Reentry programs are a critical component to a successful transition into society after prison for formerly incarcerated persons. Legislation, sponsored by Assembly members Annette Quijano (D-Hudson), Anthony Verrelli (D-Mercer, Hunterdon), and Raj Mukherji (D-Hudson), that would expand the scope of reentry services and benefits currently available to inmates released from incarceration in state and county correctional facilities was signed into law on Monday.
The new law (formerly bill A-4785) would extend the provisions of the Fair Release and Reentry Act of 2009 to also include inmates being released from county correctional facilities to be provided with the same reentry services documents, information, and items as given to the inmates released from state facilities.
Assembly members Quijano, Verrelli, and Mukherji issued the following joint statement on the law:
“It is necessary to assist not only those inmates currently being released from correctional facilities to obtain housing, food, and other services, but also any additional inmates who may be released under new legislation or revised criminal sentencing laws. This new law further extends current provisions to ensure more inmates throughout the state have access to resources, tools such as identification cards, help with applications to programs, and a stock of their prescriptions upon reentering society. The more prepared these residents are to make it on the outside, the less of a chance they will return to prison.”