S2874

An Act concerning the provision of reentry services to certain defendants who are victims of abuse and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

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

1. a. As used in this section:

“Trauma-informed reentry service provider” means a State-licensed or State-certified counselor, psychologist, social worker, or other State-licensed or State-certified mental health professional qualified under State law to provide mental health services to trauma-involved reentry survivors.

“Trauma-informed reentry support services” means reentry services provided to trauma-involved reentry survivors. “Trauma-informed reentry services” include, but shall not be limited to, access to mental health counseling, peer recovery support, vocational training, and housing assistance.

“Trauma-involved reentry survivor” means a victim of domestic violence who was subjected to substantial physical, sexual, or psychological abuse inflicted by a member of the defendant’s family or household, and for whom the abuse was a contributing factor to the defendant’s criminal behavior.

b. Any individual sentenced pursuant to subsection i. of N.J.S.2C:44-1, or resentenced pursuant to section 2 of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. 4870 of 2024-2025), shall be eligible for trauma-informed reentry support services. Whenever practicable, these services shall be delivered in collaboration with or by individuals who are trauma-involved reentry survivors and have completed recognized trauma-informed certification or recovery-based training.

c. The Department of Corrections, in collaboration with the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Office of the Public Defender, shall develop and disseminate guidelines for the provision of trauma-informed reentry support services programs that serve individuals sentenced pursuant to subsection i. of N.J.S.2C:44-1, or resentenced pursuant to section 2 of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. 4870 of 2024-2025).

d. (1) There is established in the Department of Corrections a grant program to assist community-based reentry programs in providing trauma-informed reentry support services pursuant to this section. The grant funds awarded pursuant to this section shall be used to increase the number of mental health service providers in order to expand the pipeline of trained, trauma-informed reentry service providers.

(2) Grants under the program shall be awarded on a competitive basis. Trauma-informed reentry service providers that receive a grant under the program shall use the funds to create and expand programs and partnerships that train graduate students who seek to become trauma-informed reentry service providers.

(3) In awarding grant funding, priority shall be given to community-based organizations led by trauma-involved reentry survivors and certified trauma-informed reentry service providers who can provide culturally responsive care and reentry services.

(4) To be eligible for a grant award under the program, a trauma-informed reentry service provider, or group of providers seeking to participate in the program together shall submit an application to the Commissioner of Corrections, in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the commissioner.

(5) The commissioner shall establish selection criteria for the awarding of grants under the program, including consideration of the guidelines listed under subsection c. of this section. Grants shall be awarded based upon review of the applications and subject to the availability of funds. The commissioner shall establish the amount for each grant that is awarded.

e. The Department of Corrections shall annually apply for and use any federal funds, including grant funds or other federal assistance which may be available to be used for the grant program established pursuant to this section.

f. Within three years following the receipt of a grant award under the program, the Department of Corrections shall submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor containing information on the use of the grant funds. The report shall include, at a minimum, information on the number of individuals who applied to resentencing pursuant to section 2 of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. 4870 of 2024-2025), the number of individuals granted hearings and the number resentenced; demographics of applicants including age, gender, race and ethnicity; types of reentry and aftercare services accessed post-release, and outcomes related to recidivism, employment, housing, and continued trauma-informed reentry support services, the number of graduate students trained under the program, and the number of individuals assisted through trauma-informed reentry support services.

2. This act shall take effect on the date that P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. 4870 of 2024-2025) takes effect. The Administrative Office of the Courts may take such anticipatory action as may be needed for the timely implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill provides trauma-informed reentry support services to certain defendants who were victims of domestic violence or abuse at the time the crime was committed, and for whom the domestic violence or abuse was a contributing factor in the commission of the crime.

The provisions of the bill are tied to the provisions of Senate Bill No. 4870 of this Legislative Session (S4870), which establish a new mitigating factor, reduced sentencing, and resentencing for certain defendants who were victims of domestic violence or abuse at the time the crime was committed, if the domestic violence or abuse was a contributing factor in the commission of the crime. Under this bill, an individual who is sentenced, resentenced, or released under the provisions of S4870 is eligible to receive traumainformed reentry support services. These services are required to include access to mental health counseling, peer recovery support, vocational training, and housing assistance.

The Department of Corrections, in collaboration with the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Office of the Public Defender, is directed to develop and disseminate implementation guidelines for trauma-informed reentry support programs that serve individuals sentenced, released, or resentenced under the companion bill, S4870. The Department of Corrections is directed to establish a grant program to assist trauma-informed reentry support services programs in providing mental health services and expanding the pipeline of trained trauma-informed service providers.