October 28th >>
Colorado Supreme Court Upholds Law Prohibiting Parolees from Voting
The Colorado Supreme Court denied a challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union-Colorado to the state law prohibiting persons on parole from voting. The ACLU filed suit in Danielson v. Dennis, arguing that the statute preventing persons on parole from voting was unconstitutional. The Colorado Supreme Court held the constitutional provision providing for a voting ban during the “full term of imprisonment” was properly interpreted to include time spent on parole, because “parole is not a discharge from imprisonment,” but rather a conditional release that is intended “to assist [the parolee] in returning to [the] community.” (The Sentencing Project)Second Chance Act passed by House Judiciary Committee
On July 26, 2006 the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 1704, the Second Chance Act, sending the bill to the House floor for consideration. During the mark-up of the bill, the Committee accepted a substitute amendment offered by Crime Subcommittee Chairman Howard Coble (R-NC) that provides additional drug treatment programs, family-based treatment resources, and an elderly non-violent offender pilot program. Also accepted were amendments from Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), which added, respectively, re-entry courts, resources for electronic monitoring of parolees, and continuity of medical care for mentally ill and chronically ill offenders. (Reentry Policy Council)
Get more information on the Second Chance Act and its progress
Read a recent New York Times article about reentry challenges
New Report on Parole and Reentry by the Center for Effective Public Policy
This July 2006 report describes the growing body of research demonstrating the effectiveness of various treatment programs and the availability of validated assessment instruments for matching programs to individuals released from prison. It also offers principles to guide effective management of programs and oversight of parolees. Finally, the report outlines an agenda for action for criminal justice policymakers, parole, state legislative bodies and governors, and funding organizations. (Reentry Policy Council)
New National Institute of Justice Report on Reducing Juvenile Gun Violence
The Office of Justice Programs' National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has released "Reducing Gun Violence: Community Problem Solving in Atlanta." One in a series of NIJ research reports on reducing gun violence, the report describes a program implemented in Atlanta, Ga., during the late 1990s to reduce juvenile gun violence, highlighting its unique community collaborative approach and some of the major challenges that arose in implementation.
New Report on Mental Health Needs of Juvenile Justice Involved Youth
The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (NCMHJJ) has just published “Blueprint for Change: A Comprehensive Model for the Identification and Treatment of Youth with Mental Health Needs in Contact with the Juvenile Justice System.” This model is a guide for juvenile justice and mental health professionals who work with youth with mental health needs in the juvenile justice system.
Read a related brief on diversion programs for juveniles with mental illness
MDRC Releases Background Paper on Employment Programs for Former Prisoners
MDRC has released “Employment-Focused Programs for Ex-Prisoners: What Have We Learned, What Are We Learning, and Where Should We Go from Here”, a background paper prepared for a conference sponsored by the University of Michigan’s National Poverty Center, reviews previous research on work-focused programs for ex-prisoners, describes planned and ongoing evaluations, and proposes ideas for future research. Noting that rigorous research evaluating employment programs is extremely limited, the paper concludes that while it is very difficult to increase employment and earnings for disadvantaged men, the evidence suggests that some approaches may be effective with certain populations. Programs that integrate services before and after release, programs for older individuals leaving prison, and programs that involve financial incentives seem to be modestly effective, but much more research is needed.
Council on Crime and Justice Releases Report on the Collateral Effects of Incarceration on Families
Focusing on racial disparities in the Minnesota criminal justice system, “The Collateral Effects of Incarceration on Fathers, Families, and Communities” examines the effects of imprisonment on family relationships from the perspective of fathers, including a focus on their strengths and struggles behind bars and upon reentry into their communities. In addition, the report examines community dynamics and resources within neighborhoods experiencing high levels of reentry or exit due to incarceration.
Upcoming Conference: National Transitional Jobs Conference being held in Atlanta, October 12-13th
The 6th Annual National Transitional Jobs Conference will bring together program administrators, policy advocates, government officials, academics and funders to discuss how to design, implement, evaluate and advocate for transitional jobs programs to meet the needs of hard-to-employ populations across the country. The conference will spotlight programs currently working with ex-offenders, welfare recipients, youth and other individuals with significant barriers to employment.
Read more about the conference and register online
Upcoming Conference: Reentry and the Faith Community at John Jay College on October 28th
The Presbytery of New York City and the Interfaith Coalition of Advocates for Reentry and Employment (ICARE) are sponsoring a conference for “Restoring Justice: The Crisis of Incarceration and the Journey of Reentry, the Faith Community Responds” on October 28th at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.
Write to find out more about the conference