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
- Major U.S. Cities Adopt New Hiring Policies Removing Unfair Barriers to Employment of People with Criminal Records >>
- UCLA Study Finds Drug Treatment a Much Cheaper Alternative to Prison >>
- Reentry Policy Council: "Practical Solutions to Financial Obligations of People Being Released from Prison and Jails" >>
- Report from the Justice Policy Institute: "Cost-Effective Corrections: Rationalizing the Fiscal Architecture of Juvenile Justice Systems" >>
- Demos April 27 Forum: "Conned: How Millions Went to Prison and Lost the Vote" >>
- The Prisoner Reentry Institute of John Jay College hosts a special presentation of the Maryland Re-entry Partnership Initiative on April 21 >>
- Occasional Series on Reentry Research: "Health Consequences of Incarceration and Reentry" on May 5 and "Locked Out: Felon Disenfranchisement and American Democracy" on June 16 >>
New Jersey Update:
- Appellate Division: Expunged Conviction Bars Forfeiture of Public Office >>
- The New Jersey Commission to Review Criminal Sentencing Will Hold a Public Meeting on April 19 in Trenton >>
Major U.S. Cities Adopt New Hiring Policies Removing Unfair Barriers to Employment of People with Criminal Records
Several major cities around the U.S., including Boston, Chicago and San Francisco, have adopted significant new policies to limit discrimination in city jobs against people with criminal records. More cities in the country are now taking up the reentry challenge by creating more employment, housing and drug treatment opportunities, but some are also evaluating local policies that create unnecessary barriers to employment of people with criminal convictions.
- » Download the National Employment Law Project press release with links to more information about these innovative approaches
- » Read the New York Times editorial: "Cities That Lead the Way"
UCLA Study Finds Drug Treatment a Much Cheaper Alternative to Prison
According to a new report by UCLA's Semel Institute for Nueroscience and Human Behavior, Californians saved nearly $2.50 for every dollar invested in drug treatment in the first 30 months since implementation of Proposition 36 -- the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act -- which allocates $120 million per year for first- and second-time offenders to enroll in drug treatment programs. The study also recommends improvements to the program to boost effectiveness, such as greater collaboration between state and local governments, better monitoring after treatment, and improved screening methods for eligibility.
- » Download the report
- » Get the Associated Press article
- » Funding information: Drug Free Communities Mentoring program
- » Download a Drug Fact Profile of New Jersey from the office of National Drug Control Policy
Reentry Policy Council: "Practical Solutions to Financial Obligations of People Being Released from Prison and Jails"
Individuals leaving prison or jail often have significant debts to repay upon their release including restitution, court fees, and child support. Many of these people have little or no income and lack housing, making it difficult for them to meet their financial requirements, and to successfully re-enter the community. On April 6th, the Re-Entry Policy Council (RPC), in cooperation with the Bureau of Justice Administration and the National Institute of Corrections, convened a group of stakeholders in Washington, D.C. to discuss these issues and work on establishing practical solutions. The group reviewed a set of draft policy recommendations and identified key additional points for the RPC's forthcoming "Guide to Prioritizing Financial Obligations" (due in summer 2006). Stakeholders considered an individual's ability to pay and amounts that are realistically collectible; prioritizing financial obligations to victims and families over those to third parties or the states; and identifying alternate sources of revenue.
Report from the Justice Policy Institute: "Cost-Effective Corrections: Rationalizing the Fiscal Architecture of Juvenile Justice Systems"
A new report by the Justice Policy Institute examines the financial architecture that provides incentives for some local governments to send adjudicated delinquents to state secure confinement for youth when they might be better served by diversion to drug treatment, mental health counseling or community service on the local level. In the 51 distinct juvenile justice systems that constitute how young people are treated in America's justice system, it is sometimes cheaper for localities in some states and jurisdictions to send youth to state institutions than it is for communities to develop services to treat youth close to home.
- » Download the report
- » Link to the Office of Justice Dept's national report on offenders and victims for 2006
Demos April 27 Forum: "Conned: How Millions Went to Prison and Lost the Vote"
Demos welcomes award-winning journalist Sasha Abramsky, author of "Conned: How Millions Went to Prison, Lost the Vote, and Helped Send George W. Bush to the White House". In his book, Abramsky takes us on a journey through disenfranchised America, detailing the revival of antidemocratic laws that came of age in the post-Civil War segregationist south, and profiling Americans who are fighting to regain the right to vote. Introducing Abramsky will be Glenn Martin, Co-Director of the Legal Action Center. The event will take place at Demos, 220 Fifth Ave. at 26th Street in New York, between 12-2pm. Register online or call (212) 633-1405 x533.
The Prisoner Reentry Institute of John Jay College hosts a special presentation of the Maryland Re-entry Partnership Initiative on April 21
The Prisoner Reentry Institute at John Jay College of Criminal Justice is pleased to invite you to a special presentation by Thomasina (Tomi) Hiers from the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, who will speak about the comprehensive reentry strategies and public safety policy reform she has spearheaded through her current position and as the Director of the Maryland Re-Entry Partnership Initiative at the Enterprise Foundation. The event will take place on Friday, April 21, 2006 from 8:30 am to 10:00 am in Room 203 of the main John Jay College building (899 Tenth Avenue, between 58th and 59th Streets). RSVP to Debbie Mukamal at dmukamal@jjay.cuny.edu or 212 484 1327).
Occasional Series on Reentry Research: "Health Consequences of Incarceration and Reentry" on May 5, and "Locked Out: Felon Disenfranchisement and American Democracy" on June 16
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. On May 5, Professors Nicholas Freudenberg from Hunter College and Michael Massoglia from Penn State University will present research they have each done on the health consequences of incarceration and reentry. On June 16, Professor Jeff Manza from Northwestern University will speak about his new book, "Locked Out: Felon Disenfranchisement and American Democracy (2006)". Both of these events will take place in Room 630 of the main building of John Jay College (899 Tenth Avenue, between 58th and 59th Streets). RSVP to Debbie Mukamal at dmukamal@jjay.cuny.edu or 212 484 1327).
New Jersey Update:
Appellate Division: Expunged Conviction Bars Forfeiture of Public Office
Normally, conviction of a crime of the third degree requires forfeiture of public office by a public employee. However, in today's Appellate Division decision, no party moved before the court for forfeiture at the time of the defendant's sentencing. In time, the defendant completed his sentence, waited the required 10 years and then filed a motion to expunge his conviction. His application was granted and the conviction was expunged. Subsequently, the defendant had a dispute with his public employer which resulted in the employer seeking forfeiture some 14 years after the conviction. The Appellate Division ruled that since an expunged conviction is deemed not to have occurred, there were no grounds to consider forfeiture based upon the expunged conviction.
The New Jersey Commission to Review Criminal Sentencing Will Hold a Public Meeting on April 19 in Trenton
On April 19, the Commission to Review Criminal Sentencing will hold a press conference and public meeting at 10 a.m. at 44 So. Clinton Avenue, in Trenton, NJ. The Commission was established in 2004 to "promote sound sentencing policy founded on the basic principles of public safety, proportionality and fairness".
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