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
- U. S Department of Education Data: One in 400 Students Lose Financial Aid Because of Drug Convictions >>
- Florida Governor Issues Executive Order That Will Support Employment of Qualified People with Criminal Histories >>
- New Report: "The Power of Work: The Center for Employment Opportunities Comprehensive Prisoner Reentry Program" >>
- Study from the Justice Policy Institute: Proposition 36 Has Led to a Big Drop in Prison Population >>
- Upcoming Event from Vera Institute of Justice: "Community Life vs. Incarceration: Re-Socializing African American Youth Towards Pathways to Productivity" on April 28 >>
- Reentry Net/NY: New Housing Resources for People with Criminal Convictions >>
- United Nations Questions U.S. on Restoration of Voting Rights >>
- 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 Legislative Update:
- New Jersey State Assembly Will Hold Budget Hearings for the Department of Corrections and State Parole Board >>
U. S Department of Education Data: One in 400 Students Lose Financial Aid Because of Drug Convictions
A law that strips financial aid from students who admit to past drug offenses resulted in one in 400 applicants being denied federal education assistance, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education. The data showed that 189,065 students have been denied financial aid since the law went into effect during the 2000-01 school year. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), a drug-policy reform group, are asking the federal courts to void a law that prevents students with drug convictions from working class backgrounds from getting financial aid for college. [Join Together News]
- » Read the Summary from Join Together
- » Read the ACLU press release
- » Go to the website for Students for a Sensible Drug Policy
Florida Governor Issues Executive Order That Will Support Employment of Qualified People with Criminal Histories
Florida Governor Jeb Bush has signed an Executive Order requiring state executive agencies -- and encouraging municipalities -- to review and reform hiring and licensing standards for qualified people with criminal records. Agencies are required to document and implement employment and licensing standards that require individualized determinations for the hiring and/or licensing of people with criminal records. The Governor has stipulated that the Task Force receive the agencies' reports within 60 days from commencement of the order. [National HIRE Network]
- » Download the executive order
- » National Hire Network toolkits for advocates seeking legislation to create certificates of rehabilitation
New Report: "The Power of Work: The Center for Employment Opportunities Comprehensive Prisoner Reentry Program"
Since the late 1970s, New York City's Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) has addressed the relationship between work and crime. CEO and MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan social policy research, have jointly written "The Power of Work: The Center for Employment Opportunities Comprehensive Prisoner Reentry Program," The report is an overview of the CEO program, "a highly structured program of pre-employment training, immediate short-term transitional employment, and full-time job placement services which helps close to 2,000 men and women each year to take the crucial first steps toward staying out of prison and returning to their families and communities".
Study from the Justice Policy Institute: Proposition 36 Has Led to a Big Drop in Prison Population
California has experienced the greatest decline in incarceration of drug-related offenders of any major prison system since the state's Proposition 36 went into effect five years ago, according to "Proposition 36: Five Years Later," a report from the Justice Policy Institute (JPI). About 5,400 fewer drug offenders are now in the California prison system because of the voter-approved initiative, which calls for treatment rather than incarceration for low-level offenders.
Upcoming Event from Vera Institute of Justice: "Community Life vs. Incarceration: Re-Socializing African American Youth Towards Pathways to Productivity" on April 28
The Mellon Speakers Series on Race Crime and Justice from the Vera Institute of Justice Presents "Community Life vs. Incarceration: Re-Socializing African American Youth Towards Pathways to Productivity," a workshop by Dr. Roslyn M Caldwell designed to present and synthesize the general state of young African Americans in the criminal justice system, and discuss an intervention model. The event will take place on April 28 at 12:30pm at Vera, 233 Broadway, 12th floor. RSVP to kmiddlemass@vera.org.
Reentry Net/NY: New Housing Resources for People with Criminal Convictions
Reentry Net/NY, a New York based online resource for people with criminal convictions, has made available several new resources for securing and maintaining housing for people who have been arrested or who have criminal records. Among them is the Women's Prison Association (WPA) Housing Toolkit, which is designed to offer techniques, resources and skills that are helpful in finding housing solutions for individuals and families with criminal justice involvement. WPA also provides information and resources on major legislation and advocacy that affects the development of public policy in this arena. [Reentry Net/NY]
- » Access the Women's Prison Association Housing Toolkit
- » Sign up with Reentry.net to get additional resources and information
United Nations Questions U.S. on Restoration of Voting Rights
The U.N. Human Rights Committee has issued a document outlining several questions they plan to pose to the United States regarding compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights at its meeting in Geneva in July. Included on the list is the restoration of voting rights for persons with felony convictions. Among other things, the Committee requests that the United States: "Provide more details on the rules governing the removal and restoration of the right to vote for those convicted for criminal offences, and explain to what extent they comply with article 25 of the Covenant... and comment on the information that about five million citizens cannot vote due to a felony conviction, and that this practice has significant racial implications." [Sentencing Project]
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 at 8:30am 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 Legislative Update:
New Jersey State Assembly Will Hold Budget Hearings for the Department of Corrections and State Parole Board
The Assembly Budget Committee hearings for the Department of Corrections and the State Parole Board will take place on Thursday, May 4th at 10:00 am, Committee Room 11, 4th Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ. (Senate budget hearings scheduled for April 26 were cancelled and will be rescheduled). Hearings are open to the public, but dates often change, so check the status of hearing as the date approaches. The Office of Legislative can be reached at (609) 292-8030.
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