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Please Open the Door to Critical Services!
Dear [Decision Maker],
You will soon be meeting to discuss an urgent matter of justice and public safety and I am asking for your support. S1930/A3523 would provide critical services to a large, un-served population while improving public safety. Currently, when an individual has served the maximum term of their incarceration they reenter society without any supervision or transitional services; placing both the individual and the public at risk. According to research*, these individuals commit more crimes than those on supervised release or parole. Imagine coming home, trying to reconnect with the community, find housing (often while being denied emergency assistance and other important social services) and substantive employment with little to no support. In 2015 alone, nearly 6,000 individuals "maxed out" of New Jersey state prisons in need of critical resources. New Jersey already has the infrastructure to serve these individuals within the Division of Parole. S1930/A3523 would simply open the door to give people access to life skills training, anger management, substance abuse prevention and treatment, job readiness and employment placement, job coaching and most importantly, case management--someone who will follow up with them and assist them in meeting the challenges associated with successful reentry. We incarcerate people at great expense; to them, to the State and to their community. It is only prudent that we provide this support in the community after release- this is a common sense proposal that we know from experience can and will work.*The Impact of Parole in New Jersey by the Pew Charitable Trusts (November, 2013)
Sincerely,[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State ZIP][Your Email]
