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
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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
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Kansas Governor Signs Pre- and Post-Release Reentry Legislation>>
- Florida Justice System to Promote Rehabilitation>>
- New Reentry Research>>
- Justice Reinvestment Resource Launched>>
- Grant Solicitation for Reentry and Family Strengthening Initiative>>
- Drug Courts Funding >>
- New Jersey Update: Governor Nominates Rabner for Chief Justice, Milgram for Attorney General>>
Kansas Governor Signs Pre- and Post-Release Reentry Legislation
On May 22, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed a bill to expand rehabilitation services in prison and supportive supervision following incarceration. “An Act Concerning the Department of Corrections” (Senate Bill 14) creates a grant program for community corrections programs to design local strategies to reduce parole and probation revocations and establishes a 60-day earned program credit for participants who successfully complete educational, vocational, and treatment programs while incarcerated. The Kansas Legislature appropriated $4.4 million for the grant program and Governor Sebelius has allocated $2.4 million in the state’s budget to fund the expansion of programs for people in prison and on parole supervision.
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Florida Justice System to Promote Rehabilitation
On May 22, Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced an anti-recidivism plan that aims to increase addiction treatment and other rehabilitation services for incarcerated individuals in the state. The plan, which aims to reduce recidivism from 30 percent to 20 percent or lower by 2012, also includes new job training services, literacy education, post-release mental health counseling, and an initiative to get ex-offenders driver’s licenses or other state identification. According to Corrections Secretary Jim McDonough, approximately two-thirds of Florida’s incarcerated individuals need addiction treatment but less than one-third receive it.
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New Reentry Research
The Urban Institute has released a new research brief, “Returning Home: Exploring the Challenges and Successes of Recently Released Texas Prisoners.” Co-authored by Nancy G. LaVigne, Lisa E. Brooks, and Tracey L. Shollenberger, the brief presents highlights from a longitudinal study of individuals leaving prison and returning to the Houston area. The findings indicate that those who participate in job training, educational programs, and substance abuse treatment while incarcerated have better reentry outcomes and are less likely to return to prison.
Justice Reinvestment Resource Launched
The Council of State Governments Justice Center has launched a new website in support of its Justice Reinvestment Initiative, which provides technical assistance to policymakers seeking to reduce spending on corrections, increase public safety, and improve conditions in the neighborhoods to which most people released from prison return. The website provides reports, policy briefs, and maps the Justice Center has developed as part of its technical assistance efforts.
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Grant Solicitation for Reentry and Family Strengthening Initiative
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has announced the availability of grants as part of its High-Risk Youth Offender Reentry and Family Strengthening Initiative. The Initiative will fund high-risk youth offender reentry strategies and programs designed to promote collaboration among Departments of Juvenile Corrections, faith-based and community-based organizations, and providers serving youth offenders returning to their families and communities following a period of confinement in a juvenile residential facility. According to the solicitation, applicant programs should focus on improving family economic success, family support systems, and building communities in which healthy families can pursue long-term goals. Public agencies and private organizations may apply. The application deadline is June 8.
Click here for more information
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Drug Courts Funding
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has announced the availability of grants as part of its Drug Courts/Reclaiming Futures program. Through this initiative, OJJDP is partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to enhance the capacity of states, state and municipal courts, units of municipal government, and Indian tribal governments to serve substance-abusing juvenile offenders by developing and establishing juvenile drug courts. Applicants are limited to states, state courts, municipal courts, units of municipal government, and Indian tribal governments acting directly or through agreement with other public or private entities. The application deadline is June 20.
Click here for more information
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NEW JERSEY UPDATE:
Governor Nominates Rabner for Chief Justice, Milgram for Attorney General
On June 4, Governor Corzine nominated Attorney General Stuart Rabner to be Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court and Anne Milgram, the First Assistant Attorney General, to replace Rabner as Attorney General. The nominees are expected to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 18, according to Committee Chair John Adler (D-Camden). The full Senate could vote that day or June 25.
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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.