Bill Text: NJ S2284 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires certain county inmates be provided with reentry assistance before their release.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-06-20 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [S2284 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-S2284-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Requires certain county inmates be provided with reentry assistance before their release.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain county inmates 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. The superintendent of each county correctional facility shall provide to each county inmate at least 10 days prior to release from that facility:
(1) A copy of the inmate's criminal history record and written information on the inmate's right to have his criminal records expunged under chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, eligibility requirements for expungement, and the procedural process for seeking expungement;
(2) General written information on the inmate's right to vote under R.S.19:4-1;
(3) General written information on the availability of programs, including faith-based and secular programs, that would assist in removing barriers to the inmate's employment or participation in vocational or educational rehabilitative programs, including, but not limited to information concerning the "Rehabilitated Convicted Offenders Act," P.L.1968, c.282 (C.2A:168A-1 et seq.) and the certificate of rehabilitation under P.L.2007, c.327 (C.2A:168A-7 et seq.);
(4) A detailed written record of the inmate's participation in educational, training, employment, and medical or other treatment programs while the inmate was incarcerated;
(5) A written accounting of the fines, assessments, surcharges, restitution, penalties, child support arrearages, and any other obligations due and payable by the inmate upon release;
(6) A non-driver identification card, which shall be issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and for which the Motor Vehicle Commission shall accept a former inmate's Department of Corrections identification card to have a two-point value in applying for the non-driver identification card;
(7) A copy of the inmate's birth certificate if the inmate was born in New Jersey;
(8) Assistance in obtaining a Social Security card;
(9) General written information concerning child support, including child support payments owed by the inmate, information on how to obtain child support payments and information on where to seek services regarding child support, child custody, and establishing parentage; and
(10) A copy of the inmate's full medical record at no charge to the inmate made available to the inmate in a safe and secure manner.
b. The provisions of subsection a. of this section shall apply only to those inmates who have been sentenced to a term of incarceration and to inmates who have been denied bail pursuant to the provisions P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-15 et al.).
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the superintendent of each county correctional facility to provide to inmates at least 10 days prior to their release certain information, documents, and other assistance to facilitate their reentry into the community.
Specifically, the bill requires these inmates to be provided with: a copy of their criminal history record and written information on the right to have criminal records expunged; general written information on their right to vote; general written information on the availability of programs, including faith-based and secular programs, that would assist in removing barriers to their employment or participation in vocational or educational rehabilitative programs; a detailed written record of their participation in educational, training, employment, and medical or other treatment programs while incarcerated; a written accounting of the fines, assessments, surcharges, restitution, penalties, child support arrearages, and any other obligations due and payable upon their release; a non-driver identification card; a copy of the their birth certificate; assistance in obtaining a Social Security card; general written information concerning child support, including child support payments they owe, information on how to obtain child support payments, and information on where to seek services regarding child support, child custody, and establishing parentage; and a copy of their full medical record.
The provisions of the bill apply only to those inmates who have been sentenced to a term of incarceration and who have been denied bail pursuant to the provisions of recently enacted bail reform law. Under the bail reform law, courts have the authority to deny defendants pretrial release and order pretrial detention.
