ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS COMMENT ON ‘SECOND CHANCE’ HEARING IN CAMDEN

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS COMMENT ON ‘SECOND CHANCE’ HEARING IN CAMDEN

(CAMDEN) – Assembly Democrats released the following statements today during a special Camden hearing focusing on finding ways to help individuals released from prison avoid returning to crime.

The Second Chance Hearing was the 7th convened by Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman:

Watson Coleman (D-Mercer):

“Reintegration of prisoners into mainstream society is key to combating the pervasive cycle of arrest, incarceration, release and re-incarceration. This ongoing cycle has cost the state and New Jersey communities countless tax dollars. It's time we break this cycle. The amount of money we are spending in the state's prison system has not purchased us safer communities. This is an issue of dollars and common sense.”

Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer (D-Essex):

“Today, we again heard the stories of far too many New Jerseyans who were incarcerated and have since faced an uphill battle to reintegrate into society and get some semblance of their lives back. Reintegration of ex-prisoners into New Jersey communities is key to keeping families together and ending the vicious cycle for which taxpayers have been forced to pay. New Jersey families, communities and our bankrolls have suffered. Former prisoners are expected to be released from jail not to return to a life of crime but to become contributing, taxpaying residents.”

Assemblyman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden):

“Ensuring those who leave our prisons are prepared to properly re-enter society will not only re-unite families and strengthen communities across the state, but it will also strengthen us fiscally. Every dollar we spend on a repeat offender is money that could have gone toward other great needs throughout our state. We can and should be doing better.”

Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden):

“This pervasive cycle of arrest, incarceration, release and arrest is certainly a difficult problem to tackle, but it’s also one we cannot be afraid to confront, especially in these tough fiscal times. This effort isn’t just about making families and neighborhoods stronger. It’s about ensuring every dollar we have is spent wisely.”

Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Essex):

“Post-release support and training during imprisonment can ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently to prevent crime. We cannot continue to be a day late and a dollar short by continuing to misspend correction dollars . Prisoners need rehabilitation programs and training to put their lives back together. Instead we are spending taxpayer dollars to do little more than warehouse prisoners who have few options other than to get back on the streets and return to a life of crime.”

On the Net:

www.assemblydems.com

www.youtube.com/user/njassemblydems

New Jersey Assembly Democrats on Facebook