Anti Poverty Network

A BLUEPRINT TO REDUCE POVERTY IN NEW JERSEY

Reform criminal justice policy.

In general, New Jersey should provide support for incarcerated persons that will help them re-enter society and avoid poverty, support sentencing reform aimed at reducing the numbers of people in state jails and prisons, and recognize the negative impact of mandatory minimum sentences and laws that result in loss of driver’s licenses, which can impact the ability of those released from prison in finding employment, as well as reform youth detention and sentencing practices.

Steps must include:

A. Establish transition planning processes related to housing and employment for all incarcerated people re-entering society, not just those being released under parole.

B. Address the pervasive use of criminal background checks that can unnecessarily limit employment possibilities.

C. Review licensing requirements for governmentally regulated positions to assure that only relevant criminal convictions restrict an applicant’s job eligibility.

D. Provide for a system of remediation of criminal records that restores edibility for jobs that are not directly impacted by certain criminal convictions.

E. Support legislation that will allow judges discretion to provide exemptions to the law that mandates loss of driver’s license for those guilty of certain drug related offenses.

F. Establish a pilot “Restorative Justice Project” for youthful offenders.