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.
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New Jersey Prisoner Reentry Fact Sheet
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IN THIS ISSUE
- New from Search: "Report of the National Task Force on the Commercial Sale of Criminal Justice Information"
- Juvenile Detention Reform Program at Vera Institute of Justice on Jan. 25
- Funding News: A Call for Concept Papers from the Bureau of Justice Statistics' Mental Health Courts Program
- Bill Introduced in the U.S. Congress Would Have FCC Regulate State's Prison Phone Call Rates
- Update: The Second Chance Act of 2005
New Jersey Update:
- Attorney General Launches Essex County's After-School Gang Prevention Program in Irvington
- Download relevant bills signed into law by Governor Richard J. Codey
New from Search: "Report of the National Task Force on the Commercial Sale of Criminal Justice Information"
This report by Search, the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, is a comprehensive look at the role that commercial background screening companies play in the collection, maintenance, sale and dissemination of criminal history record information for employment screening and other important risk management purposes.
Juvenile Detention Reform Program at Vera Institute of Justice
On January 25, the Vera Institute of Justice will host a panel on juvenile detention reform featuring Michael J. Rohan, Director of Juvenile Probation and Court Services in Cook County, Illinois, and Dr. Juan Sanchez, Executive Director of Southwest Keys Programs, both of whom have been at the forefront of this effort, championing and implementing juvenile detention reform in their own jurisdictions and actively contributing to the national discussion. The speakers will highlight lessons from jurisdictions that have embraced juvenile detention reform and discuss some of the emerging issues that are ripe for reform today. Sponsored by the Youth Justice Program, the discussion will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Vera Institute of Justice, 233 Broadway, 12th Floor , in NYC.
Funding News:
A Call for Concept Papers from the Bureau of Justice Statistics' Mental Health Courts Program
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is issuing a call for concept papers from state, local, or tribal governments, including courts, to fund one additional mental health court demonstration project that reflects innovative and collaborative efforts for system-wide court improvements for people with mental illness and criminal justice involvement. Concept papers are due by February 2, 2006.
Bill Introduced in the U.S. Congress Would Have FCC Regulate State's Prison Phone Call Rates
The Family Telephone Connection Protection Act of 2005 (H.R. 4466), a bill introduced in Congress by Representative Bobby Rush, would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the FCC to prescribe rules to regulate inmate telephone service rates. State correctional institutions generally permit only collect calls which are borne by family members, and are among the most costly rates in the United States.
UPDATE: The Second Chance Act of 2005
The authorization of the Second Chance Act of 2005, which was re-introduced in the House and Senate in 2005, continues to make progress. The Senate is planning a hearing on the bill (S. 1934) in the Corrections Subcommittee in the coming weeks, while the House Judiciary Committee is planning to review the bill (H.R. 1704) in the Crime Subcommittee in early February.
New Jersey Update:
Attorney General Launches Essex County's After-School Gang Prevention Program in Irvington
On January 11, 2006, outgoing New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey was joined by Essex County and Irvington students and law enforcement officials to launch New Jersey's PROJECT VISION-IRVINGTON, an after-school gang prevention initiative.
The following are some of the bills signed into law by Governor Richard J. Codey on January 14, 2006:
- S2517/A878 - Authorizes court to refrain from imposing driver's license suspension on defendant convicted of CDS offense if compelling circumstances exist
» Download S2517 - S70/A907 - Establishes inmate education and vocational training study commission
» Download S70 - S709/A2347 - Creates study commission on the death penalty and imposes a moratorium on the imposition of the death penalty
» Download S709 - S2946/A4559 - Makes fiscal year 2006 supplemental appropriation of $22 million to Department of Corrections for grants to counties housing state inmates and amends certain language provisions of the FY 2006 appropriations act concerning certain grants
» Download S2946
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