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 Appellate Court to Hear Arguments on Felony Disenfranchisement on Sept. 27
Conference: "Balancing Public Safety and Second Chances for Former Offenders: Retooling CORI Laws" on Oct. 1st in Cambridge, MA
Trial Begins in Gay Inmate's Civil Lawsuit Against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Federal Government is Accepting Applications for 2006 Drug Court Planning Initiatives
Maryland Advocates Call for Review of Sentencing Guidelines
Books Through Bars and Bluestockings Host a Reading with the Author of "Life on the Outside: The Prison Odyssey of Elaine Bartlett" on Oct. 13
Reminder: "Increasing Public Safety: NuEntry and Employment Conference" Hosted by the Brooklyn Borough President on Sept. 29
NJ Update: Law Requiring DNA From People Convicted of Crimes is Ruled Constitutional

New Jersey Appellate Court to Hear Arguments on Felony Disenfranchisement

On September 27, 2005 an Appellate Court will hear arguments in a lawsuit filed on behalf of probationers and parolees, the New Jersey Chapter of the NAACP, and the Latino Alliance. The case, brought by the ACLU-NJ and Rutgers Law School, seeks to extend voting rights to people on probation and parole in the state of New Jersey, under the New Jersey State Constitution. It will take place at the Morris County Courthouse, 3rd floor, room 12, Washington Street, Morristown, NJ at 9:45 a.m. For more information contact Anne Barron at abarron@aclu-nj.org or call 973-642-2086.

Conference: "Balancing Public Safety and Second Chances for Former Offenders: Retooling CORI Laws" on Oct. 1st in Cambridge, MA

This one-day conference, co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Alliance to Reform CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and Harvard Law School's Criminal Justice Institute, is intended to create a plan of action for reintegrating individuals with criminal convictions into the mainstream by promoting dialogue about their employment needs while addressing public safety concerns in Massachusetts. The conference is free and will feature keynote speaker Theodore M. Shaw, Director Counsel and President of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.

» Click here for more info and for registration form

Trial Begins in Gay Inmate's Civil Lawsuit Against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice

A trial has opened in the federal lawsuit brought by the ACLU on behalf of Roderick K. Johnson, a gay inmate who claims that prison officials repeatedly ignored his pleas for a transfer out of a prison unit where he was subjected to daily rapes for a period of 18 months. A federal appeals court earlier ruled that seven officials could be sued for discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice had argued that prison officials were immune from being sued for damages because the law did not clearly establish whether their conduct, in failing to protect him, violated Mr. Johnson's civil rights.

Federal Government is Accepting Applications for 2006 Drug Court Planning Initiatives

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Bureau of Justice Assistance are accepting applications for the fiscal year 2006 Drug Court Planning Initiative. DCPI is a national training initiative designed to assist jurisdictions in developing adult, juvenile, family, and tribal drug court programs. Under the initiative, jurisdictions will be selected to participate in a facilitated planning process that will begin next January and end in November 2006.

» Click for more information

Maryland Advocates Call for Review of Sentencing Guidelines

Maryland's "Campaign for Treatment Not Incarceration", a coalition of 43 organizations, is asking state officials to review the current sentencing guidelines. In 2004, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation addressing the issue by giving more options to prosecutors, judges, and the Parole Commission. To complete the treatment effort, the campaign recommends that the State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy consider reducing the sentencing guidelines used by judges to lower sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. According to the campaign, this would result in a 1,000-bed reduction in the prison population and $20 million in corrections savings that could be used for treatment efforts.

» Go to the Campaign for Treatment Not Incarceration

Books Through Bars and Bluestockings Host a Reading with Jennifer Gonnerman, Author of "Life on the Outside: The Prison Odyssey of Elaine Bartlett" on Oct. 13

Jennifer Gonnerman is the author of "Life on the Outside: The Prison Odyssey of Elaine Bartlett," a finalist for the 2004 National Book Award. Legislative leaders credited this compelling story of reentry with helping to reform New York's Rockefeller drug laws. At this event, Jennifer will do a reading and lead a talk on prison issues. The reading begins at 7:00 p.m. at Bluestockings, 172 Allen Street in New York, and benefits Books Through Bars, an all-volunteer organization that sends free books to prisoners across the country. For information call (212) 254-3697, ext. 322

» Click for more information about Books Through Bars

Conference Reminder: "Increasing Public Safety: NuEntry and Employment Conference" Hosted by the Brooklyn Borough President

This reentry and employment conference will cover a range of topics, including: Examining the Crisis of Black Male Unemployment, Implementing a Community Action Plan, and Strategizing with Elected Officials, among others. The conference will be convened by the NuLeadership Policy Group from Medger Evers College of the City University of New York and the National HIRE Network of the Legal Action Center, and will take place at the Brooklyn Borough President's Office at 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY. For more information and to RSVP, call 718-270-6288.

NJ Update: Law Requiring DNA From People Convicted of Crimes is Ruled Constitutional

The "DNA Database and Databank Act of 1994," a law that requires people convicted of crimes to give DNA samples for a statewide database, was upheld on Sept. 7th, when a New Jersey appeals court ruled that it was constitutional. The law was challenged by a Passaic City man convicted of heroin possession in 2003, who said the his rights against unreasonable search and seizure were violated by the taking of DNA samples for the database. In a unanimous ruling the three-judge panel said the law did constitute a search, but was far from unreasonable.

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