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
-
Maryland Restores Right to Vote to Formerly Incarcerated Individuals >>
- Employment and Training Administration Youthful Offender Grants >>
- Mentoring Children of Prisoners Grants >>
- Department of Labor Workforce Development Grants>>
- New Jersey Update: Newark Re-entry Legal Services Network Launched>> Sentencing Commission Issues Report on Drug Court Program and Supplemental Report on "Drug Free Zone" Laws >> Reentry Conference at Rutgers-Newark >> Department of Corrections and State Parole Board Budget Hearings >>
Maryland Restores Right to Vote to Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
On April 24, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed legislation restoring the right to vote to all formerly incarcerated individuals, thereby ending the state’s lifetime voting ban. As a result of the legislation, which takes effect July 1, more than 50,000 Maryland residents will become eligible to vote. Currently, individuals convicted of felonies can petition for voting right restoration after their sentences and a three-year waiting period are completed.
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Employment and Training Administration Youthful Offender Grants
The Employment and Training Administration has announced the availability of approximately $20 million for Youthful Offender Grants. These grants will be awarded to support three categories of projects: 1) Registered Apprenticeship (to increase the placement of young adults being released from the criminal justice system in registered apprenticeship); 2) Alternative Educational Pathways (to increase the educational achievement and attainment of youth in the juvenile justice system); and 3) Project Expansion (to replicate effective programs for serving juvenile offenders). Applicants can apply for grants in more than one of these categories, but separate applications must be submitted for each category. Applicants may be faith-based and community organizations, national community-based organizations, State Apprenticeship Agencies, state workforce agencies, local workforce investment boards, and state correctional agencies. The application deadline is May 31.
Click here for more information
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Mentoring Children of Prisoners Grants
The Administration for Children and Families is accepting grant applications for the Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCP) program, which supports the creation and maintenance of one-on-one mentoring relationships between children of incarcerated parents and adult mentors. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible to apply. The application deadline is June 4.
Download application guidelines
Department of Labor Workforce Development Grants
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration is accepting applications for grants totaling approximately $5 million for faith-based and community organizations and government agencies to address the specific workforce challenges of ex-offenders. Awarded grant funds will be used to implement services via a beneficiary-choice contracting model, which provides program participants with a choice among multiple service providers for specific services. Participants will receive case management services from the grantee, but will choose among contracted specialized service providers for more in-depth services. The application deadline is May 25.
Download application guidelines
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NEW JERSEY UPDATE:
Newark Re-entry Legal Services Network Launched
On May 2, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and a coalition of legal services groups kicked off the Newark Re-Entry Legal Services Network (ReLeSe) with an orientation at Seton Hall Law School. The pilot project, consisting of lawyers who will offer pro bono counsel to re-entering individuals, will provide legal advice on obtaining driver’s licenses, making child support payments, employment barriers, expungement, and other reentry issues. All formerly incarcerated individuals residing in Newark are eligible. The participating legal service organizations include Essex-Newark Legal Services, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, and Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, along with Seton Hall and Rutgers law schools.
Sentencing Commission Issues Report on Drug Court Program and Supplemental Report on "Drug Free Zone" Laws
On May 4, the New Jersey Commission to Review Criminal Sentencing issued a report on the New Jersey Adult Drug Court Program (ADCP). The report includes a series of proposed statutory changes to New Jersey’s Code of Criminal Justice in order to expand and improve operation of the ADCP. The Commission also released a follow-up report to its 2005 report on “Drug Free Zone” laws.
Download the drug court report and read news coverage
Download the "Drug Free Zone" report
Reentry Conference at Rutgers-Newark
On June 13, the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies at Rutgers-Newark will host “Coming Home: A Social Justice Approach to Prisoner Reentry in New Jersey.” The conference will explore both pre- and post-release reentry issues.
Download the flyer for more details
Department of Corrections and State Parole Board Budget Hearings
The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee held its Department of Corrections (DOC) and State Parole Board (SPB) hearings on April 30. The Assembly Budget Committee held its DOC hearing on March 22 and its SPB hearing on April 19.
Download audio recordings of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee DOC and SPB hearings
Download audio recordings of the Assembly Budget Committee DOC and SPB hearings
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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.