Efforts to connect prisoners with programs and services after their release has helped reduce the prison population Watch video
TRENTON -- New Jersey's prison population has seen declines over the past several years, largely because of efforts to connect offenders to stable housing, job training and treatment services -- but legislators and prisoner re-entry advocates on Thursday said more can still be done.
"We always complain how come people just keep going back to jail," Senate President Steve Sweeney said during a forum. "Well, it's because we don't do enough to help them out."
Sweeney (D-Gloucester) hosted a forum that brought together program organizers, former prisoners and local and county officials.
Kevin McHugh, executive director of Re-Entry Coalition of New Jersey, said about 650,000 state and federal prisoners are released annually, but when there are few programs or services offered to help them address their issues, many of them end up imprisoned again within a few years.
"I don't think we can afford to continue just incarcerating people without thinking about what actually happens when they leave prison," McHugh said. "We need to have an assessment, we need to have a release plan. ... Those things are cheaper than incarceration and they make more sense."
Steven Lamancusa, one of three ex-offenders who spoke, said he continued to get in trouble because he had maxed out his prison term and was released without parole or supervision.
"With this program, it helped me get housing, a job and basically my whole attitude changed because I was finally given a chance to do good," he said. "It was always expected of me to go and do the wrong thing, so now that I'm doing the right thing, I feel great about myself."
One organization that was highlighted was Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, which has helped 350 offenders from Trenton and Atlantic City since receiving a $750,000 state grant in November. The funding to expand re-entry service was placed in the state Department of Community Affairs' budget by Sweeney and Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer).
Daniel Lombardo, president and CEO, said its new initiative focuses on those leaving the county jail system and those who have "maxed out" of the state system.
VOA reaches out to prisoners before they're discharged and aids with housing, employment, addiction treatment services, benefits, IDs and other services after their release.
"If you discharge someone and tell them 'Sin no more,' they have no support, no resources," Lombardo said. "They have nothing and then you want to know why 66 percent of them fail."
Assemblywoman Liz Muoio (D-Mercer) said she would continue to push for a bill allowing convicted drug offenders without children to receive welfare benefits. It was passed by both houses, but vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie.
"It means that a served sentence can turn into a life sentence for people who come out and try to get onto a path of success," Muoio said. "It would be difficult to find that path when you come out with the burdens that you come out with."
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer) spoke about a man he met who was released from prison after serving 19 years -- but had $3,000 in outstanding fees, no driver's license, no housing and no benefits.
"There's a whole host of problems with them coming out and especially with municipal court system still holding detainers over them, they can never get a driver's license unless they settle those fines," said Gusciora, who serves as a municipal prosecutor in Princeton. "We need a lot more services out there so that when the jail doors open, there will be someone there, a safety net to help them get established."
Sweeney said he would continue to work with his staff and fellow legislators on finding ways to help reduce the prison population.
"The government is finally starting to figure out that warehousing people is very expensive and it doesn't work," he said. "If you want people to stay out of jail, you have to help them -- at least give them a pathway."
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.