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
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IN THIS ISSUE
- Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons Releases Transcript of Final Hearing>>
- Funding: National Crime Prevention Council Grants For Youth>>
- New Book: "Locked Out: Felon Disenfranchisement and American Democracy">>
Reports:
- "Criminal Justice and Corrections: The Case for Rational Reform">>
- "Sentencing Law Under the Knife: Judicial Surgery, the New Jersey Supreme Court and State v. Natale">>
- "When Free Means Losing Your Mother: The Collision of Child Welfare and the Incarceration of Women in New York State">>
- "Falling Through the Cracks: Loss of State-Based Financial Aid Eligibility for Students Affected by the Federal Higher Education Act Drug Provision">>
Conferences and Lectures:
- Haywood Burns Conference on Law and Policy: "Critical Consequences of Criminalization on Communities of Color" on March 24>>
- Occasional Series on Reentry Research: "Scarlet Letters and Offending: Does an Old Criminal Record Predict Future Offending?" on March 24>>
- "Gateway to Freedom: Parole Community Strategies in Offender Reentry" on March 31 in Jersey City>>
- National Conference: Rethinking Reentry: Confronting Perpetual Punishment," March 30 - April 1 at Harvard University>>
- Conference: "Engendering Justice: Prisons, Activism and Change," April 7-8 at Barnard>>
New Jersey Update:
- New Jersey Supreme Court: Indigent Parents Facing Jail Entitled to Lawyers in Child Support Cases>>
- State Parole Board Receives Aid of AmeriCorp Workers to Assist Parolees in Reintegration>>
- Job Opportunity at The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice>>
Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons Releases Transcript of Final Hearing
The Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons held its fourth hearing on February 8th and 9th in Los Angeles, focusing on the crucial role of oversight. Invited witnesses debated whether America's prisons and jails are transparent in the way that public institutions should be and discussed what the public should but doesn't know about life behind bars. They described in detail why it is important to strengthen both internal and external oversight of correctional facilities and practical ways of achieving that goal. The hearing also explored gang and drug activity behind bars.
Funding:
National Crime Prevention Council Grants For Youth
The National Crime Prevention Council is accepting applications from youth between the ages of 11 and 19 for its Teens, Crime, and the Community initiative. One hundred $500 grants will be awarded through the program, which calls for youth-organized and implemented service-learning projects to provide crime, violence, and drug education and prevention within schools and communities. Youths interested in applying should be enrolled in a Community Works or Youth Safety Corps program or participate in a youth group or class with at least six members. Deadline for applications is April 1 and June 1.
New Book:
"Locked Out: Felon Disenfranchisement and American Democracy"
5.4 million Americans--1 in every 40 voting age adults-- are denied the right to participate in democratic elections because of a past or current felony conviction. In several American states, 1 in 4 black men cannot vote due to a felony conviction. How did the United States come to deny a voice to such a large percentage of its citizenry? What are the consequences of large-scale disenfranchisement--both for election outcomes, and for public policy more generally? "Locked Out," by Jeff Manza and Christopher Uggan, reveals the centrality of racial factors in the origins of these laws, and their impact on politics today.
Reports:
"Criminal Justice and Corrections: The Case for Rational Reform"
Published in the February issue of The New Jersey Reporter, Dr. Bruce Stout's, "Criminal Justice and Corrections: The Case Rational Reform" asks at the outset "[i]n this time of increased concern for public safety and diminishing fiscal reserves, it is appropriate to review the changes that have been made to our criminal justice system and to question why the changes were made, whether they contribute to safeguarding us from harm, and whether ultimately, they are prudent investments of precious tax dollars."
"Sentencing Law Under the Knife: Judicial Surgery, the New Jersey Supreme Court and State v. Natale"
A report entitled "Sentencing Law Under the Knife: Judicial Surgery, the New Jersey Supreme Court, and State v. Natale," written by Deputy Attorney General Ben Barlyn, the Executive Director of New Jersey Commission To Review Criminal Sentencing, discusses the New Jersey Supreme Court's recent decision addressing the application of federal precedent to New Jersey's sentencing scheme.
"When Free Means Losing Your Mother: The Collision of Child Welfare and the Incarceration of Women in New York State"
This report by the Correctional Association of New York examines the damaging, far-reaching and often overlooked collateral consequences of maternal incarceration on children and families. The report includes interviews with caregivers, foster care workers, formerly incarcerated mothers and young people with mothers in prison, and offers practical recommendations for criminal justice, corrections and child welfare policy reforms.
"Falling Through the Cracks: Loss of State-Based Financial Aid Eligibility for Students Affected by the Federal Higher Education Act Drug Provision"
According to this report from the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform, while states are not bound to follow federal criteria in assessing an applicant's eligibility for state financial aid programs, many make use of the Department of Education's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for state programs. As a result, a majority of states deny funding to some or all would be students with drug convictions, even though their legislatures have voted not to do so.
Conferences and Lectures:
Haywood Burns Conference on Law and Policy: "Critical Consequences of Criminalization on Communities of Color" on March 24
The City University of New York will host the first Biennial Haywood Burns Conference on Law and Policy entitled "Critical Consequences of Criminalization on Communities of Color." a day of workshops to formulate a plan of action for addressing the direct and collateral effects of criminalization and incarceration on communities of color. The conference is free to all participants and CLE credit are offered. RSVP to Burns2006@mail.law.cuny.edu.
Occasional Series on Reentry Research:
"Scarlet Letters and Offending: Does an Old Criminal Record Predict Future Offending?" on March 24
The next lecture in the Occasional Series on Reentry Research will take place on Friday, March 24th from 8:30 am to 10:00 am at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (899 Tenth Avenue, between 58th and 59th Streets, in Room 630). The topic is "Scarlet Letters and Offending: Does an Old Criminal Record Predict Future Offending?" The Occasional Series is designed to serve as a vehicle for disseminating emerging research and generating conversation to improve policy and practice within the field of prisoner reentry. The presenters are Robert Brame, Associate Professor, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of South Carolina and Megan Kurlycheck, Assistant Professor, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of South Carolina. RSVP to 212-484-1327 or write to dmukamal@jjay.cuny.edu. You will need to present an ID to enter the building.
"Gateway to Freedom: Parole Community Strategies in Offender Reentry" on March 31 in Jersey City
Join leaders from the faith-based community, non-governmental organizations, and representatives from state, county and local government for a half day conference focused on public safety and reentry on Friday March 31st. The conference is sponsored by the State Parole Board, Chairman John D'Amico and Governor Jon S. Corzine. RSVP by March 29 to Martin Perotta at 609-292-0155 or Martin.Perrotta@spb.state.nj.us
National Conference:
Rethinking Reentry: Confronting Perpetual Punishment," March 30 - April 1 at Harvard University
The Criminal Justice Institute and the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard University will co-host "Re-Thinking Reentry: Confronting Perpetual Punishment," from March 30 to April 1, 2006 at Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA. The mission of the conference is to address broad concerns of fairness in the criminal justice system and to pursue remedies that reduce disparities and promote reintegration into communities for those who are involved in the criminal justice system.
Conference: April 7-8 at Barnard
"Engendering Justice: Prisons, Activism and Change,"
The Barnard Center for Research on Women will host "Engendering Justice: Prisons, Activism and Change," a conference to investigate the causes and consequences of women's imprisonment both domestically and abroad. The conference will also seek to consider the ways in which incarceration is linked to race, class, education, national identity and gender conformity.
New Jersey Update:
New Jersey Supreme Court:
Indigent Parents Facing Jail Entitled to Lawyers in Child Support Cases
The landmark New Jersey Supreme Court decision in Pasqua v. Council extends the right of counsel to indigent parents who are brought before the Family Part of the Superior Court on child support enforcement cases when facing incarceration for non-payment of support. According to the Justices' ruling, all parents who are brought before the court on enforcement matters must be advised of the right to an attorney and, if indigent, the right to appointed counsel. Moreover, parents who are arrested on warrants for child support may no longer languish indefinitely in jail, but must be brought before a judge within 72 hours. The Justices called upon the Legislature to take the necessary steps to fund a program to provide counsel.
State Parole Board Receives Aid of AmeriCorp Workers to Assist Parolees in Reintegration
State Parole Board Chairman John D'Amico announced on March 1st that the Parole Board will receive the aid of fourteen AmeriCorps*VISTA funded volunteer workers to assist parolees in successful reintegration. The program encourages and enables skilled volunteers to make a long-term commitment to improving communities in America. Its policy is to provide "service to strengthen and supplement efforts to eliminate poverty and poverty-related human, social and environmental problems."
Job Opportunity at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice: Seeking An Experienced Senior Case Manager for the "New Careers" Project
As part of its new startup Newark-based demonstration employment initiative for people returning to Essex County from state and federal prisons, NJISJ is seeking an experienced case manager (MSW, LCSW, or graduate degree in human behavior, rehabilitation or human services) with excellent clinical and case management skills.
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