Bill Text: NJ S903 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes "Prisoners' Reentry Bill of Rights."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-01 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S903 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S903-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "Prisoners' Reentry Bill of Rights."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning prisoner reentry, designated the "Prisoners' Reentry Bill of Rights," and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Corrections shall provide to inmates in each State correctional facility, prior to their release and in writing:
a. Information on their right to have their criminal records expunged under chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes;
b. Information on their right to vote under R.S.19:4-1;
c. Information on the availability of programs that would assist in removing barriers to their employment or participation in vocational or educational rehabilitative programs, including, but not limited to their rights under the "Rehabilitated Convicted Offenders Act," P.L.1968, c.282 (C.2A:168A-1 et seq.);
d. A detailed record of their participation in educational, training, employment, and treatment programs while they were incarcerated; and
e. An accounting of the fines, assessments, surcharges, restitution, penalties, child support arrearages and any other obligations due and payable by the inmates upon release.
2. The superintendent of each county correctional facility shall provide to inmates in the facility, prior to their release and in writing:
a. Information on their right to have their criminal records expunged under chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes;
b. Information on their right to vote under R.S.19:4-1;
c. Information on the availability of programs that would assist in removing barriers to their employment or participation in vocational or educational rehabilitative programs, including, but not limited to their rights under the "Rehabilitated Convicted Offenders Act," P.L.1968, c.282 (C.2A:168A-1 et seq.);
d. A detailed record of their participation in educational, training, employment, and treatment programs while they were incarcerated; and
e. An accounting of the fines, assessments, surcharges, restitution, penalties, child support arrearages and any other obligations due and payable by the inmates upon release.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would establish the "Prisoners' Reentry Bill of Rights." Under the bill, State and county inmates, prior to their release, would have to be informed, in writing, of their right to have their criminal records expunged, their right to vote, and about the availability of programs that would assist in removing barriers to their employment or participation in vocational or educational rehabilitative programs. Additionally, they would have to be provided with a detailed record of their participation in educational, training, employment, and treatment programs while incarcerated and be given an accounting of the fines, assessments, surcharges, restitution, penalties, child support arrearages and any other obligations that they owe.
