CORRECTIONS AND RE-ENTRY Scope of the Problem and Indicators of Need The New Jersey prison population has increased over the last two decades. Reasons for the increase include an increasing number of arrests due to drug offenses and greater use of mandatory minimum sentences. Parole failures, due to technical violations or new crimes are another reason for the population increase. In 2002, 40% of admissions to state prison were people who had failed on parole. 1 Between 1980 and 2002, New Jersey’s prison population increased from a rate of 76 to 331 per 100,000 residents. 2 An estimated 95% - 97% of inmates will return to New Jersey communities after their incarceration periods have been completed. 3 Many will return with substance abuse problems and health conditions that have not been addressed adequately during incarceration. Educational levels and stigma attached to a criminal record may add to difficulty reintegrating after release. In New Jersey, there have been approximately 14,000 state prison releases per year and 14,000 admissions per year since 2001. 4 The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice estimates that 70,000 people will be released from state prison over the next 5 years. Additional releases will come from jails. In 2002, nearly all (95%) of individuals incarcerated in New Jersey remained in New Jersey after release. Nearly one-third (31%) returned to Essex or Camden county. 5 State data reveals that, within three years of release from New Jersey state prisons, 53% of offenders are rearrested, 41% are reconvicted, 35% are re-incarcerated and 26% return to state prison.6 Education, skills and time out of the labor force affect employment after release. For many ex-offenders, having a criminal record bars them from obtaining employment at certain jobs. For some jobs in New Jersey, including alcohol and drug counselors, casino employees, insurance adjustors, and social workers, employers must consider the criminal record and proof of rehabilitation of the applicant. Some private employers may also choose to collect information on criminal background even if it is not required by law. 7 1 Coming Home for Good: Meeting the Challenge of Prisoner Reentry in New Jersey , Final Report for the New Jersey Reentry Roundtable, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, New Jersey Public Policy Research Institute, December 2003, p.4. 2 Travis, Jeremy, Sinead Keegan, Eric Cadora, Amy Solomon and Charles Swartz, A Portrait of Prisoner Reentry in New Jersey , Urban Institute, November 2003. 3 Coming Home for Good , p.6. 4 New Jersey State Department of Corrections, Office of Public Information, information received via e-mail January 23, 2004. 5 A Portrait of Prisoner Reentry in New Jersey , p. 4. 6 New Jersey State Department of Corrections, Office of Public Information – information received via e-mail January 23, 2004. 7 Legal Barriers to Employment, Looking Out for Your Legal Rights , June 2000. 1 In 2002, over half (57%) of New Jersey prisoners had moderate to extreme substance abuse disorders and 85% had some level of drug and/or alcohol problem. 8 The need for substance abuse treatment and health care is widespread. Earlier research found that, while 75%- 80% of New Jersey prisoners had substance abuse disorders, only 8%-12% were receiving treatment. 9 According to a 2003 analysis, substance abuse treatment during incarceration does not include most psychosocial and medication treatments. Co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse are currently not treated together in the corrections system. After being released from prison, many individuals still have rehabilitation service needs. For instance, approximately one-third of prisoners had communicable or non-communicable mental or physical health conditions or disabilities upon reentry into communities in 2002. 10 New Jersey has been leading the nation in offenders incarcerated for drug offenses. Thirty-six-percent of people incarcerated in the state’s prison system are drug offenders. 11 The rest of the nation averages 20%. 12 In 2001, New Jersey spent $266 million incarcerating drug offenders. 13 The amount of money New Jersey spent on incarcerating drug offenders is more than one-third of the state’s spending on the entire corrections systems. 14 Strict drug laws and mandatory minimum sentences are partly responsible for the increase in the prison population from the 1980 total of 5,886 to 27,891 in 2002. 15 A poll conducted by the Eagleton Institute of Politics found that 80% of New Jersey adults support using treatment and community service sentences for low-level, non-violent drug offenses if it will save money; 73% support the use of drug courts; and 73% support allowing judges to set aside mandatory minimum prison terms. 16 Approximately 95% of prisoners are men; however, the percentage of women is growing, according to 2003 statistics. 17 Nearly two-thirds (63%) of prisoners are Black or African American, 20% are White and 17% are Hispanic/Latino. Median age is 33 years; median term of 8 New Jersey Department of Corrections 2002 Annual Report , Division of Programs and Community Services. 9Coming Home for Good: Meeting the Challenge of Prisoner Reentry in New Jersey , New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and New Jersey Public Policy Research Institute, December 2003, p. 24, http://www.njisj.org/reports/cominghome_report.pdf. 10 Travis, Jeremy, Sinead Keegan, Eric Cadora, Amy Solomon and Charles Swartz, A Portrait of Prisoner Reentry in New Jersey , Urban Institute, November 2003, pp. 21-25. 11 Proportion of State Prisoners Held for Drug Offenses reported by state corrections department to Justice Policy Institute, July, 2003. All were for the latest year available (New Jersey, July, 2002; Illinois, 2002; North Dakota, 1999; all others in top ten, 2003). New Jersey data from Preliminary Population Data, Office of Policy and Planning, Policy Analysis and Planning, July 2002. 12 Ibid. 13 Schiraldi, Vincent and Jason Ziedenberg Costs and Benefits? The Impact of Drug Imprisonment in New Jersey . The Justice Policy Institute, 2003 . 14 Ibid. 15 Greene, Judith A., New Jersey Sentencing and a Call for Reform , Smart on Crime Briefing Book, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, November 2003. 16 New Jersey’s Opinions on Alternatives to Mandatory Minimums , Conducted by Families Against Mandatory Minimums by the Eagleton Institute of Politics Center for Public Interest Polling, October 2004. 17 Offender Characteristics Report on January 13, 2003, Policy Analysis and Planning, New Jersey Department of Corrections, January 2004. 2 incarceration is 5 years. 18 Ninety-percent of people incarcerated for drug offenses are minorities. 19 18 Offender Characteristics Report on January 11, 2005, Policy Analysis and Planning, New Jersey Department of Corrections, May 2005. 19 Testimony of Richard J. Williams, Administrative Director of the Courts, before the Senate Judiciary Committee, March 22, 2004. 3 Corrections & Re-entry Programs The philosophy on corrections historically runs in cycles. Public opinion shifts from periods where some believe that incarceration is meant for retribution to times when the corrections movement focuses on rehabilitation. The State of New Jersey’s Corrections budget represents a mix of programs serving these two goals of retribution for crimes and rehabilitation for offenders. In addition, New Jersey’s budget also provides money for re-entry of ex- offenders. While institutional programs are important, there is no time that the corrections budget affects low-income people more than it does when a person is transitioning back into the community. New Jersey’s spending on programs for offenders and ex-offenders funds two agencies, the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the State Parole Board (SPB). In general terms, these two agencies focus on institutionalization of offenders and re-entry, respectively, although there is some necessary cross-over to facilitate the transition. The entire Corrections budget has increased by $15 million. Funding increased for the state prison system within the DOC by $7.6 million between FY05 and FY06. The SPB budget increased by $5.2 million. Table of Contents Institutions ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Offices of Community and Drug Programs .............................................................................. 12 Department of Corrections Office of Educational Services .................................................... 13 Mutual Agreement Program ...................................................................................................... 16 Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative ..................................................................... 18 Halfway-Back Program .............................................................................................................. 19 Day Reporting Centers ............................................................................................................... 21 Parolee Drug Treatment ............................................................................................................. 23 Adult Drug Court Programs ...................................................................................................... 24 Intensive Supervision Program ................................................................................................. 26 Sex Offender Management Unit ...............................................................................................