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
Previous Editions of the
NJ Reentry Digest:
NJ Reentry Digest:
The New Jersey Institute
For Social Justice, Inc.
IN THIS ISSUE
- New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Provides Low-Interest Financing to House Formerly Incarcerated Youth and Adults
- Federal Court in New York Will Hear Challenge to Costly Prison Phone Calls
- Commission on Safety and Abuse: Transcript Available on Newark Hearings
- More Reform on New York's Rockefeller Drug Laws
- New Report: The Urban Institute Documents Prisoner Reentry in Illinois
- Bureau of Justice Statistics: Juvenile Violent Crime Rate Declines
- Fall Calendar: Occasional Series on Reentry Research at John Jay College
New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Provides Low-Interest Financing to House Formerly Incarcerated Youth and Adults
The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency will provide low-interest financing for the development of affordable transitional, tran-permanent and permanent, supported, shared and independent living rental residences for formerly incarcerated youth and adults. The loan program will help for-profit and not-for profit developers with acquisition of land or buildings, new construction or rehabilitation of buildings. Project sponsors are required to insure that residents have access to supportive services. For details about eligibility criteria, download the flyer or contact Bruce Blumenthal at 609-278-7449 .
Federal Court in New York Will Hear Challenge to Costly Prison Phone Calls
On August 29, 2005, Judge Daniels of the SDNY issued a decision in the lawsuit that challenges the long distance telephone charges imposed on New York State prisoners arising from the state contract with MCI. The court held that the plaintiffs could proceed with the First Amendment and equal protection claims against the state, though claims against MCI and challenges to the exclusive nature of the contract were rejected.
- » Read the federal court decision
- » Read the NY Times editorial
- » Go to Telephone Justice Campaign Site
Commission on Safety and Abuse: Transcript Available on Newark Hearings
This past July, the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons convened in Newark, New Jersey to hear testimony about widespread institutional problems in the prison system. A transcript of the proceedings, in whole and by witness panel, is available for review. Highlights of the hearing include: debate about the prevalence of overcrowding; data on long-term trends in violence behind bars; testimony about the over-use of isolation; consensus about the need to provide quality medical care; and concern about "the new asylums."
More Reform on New York's Rockefeller Drug Laws
On August 30th, New York Governor Pataki signed a bill into law that will allow an estimated 540 people convicted of drug offenses under the Rockefeller Drug Laws to apply for re-sentencing and possibly leave prison early. The new law builds on the reforms passed in December, and will allow those serving sentences of 7 years to life for A2 felonies to petition for release after 3 years.
- » Read the press release from the Drug Policy Alliance
- » Sentencing guide from Center for Community Alternatives
New Report: The Urban Institute Documents Prisoner Reentry in Illinois
New research from the Urban Institute's Justice Policy Center documents many facets of prisoner reentry in Illinois, including health, housing, and employment. The research highlights challenges faced by exiting prisoners and offers suggestions for policymakers and service providers looking to improve the success of pre- and post-release programs.
- » Download Returning Home Illinois Policy Brief: Health and Prisoner Reentry
- » Download Returning Home Illinois Policy Brief: Prisoner Reentry and Residential Mobility
- » Download Returning Home Illinois Policy Brief: Treatment Matching
- » Download Returning Home Illinois Policy Brief: Employment and Prisoner Reentry
Bureau of Justice Statistics: Juvenile Violent Crime Rate Declines
According to a special Bureau of Justice Statistics report, Juvenile Victimization and Offending 1993-2003, juveniles 12-17 years old experienced a decline in violent crime victimizations (with younger teens, 12-14 years old, having the largest decreases.) For juveniles 12-17 years old, the violent crime victimization rate fell from an estimated 130 victims per 1,000 teenagers in 1993 to about 60 per 1,000 in 2003. According to the BJS, the decline occurred in all crime categories and among all racial and ethnic groups.
Fall Calendar: Occasional Series on Reentry Research at John Jay College
The Occasional Series at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York presents emerging research on reentry issues with an opportunity to reflect on how the findings can lead to improved policy and practice. The fall series will feature new research, conducted by national experts, on the following topics: Child support, Incarceration and Employment, September 23; The Effectiveness of Parole Supervision, October 21; and The Impact of Incarceration and Reentry on Families, December 8.
- » Download the flyer for more information
- » New York CLE Credits Available: "Collateral Consequences of Convictions" on Sept. 27
Tell us if you like this digest and how we can make it better! Your colleagues can subscribe or unsubscribe by sending an email with name, email address and affiliation (if any) to ReentryListserv@njisj.org
For further information about news or event sharing contact Ann Cammett at ReentryListserv@njisj.org.