The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice is a non-partisan urban research and advocacy organization founded in 1999 by the Amy and Alan V. Lowenstein Foundation. Based in Newark, the Institute promotes the development of economically healthy and vibrant urban communities and challenges practices and policies that prevent urban New Jersey from achieving its full potential.
Click here for more info on the Institute's Reentry Initiative, as well as its other programs and publications: www.njisj.org
New Jersey Prisoner Reentry Fact Sheet
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IN THIS ISSUE
- New Jersey Supreme Court Ruling on Juvenile Detention
- Voting Rights for Formerly Incarcerated Persons:
ACLU Report and Attorney General’s Response - New Book, Panel Discussion:
"A World Apart: Women, Prison and Life Behind Bars" - "Red Hook Justice" - A Documentary
- Report Suggests that New Jersey Prison Population Declines but Costs Go Up
- Rutgers Center for Law and Justice Hosts 3rd Annual Community Safety Conference
- S2215 - Hearing on Bill Permitting Limited Voting Rights for Persons Convicted of 4th Degree Crimes
New Jersey Supreme Court Ruling on Juvenile Detention
The New Jersey Supreme Court recently ruled unanimously, in State in the Interest of S.S., 130 N.J. 20 (2005) that children brought to Family Court under family-in-crisis petitions, commonly known as status offenders, may not be adjudicated delinquent and subjected to placement in a county detention center for violating the provisions of a court order. The Court also noted the "inherent tension between the judiciary's power to enforce its own orders and its duty to provide appropriate protection for a juvenile," and referred the matter to the Conference of Family Presiding Judges "for study and recommendations for the development of a schematic to harmonize these important concerns." The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, in partnership with the New Jersey Office of the Child Advocate, filed a friend of the court brief in the case.
Voting Rights for Formerly Incarcerated Persons:
ACLU Report and Attorney General's Response
The results of a survey released by the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union reveal that nine New Jersey counties illegally hinder people who have completed their prison sentences from registering to vote. According to the survey, these counties require documents to prove release rather than qualifying individuals automatically.
New Book, Panel Discussion: "A World Apart: Women, Prison and Life Behind Bars"
A panel discussion marks the publication of Soros Justice Fellow Cristina Rathbone's new book, A World Apart: Women, Prison and Life Behind Bars. Panel will feature Cristina Rathbone, Investigative Journalist and Author; Eve Ensler, Author and Activist, V-Day, The Vagina Monologues; Vivian Nixon, Executive Director, College and Community Fellowship, CUNY Graduate Center; and Moderated by Deborah Small, Executive Director, Break the Chains. Panel is on Thursday, June 2nd 2005 from 5:00 - 7:30PM at the Open Society Institute, 400 W. 59th Street. RSVP to Nidia Cordova Vazquez at ncordova@sorosny.org
"Red Hook Justice" - A Documentary
Red Hook, Brooklyn- a neighborhood plagued by unemployment, poverty and crime- established a community court in 2000. Red Hook Justice is a one-hour documentary that follows the ups and downs of several defendants and staffers involved in this effort - in which defendants are sentenced to job training, drug counseling and community service instead of jail time. When the Red Hook Community Justice Center opened, it was the first of its kind. Now it is a model for dozens of courts nationwide. With its unique access, Red Hook Justice captures the first, crucial steps in the Center's life, documenting its successes, failures, and challenges as this experiment unfolds. It will be broadcast nationally on PBS's Independent Lens series on Tuesday May 24th at 10PM (check local listings).
>> Learn more
Report Suggests that New Jersey Prison Population Declines but Costs Go Up
An article in the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that New Jersey's prison population has declined 14% since 1999, bucking a national trend. In some circles the reduction is attributed to more parole releases and fewer returns for technical parole violations. Despite this trend, the cost of incarceration continues to rise.
Rutgers Center for Law and Justice Hosts 3rd Annual Community Safety Conference
On June 4th Rutgers Center for Law and Justice will be hosting "Guns and Violence, Sharing the Responsibility," the 3rd Annual Community Safety Conference. The conference will feature such workshops as: Community Policing, Building Trust and Communication; Community Organizing without Fear; and Gangs and Guns…Making the Next Steps. Space is limited, so call to register early at (973) 353-1000.
New Jersey LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
S2215 - Hearing on Bill Permitting Limited Voting Rights for Persons Convicted of 4th Degree Crimes
Senate bill S2215, scheduled for a floor vote on May 12th, would have amended current law to permit "certain persons on probation or parole for certain fourth degree offenses to vote." The existing prohibition for persons convicted of a third, second or first degree crime on probation or parole, and a person serving time for a fourth degree conviction would have continued under this bill. S2215 was held back by its sponsors in order to address questions about its provisions.
>> Read S2215
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