Did you know that 70,000 people will return from state prison to their New Jersey communities over the next 5 years? For more facts about reentry in New Jersey,
download the fact sheet
[PDF: 135KB/1Page]
Civil Consequences of
Criminal Convictions in New Jersey:
Fact Sheets
Individuals leaving prison in New Jersey face many legal barriers to successful reintegration. To learn about specific restrictions in various areas, click on the links below.
The New Jersey Institute
For Social Justice, Inc.
IN THIS ISSUE
-
Study Predicts Rise in Inmate Populations>>
- President's FY 2008 Budget Allocates $64.6 Million for Reentry Initiatives>>
- New Reports on Reentry and Domestic Violence>>
- Website on Reentry Issues Launched>>
- New Hampshire Launches Online Prisoner Information Database>>
- National Offender Workforce Development Conference>>
- New Jersey Update: Governor Nominates Assemblyman Peter Barnes Jr. to Serve as Chairman of the State Parole Board >> Juvenile Justice Commission Releases Annual Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Report>>
Study Predicts Rise in Inmate Populations
According to a new study by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the number of inmates in U.S. prisons will rise nearly 13% during the next five years. The study, "Public Safety, Public Spending," predicts inmate population increases will cost states up to $27.5 billion in new operating and construction expenses. The study's authors attribute the growth to mandatory minimum sentences and declines in the number of prisoners granted parole.
Read news coverage and AP column
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President's FY 2008 Budget Allocates $64.6 Million for Reentry Initiatives
The President released his FY 2008 budget request on February 5, which includes $64.6 million for reentry initiatives. The Department of Labor’s budget includes $39.6 million for prisoner reentry, combining the Prisoner Re-Entry and Responsible Reintegration of Youthful Offenders programs into a single program that would “provide mentoring and job training to promote the successful return of adult and juvenile ex-offenders into mainstream society.” The Housing and Urban Development budget includes $25 million for reentry to be used in collaboration with Departments of Justice and Labor initiatives. The new Byrne Public Safety program identifies seven priorities for funding, including improving and expanding prisoner reentry initiatives.
Download chart of the budget’s justice funding
New Reports on Reentry and Domestic Violence
The Vera Institute of Justice has released two new reports on reentry and domestic violence. "Safe Return: Working Toward Preventing Domestic Violence When Men Return from Prison" outlines current and promising practices for addressing domestic violence during prisoner reentry. "Domestic Violence and Prisoner Reentry: Experiences of African American Women and Men" presents key themes raised in discussion groups conducted with women and men with personal knowledge of these issues.
Download "Safe Return: Working Toward Preventing Domestic Violence When Men Return from Prison"
Download "Domestic Violence and Prisoner Reentry: Experiences of African American Women and Men"
Website on Reentry Issues Launched
Legal Aid of Western Michigan’s Re-Entry Law Project (RLP) and the Michigan Poverty Law Project have launched a website to help formerly incarcerated individuals navigate obstacles they may face as they make the transition from prison to the general population. The "Michigan Re-Entry Law Wiki" provides visitors with answers to frequently asked questions, current case law, statutes, trends regarding prisoner reentry, and forms for obtaining a state identification card and expunging criminal records. The website also contains information to help lawyers, judges, social service providers, and others involved in the reentry process.
_____________________________________________________________New Hampshire Launches Online Prisoner Information Database
The public can now look up New Hampshire state prisoner information on a new Department of Corrections website, including location of incarceration, year of birth, and eligible parole date. According to the NHDOC, the database can also provide a prisoner’s ID number and the category of most serious crime.
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National Offender Workforce Development Conference
The 3rd Annual National Offender Workforce Development Conference will be held on April 2-5 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Workshop sessions will include “Building Effective Partnerships Between Government Agencies, Employers, Community and Faith-Based Organizations to Support Ex-Prisoners,” “What Is Drug Court?,” “Breaking the Cycle: Youth Inside and Outside the System,” “Transitional Jobs Strategies for Successful Reentry,” “Building Skills: Blending Transitional Jobs with Therapeutic Models & Business Interest,” “Civil Rights & Reintegration: Reentry Seen Through a Civil Rights Lens,” and others. Keynotes will be provided by Louis Gossett, Jr. and the Honorable Arthur Burnett, Sr. and the National H.I.R.E. Network will be honored.
Click here for more information and registration details
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NEW JERSEY UPDATE:
Governor Nominates Assemblyman Peter Barnes Jr. to Serve as Chairman of the State Parole Board
On February 5, Governor Corzine nominated Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes Jr. to serve as Chairman of the State Parole Board. Barnes, who would resign from office upon confirmation, would replace John D’Amico, who announced his retirement. Barnes was elected in 1995 to represent the 18th Legislative District in the New Jersey State Assembly, in which capacity he has sponsored several pieces of criminal justice legislation including the 2004 law creating the New Jersey Commission to Review Criminal Sentencing. Prior to his service in the Assembly, Barnes was the Director of Public Safety in Edison from 1991 to 1993. Additionally, he served as East Brunswick’s Director of Public Safety in 1997 and again in 2005.
Juvenile Justice Commission Releases Annual Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Report
On February 12, the Juvenile Justice Commission released the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) Annual Data Report, which documents trends in key indicators of detention utilization, including admissions, length of stay, and average daily population. The report also outlines trends regarding overrepresentation of minority youth in detention; detention alternative utilization, success, and minority youth served; and admissions to detention for violations of probation. The report's findings indicate that NJ-JDAI has continued to reduce the unnecessary detention of juveniles in New Jersey. According to the report, on any given day in 2006 there were 215 fewer youth in secure detention centers than in 2003. Youth of color account for 93% of this reduction, with 199 fewer youth of color in secure detention on any given day.
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For more information about news or event sharing contact rgreenberg@njisj.org. To subscribe or unsubscribe to the New Jersey Reentry Digest, visit the subscription page.