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
- Second Circuit Court of Appeals Dismisses Voting Rights Cases: Concludes Disenfranchisement Law Does Not Violate Voting Rights Act >>
- Lawmakers in Florida Pass Legislation to Require County Jails to Help Prisoners Apply for Restoration of Voting Rights >>
- Zogby Poll on Attitudes of U.S. Voters Reveals Strong Support for Prisoner Rehabilitation and Reentry Services >>
- New Report: Society Gains Seven Dollars in Economic Benefits for Every One Spent on Substance Abuse Treatment >>
- Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana Report: Teenagers Held in Detention During Hurricane Katrina Endured Horrific Conditions >>
- Funding: Bureau of Justice Statistics Requests Applications for Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act Grant Program >>
- ACLU Brings Lawsuit Alleging "Grossly Deficient Care" for Female Prisoners at a Wisconsin Prison >>
- Occasional Series on Reentry Research: "Locked Out: Felon Disenfranchisement and American Democracy" on June 16 >>
New Jersey Legislative Update:
- New Jersey State Senate Will Hold Budget Hearings for the Department of Corrections and State Parole Board on May 15 >>
- Paterson New Jersey Police Take out Newspaper Ads Listing Names of Those Arrested for Buying Drugs and for Solicitation >>
- New Jersey Senate to Consider Medical Marijuana Bill in June >>
Second Circuit Court of Appeals Dismisses Voting Rights Cases: Concludes Disenfranchisement Law Does Not Violate Voting Rights Act
Two felony disenfranchisement cases, Muntaqim v. Coombe and Hayden v. Pataki, were dismissed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Muntaqim-Hayden challenged New York's disenfranchisement law that bars people with felony convictions from voting while they are in prison or on parole. Because Blacks and Latinos are disproportionately arrested and convicted of felonies, the plaintiffs charged that the law dilutes the voting power of these communities, and in doing so, violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act because of its denial of the right to vote on account of race. The Court dismissed Muntaqim stating that as a resident of California before his incarceration he lacked standing, but also dismissed Hayden, concluding that "Congress did not intend the Voting Rights Act to cover [felon disenfranchisement] provisions" and that such an application "would alter the constitutional balance between the States and the Federal Government." [Sentencing Project]
Lawmakers in Florida Pass Legislation to Require County Jails to Help Prisoners Apply for Restoration of Voting Rights
County jails will help ex-felons regain their voting rights and other civil rights under a bill passed unanimously by the Florida legislature. The Florida constitution gives sole power over restoring the rights of felons to the Florida Clemency Board, comprised of the governor and the Cabinet. State prisons automatically forward the clemency appeals of released felons to the board, but a similar process has been absent for inmates in county jails. Supporters of the bill say that the measure, if signed into law, would close that loophole and enable many nonviolent felons to restore their right to vote, serve on a jury, hold public office, or apply for certain licenses. [Join Together]
Zogby Poll on Attitudes of U.S. Voters Reveals Strong Support for Prisoner Rehabilitation and Reentry Services
In February 2006, Zogby International was commissioned to conduct a national public opinion poll about American attitudes toward rehabilitation and reentry of prisoners into their home communities. Except where noted, the questions pertained to prisoners convicted of nonviolent crimes, such as drug or property offenses. The results of the poll showed that striking majorities favor rehabilitation as a major goal of incarceration, and appears to reflect a recognition that current correctional systems do not help the problem of crime; that prisoners face enormous barriers to successful reintegration to the community; and that rehabilitative services should be provided as a means of reducing crime. [National H.I.R.E. Network]
New Report: Society Gains Seven Dollars in Economic Benefits for Every One Spent on Substance Abuse Treatment
A recent study, funded in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, concludes that society earns $7 in benefits for every $1 spent on addiction treatment, including savings on medical care, mental-health services, welfare payments, increased employment, and reductions in criminal activity. The report, "Benefit-Cost in the California Treatment Outcome Project: Does Substance Abuse Treatment 'Pay for Itself'?", estimated that the average stay in treatment cost $1,600 and yielded $11,500 in benefits during a nine-month study period. The latter included a $7,500 reduction in crime- and incarceration-related costs, and $3,400 in increased work earnings.
Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana Report: Teenagers Held in Detention During Hurricane Katrina Endured Horrific Conditions
About 150 teenagers held in detention during Hurricane Katrina endured horrific conditions in the storm's aftermath, including standing for hours in filthy floodwater, having nothing to eat and drink for three to five days, and being forced to drink sewage-filled water as a result, according to "Treated Like Trash: Juvenile Detention in New Orleans Before, During, and After Hurricane Katrina". The report was prepared by the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana, a group that has long advocated changes in the state's troubled juvenile system, and was based on interviews with more than 60 teenagers held at the Orleans Parish Prison during the storm, as well as with prison staff members.
Funding: Bureau of Justice Statistics Requests Applications for Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act Grant Program
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a division of the U.S. Department of Justice, has just requested applications for grants authorized by the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004. The grants, which are available to state, tribal, and local governments, may be used to develop and implement a variety of programs designed to improve outcomes for individuals with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system. There are three types of grants: Planning ($50,000 maximum award); Planning and Implementation ($250,000 maximum award); and Implementation and Expansion ($200,000 maximum award).The deadline for applications is June 2006.
ACLU Brings Lawsuit Alleging "Grossly Deficient Care" for Female Prisoners at Wisconsin Prison
The first class action lawsuit filed on behalf of women inmates in the state of Wisconsin alleges that they have received grossly deficient care amounting to "cruel and unusual punishment", and that they also receive worse mental health care than men. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the 49-page complaint, which names top state officials as defendants and various medical professionals who work in the prison system, and claims that in addition to well publicized incidents of severe medical neglect, that the medical system in the Taycheedah prison is failing women on a routine basis.
Occasional Series on Reentry Research: "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 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 Senate Will Hold Budget Hearings for the Department of Corrections and State Parole Board on May 15
The Senate Budget Committee hearings for the Department of Corrections and the State Parole Board will take place on Monday, May 15th at 2:30 pm, Committee Room 4, 1st Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ (rescheduled from April 26). 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.
Paterson New Jersey Police Take out Newspaper Ads Listing Names of Those Arrested for Buying Drugs and for Solicitation
The Paterson Police Department is taking out ads in The Record and The Herald News listing the names, partial address, and birth dates of people arrested for buying drugs or soliciting prostitutes in the city. The series of ads, which cost $2,500, included the names of 600 arrestees; the department plans to run the ads quarterly in the regional newspapers.
New Jersey Senate to Consider Medical Marijuana Bill in June
A New Jersey Senate health panel will hold a hearing in June on a bill that would legalize medical use of marijuana in the state. Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), a longtime supporter of medical marijuana, introduced the bill; this is the first time a hearing has been called on the measure. If approved, the bill would make New Jersey the 12th state to legalize medical marijuana. Gov. John Corzine said he would sign the bill if it is passed by the legislature.
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