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YOU TALKED, THEY HEARD, AND NOW WE MUST ACT IMMEDIATELY!
A sweeping bill package sponsored by six Assembly Democratic legislators, lead by Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, to improve rehabilitation in New Jersey prisons and to save taxpayer dollars by cutting recidivism and giving released inmates an improved chance of success was advanced Monday November 22, 2009 by an NJ Assembly panel. Make sure that needed criminal justice policy changes take place under this administration!
Show NJ Legislators the support for YOUR Public Safety and Prisoner Reentry Bills:
A4197 – Strengthening Women and Families Act
A4198 – Post-Release Employment Act
A4199 – Administration of Correctional Facilities Act
A4201 – Reduction of Recidivism Act
A4202 – Education and Rehabilitation Act
A4203 – Criminal Penalties Act
Here are a brief description of the bills introduced by Bonnie Watson Coleman that reflect the outpouring of experience, expertise, and evidence that you all have provided throughout the series of “Counting the Costs” hearings over the past year! These bills are well informed, carefully shaped, and a result of your collective voice. These bills belong to you:
1) Strengthening Women and Families Act: A4197
Lifts the felony drug ban on TANF, General Assistance and food stamps
Eliminates the prison phone surcharge
Establishes a commission to strengthen bonds between incarcerated parents and their children
Appoints an Assistant Commissioner for Incarcerated Women
Prohibits transferring female inmates to male institutions
Requires classification assignments to place inmates in facilities close as possible to family
Establishes the Division on Women as the semiannual depository for all female inmate complaints
2 )Post-Release Employment Act: A4198
Creates a restricted use driver’s license for the purpose of getting to work, education, training, & dr’s
Removes categorical employment bars for: limousine services, places that serve alcohol, airports, etc
Bans the criminal background question box on state, county, and municipal job applications
Prohibits employers from discriminating against job applicants on the basis of a criminal record
Requires employers to consider a returning citizen’s certificate of rehabilitation
3 ) Adminstration of Correctional Facilities Act: A4199
Increases the non-“taxable” amount accrued for inmate accounts
Establishes the Dept of the Public Advocate as the depository for all inmate complaints
Requires ACA-based correctional officer training as requested by officers
4) Reduction of Recidivism Act: A4201
Allows for a 90-day grace period for outstanding fines
Provides returning inmates with: photo ID; medical records; rap sheet; accounting of fines owed; etc
Eliminates the post-release Medicaid enrollment gap
Establishes a Prisoner Reentry Commission
Establishes a Blue Ribbon Panel for Review of Long-Term Prisoners’ Parole Eligibility
Mandates the use of “community corrections” for all those released from prison
5) Education and Rehabilitation Act: A4202
Reviews vocational programs in order to meet demand job skills and standards
Requires inmates to achieve 12th grade literacy with few exceptions
Requires DOC to make GED classes available to all inmates who request
Requires GED certificates to be issued by Dept. of Education (DOE)
Allows formerly incarcerated persons to visit any prison in the State for motivational purposes
Caps parole ‘hits’ at 3 years before being given another hearing
Allows inmates to enter agreements for ed, trng, etc that decreases parole terms
Provides credits for educational achievements
6) Criminal Penalties Act: A4203
Provides discretion to courts to reduce accumulated fines and penalties
Requires family impact statements on pre-sentencing reports
Includes restorative justice mediation as an alternative sentence
Expands access to expungement
WE NEED YOU!!!
Also
SUPPORT RALLY! DEC. 7TH 10AM
TRENTON STATE HOUSE (IN THE ANNEX COURTYARD (W. STATE ST.)
Come out to make sure that needed criminal justice policy changes take place under this administration!
Show NJ Legislators the support for YOUR
Public Safety and Prisoner Reentry Bills:
(Call #609-396-8900 x22 or 856-952-5140 for more information)
NJ REENTRY REFORM
Dear Legislator;
We, the undersigned, stand in support of the "Public Safety and Prisoner Reentry" bills sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman and Senator Cunningham.
New Jersey lawmakers have been engaged in a serious exploration of our criminal justice policies and practices.
Last September, under the leadership of Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman and in partnership with other state legislators, New Jersey launched a series of "Counting the Costs" community-based, public hearings across the State. From November to August, legislators visited four New Jersey correctional facilities, held eight regional, public hearings and two roundtable discussions on the following topics: families and incarceration; sentencing laws; education/training/treatment; mental health/health care; prison conditions; women; reentry/reintegration rights; national “best practices”; the juvenile waiver law; and a New Jersey Commissioner’s Roundtable.
In all, more than 1500 people attended, representing over a dozen districts, and more than three hundred testimonies were given to over twenty legislative members. We support these bills because they reflect the following research and evidence-based practices: Using time in prison productively enhances public safety and saves taxpayer dollars. Having paid their debt to society, the majority of people leave prison intending to be productive citizens—to work, pay taxes, and take care of their families.
There are currently insurmountable barriers to employment, reducing debt, educational opportunities, housing, health and social services, and supporting their families. Women and children are disproportionately impacted by incarceration and require gender responsive and family-focused support.
We represent a broad coalition of community organizations, faith leaders, legislators, law enforcement officials, directly affected persons, and the public at large who are working together to build support for the passage of these well informed, carefully shaped bills that reflect our collective voice across the State. We call on you to support these bills so that we can break the cycle of recidivism, enhance public safety, and save taxpayer dollars.
Sincerely,
[Your name]