Bill Text: NJ AR148 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass "REDEEM Act," which makes it easier for nonviolent drug offenders to achieve economic self-reliance following release from prison.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-09-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Human Services Committee [AR148 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR148-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman NANCY J. PINKIN
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman JOSEPH A. LAGANA
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman GILBERT "WHIP" L. WILSON
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Spencer
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to pass "REDEEM Act," which makes it easier for nonviolent drug offenders to achieve economic self-reliance following release from prison.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging Congress to pass the "REDEEM Act," which makes it easier for nonviolent drug offenders to achieve economic self-reliance following their release from prison.
Whereas, Criminal records are often an impediment to employment, trapping millions of Americans with nonviolent criminal records in a cycle of unemployment and poverty; and
Whereas, The United States accounts for just five percent of the world's population, but 25 percent of the world's prison population; and
Whereas, Within three years of being released from prison, 57 percent of New Jersey's released inmates are arrested again and 49 percent are incarcerated for new offenses or serious parole violations; and
Whereas, New Jersey taxpayers spend, on average, $44,734 to keep one inmate incarcerated at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton for one year; and
Whereas, The existing sentencing system precludes many released inmates from attaining stable employment and economic security, which increases the likelihood that released inmates will commit future criminal acts, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and incarceration; and
Whereas, On July 8, 2014, United States Senators Cory Booker and Rand Paul introduced S. 2567, the "Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment Act of 2014" or the "REDEEM Act," to address the collateral consequences of this nation's astounding rate of incarceration; and
Whereas, The "REDEEM Act" automatically seals the records of juveniles who commit nonviolent crimes before age 15, places limits on the solitary confinement of juveniles, establishes a system to allow eligible nonviolent criminals to petition a court to seal their criminal records, and restores food stamp and welfare benefits for low-level drug offenders who have served their sentences; and
Whereas, The "REDEEM Act" also encourages states to pass sentencing laws substantially similar to or more generous than federal sentencing laws and to raise the age of criminal responsibly to 18 years of age by awarding priority for federal policing services grants to compliant states; and
Whereas, It is in the best interest of the citizens of this State for this House to promote a justice system in which nonviolent offenders have the opportunity to achieve economic self-reliance following their release, which would decreased the rate of recidivism and the financial burden imposed on the taxpayers of this State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges Congress to pass the "REDEEM Act," which makes it easier for nonviolent drug offenders to achieve economic self-reliance following their release from prison.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, and to each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges Congress to pass the "REDEEM Act," which makes it easier for nonviolent drug offenders to achieve economic self-reliance following their release from prison.
On July 8, 2014, United States Senators Cory Booker and Rand Paul introduced S. 2567, the "Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment Act of 2014" or the "REDEEM Act," to address the collateral consequences of incarceration. The existing sentencing system prohibits many released inmates from attaining stable employment and economic security. The lack of employment opportunities that nonviolent drug offenders confront upon their release from prison traps millions of Americans in a cycle of unemployment and poverty. The problem manifests itself in the form of a recidivism rate of 54 percent among New Jersey's released inmate population. The problem also affects New Jersey's taxpayers in the amount of $44, 734 per inmate per year.
The "REDEEM Act" automatically seals the records of juveniles who commit nonviolent crimes before age 15, places limits on the solitary confinement of juveniles, establishes a system to allow eligible nonviolent criminals to petition a court to seal their criminal records, and restores food stamp and welfare benefits for low-level drug offenders who have served their sentences. The "REDEEM Act" also encourages states to pass sentencing laws substantially similar to or more generous than federal sentencing laws and to raise the age of criminal responsibly to 18 years of age by awarding priority for federal policing services grants to compliant states. The reforms aim to repair a justice system in which nonviolent offenders lack the opportunity to achieve economic self-reliance following their release.
This House urges Congress to pass the "REDEEM Act" to decrease the rate of recidivism and lower the financial burden on the taxpayers of this State.
