SJR58 1R

Sponsored by:

Senator M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Stanfield

SYNOPSIS

Designates last week of April of each year as “Reentry Week.”

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As reported by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on February 23, 2023, with amendments.

A Joint Resolution designating the last week in April of each year as “Reentry Week.”

Whereas, The vast majority of ¹[people] individuals¹ currently serving sentences in ¹[New Jersey prisons and jails] State and county correctional facilities¹ will transition into communities throughout the State when they ¹[leave] are released from¹ incarceration; and

Whereas, Formerly incarcerated individuals face numerous challenges that include finding work, housing, healthcare, addiction treatment, mental health ¹treatment¹, ¹and¹ transportation ¹[and] in addition to¹ reuniting with family, which can lead to recidivism¹[,] and¹ health, safety, and social concerns; and

Whereas, Federal, State, and local leaders recognize these challenges and are working on policies and programs focused on removing the barriers that prevent formerly incarcerated ¹[people] individuals¹ from pursuing healthy and productive lives when they return to communities after serving time in ¹[prison or in jail] correctional facilities¹; and

Whereas, The New Jersey Reentry Services Commission (RSC) is charged with examining issues ¹[relating] related¹ to prisoner reentry, including, but not limited to, identifying specific services that are necessary for successful reentry, identifying current obstacles to inmates receiving these services, and proposing solutions to remove these obstacles; and

Whereas, In 2019 ¹,¹ the RSC released a report that offered 100 practical action steps to improve the lives of those being released from prison, with a focus on addiction treatment, healthcare, legal issues, and employment training; and

Whereas, The Commission on Reentry Services for Women (CRSW) is charged with examining issues ¹[relating] related¹ to women prisoner reentry including, but not limited to ¹[:] ,¹ identifying physical and psychological hardships endured while incarcerated that may impede successful reentry ¹[;] , identifying¹ specific services that are necessary for successful reentry¹[;] , identifying¹ current obstacles to female prisoners receiving these services¹[;] ,¹ and proposing solutions to remove these obstacles; and

Whereas, In 2020 ¹,¹ the CRSW released a report that offered more than 70 recommendations for how to improve the lives of women being released ¹from incarceration¹ with a focus on employment, healthcare, housing, family reunification, and domestic violence; and

Whereas, Local reentry ¹[councils,] organizations,¹ community ¹[,]¹and ¹[faith based] faith-based¹ organizations, and ¹[others] other organizations¹ across New Jersey play key roles in providing resources for formerly incarcerated ¹[people] individuals¹; and

Whereas, Reentry Week provides an opportunity to raise public awareness about the challenges that formerly incarcerated individuals face and to encourage organizations, including State agencies, to support ¹[those]¹ efforts ¹to provide assistance and resources to formerly incarcerated individuals¹; and

Whereas, ¹[Communities throughout the] Public officials and citizens of this¹ State are encouraged to observe Reentry Week ¹with appropriate activities and programs¹; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The last week of April of each year is designated as “Reentry Week” to raise public awareness about the challenges that formerly incarcerated individuals face and to encourage organizations, including State agencies, to support ¹[those]¹ efforts ¹to provide assistance and resources to formerly incarcerated individuals¹.

2. The Governor may issue each year a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe the week with appropriate activities and programs.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.