Mercer County Reentry Task Force

03/20/2022

An important conversation will be had about Social Justice, from the perspective of young adults. Please feel free to not only attend but to share the flyer as well.

03/01/2022

Link for the meeting: https://mercerreentry.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=04a32455b3ceba2c44b2b1627&id=6e6a116ede&e=0d7864d06b

Please join us tomorrow at 1:30pm. This months focus is free certified training that can lead to employment opportunities where individuals can earn between $18-$35 hr. One of the presenters is Lance Lopez of NJMEP. The other presenter is a Sarah Trent who recently secured a medical cannabis dispensary license, please feel free to share.

06/24/2021

Please join us for our 5th Annual Reentry Conference.

You must register in advance so you can attend.

Task Force Conference Link:

https://tcnj.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEpceCpqD0oE91gUBayiXa-6kUVGJrvVH6C

10/04/2019

New Jersey Tries Cannabis Reform Again

Pay attention....

Will NJ finally legalize cannabis?

05/13/2019

4th Annual Mercer County Reentry Conference

If you have been previously incarcerated or have a background issue this event is for you. Their will be employers, educators & resource providers at this event.

We welcome all families and partners in reentry to our free conference to become better connected with local resources.

03/19/2019

Holley, McKnight & Wimberly on Bill Concerning Expungement of Certain Cannabis Offenses Continuing to Advance in Assembly - Insider NJ

“Holley (D-Union): “This legislation is critically important as we move toward legalization of adult-use cannabis in New Jersey. Without this bill, many residents would continue to be affected by the criminalization of small amounts ma*****na as a result of prior convictions long after the laws change. Broader regulation around expungement will give residents the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and clean the slate, enabling them to gain employment and seize the opportunities life presents them.”

Holley, McKnight & Wimberly on Bill Concerning Expungement of Certain Cannabis Offenses Continuing to Advance in Assembly (TRENTON) – On legislation (A-4498) that would revise procedures for expunging records of conviction, which was advanced today by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, spon....

03/16/2019

On March 15, 2019, the Immigrant Trust Directive, New Jersey's groundbreaking new policy to strengthen trust between law enforcement and the state's diverse immigrant communities, went into effect.
Learn more at nj.gov/trust

Please Share....

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvCw56aFQHA/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=b3kt1extxfd4

10/07/2018

Need your criminal record expunged? It just got a lot easier. Here's how it works

For most of the previously incarcerated & those with background issues that are eligible for an expungement it is the biggest hurdle they will face in order to put themselves and their families on the pathway to success.

Lawyers said that people who weren't eligible before are eager to get their records wiped clean

06/08/2018

MCRTF met with Mayoral Candidate Reed Gusciora for Mayor of Trenton to discuss his vision of working with and on the behalf of individuals and families affected by reentry. We will be posting Mr. Gusciora's responses to questions shortly. We would sincerely like to thank the Assemblyman for sitting down with us this morning. Themes included accountability and leadership.

Whoever wins on Tuesday, the next mayor will need to understand the unique and prevalent challenges for the reentry population in Trenton. We look forward to starting the work on June 12th.

05/02/2018

Presentation from The College of NJ on how to knock down individuals face when returning home from incarceration.

04/05/2018

Thank you to The College of NJ and The Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund for presenting at yesterday’s monthly Mercer County Reentry Task Force meeting.

01/17/2018

Please note that today's meeting is cancelled due to inclement weather.

11/30/2017

Giving those on parole a job can lower crime rate | Editorial

This is a serious problem & it’s up to all of us to pitch in with a solution.

A proposed New Jersey law would establish a way for former inmates to put their hands on a document certifying them as employable, and make it easier to obtain work in the public sector or to obtain a professional license issued by the state.

11/20/2017

A conversation that needs to continuously happen.

09/30/2017

REMINDER TO ALL EAST TRENTON RESIDENTS (NORTHWARD). Their are still a few slots open for the 3 part Expungement/Certificate of Rehabilitation Workshops starting tomorrow. If you have not already registered please show up by 11:45am to do so, NO EXCUSES.

09/18/2017

Please share, a persons background should not determine their future.

09/14/2017

Please share.

09/01/2017

Our next meeting is Wednesday, September 6 at 1:30pm. As always, 218 N. Broad St., Trenton, NJ, 2nd floor conference room. We hope to see you there.

07/25/2017

Thank you to everyone who attended our 3rd annual conference, and especially to our keynote speaker, panelists, sponsors, volunteers, and venue - Mercer County Community College.

07/19/2017

3rd Annual Reentry Conference

Don't forget to register for this Saturday's 3rd annual Mercer County Reentry Conference! 11-3 at Mercer College. FREE to community members and professionals alike.

Mercer County Community College will be hosting the 3rd Annual Mercer County Reentry Conference at the James Kerney Campus (102 N. Broad St. Trenton, NJ 08608) from 11am to 4pm. The event will focus on challenges faced by those returning home from incarceration. Agenda 11:00 - Lunch and Registratio...

06/27/2017

Please come on out & join us for our 3rd Annual Reentry Conference. Register at http://bit.ly/2slh5KM

06/19/2017

Task Force members,

Due to a family emergency of our keynote speaker, the 3rd annual Mercer County Reentry Conference (originally scheduled for this Saturday, June 24) is postponed until mid-July.

We will reach out as soon as we have finalized the new date with our speaker and venue.

We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to seeing you next month.

Sincerely,
Mercer County Reentry Task Force

04/24/2017

AG wants automatic jail time for gun cases under N.J. bail reform

Months after New Jersey passed bail reform, New Jersey's Attorney General has requested to include gun possession and other crimes on the list of offenses in which incarceration is automatically recommended. This move has lead to reactions from both public defenders as well as civil liberties advocates. Read the article for more information.

AG asks for tougher pre-trial rules for gun crimes, eluding. Defense attorneys say no way.

04/03/2017

On Wednesday, April 5, 2017 The College of New Jersey will be hosting an expungement session from 3pm to 4pm at the Roscoe West building in Room 102. TCNJ alumni and NJ Supreme Court Certified Criminal and Civil Trial Attorney Matthew C. Dorsi, Esq. will speak about the effects of an arrest record and its impact on a persons personal and professional life as well as the timeline and process of "clearing a record". The flyer with the information is posted here.

03/29/2017

Connecticut Reimagines Prison With New Program for Young Men

With the knowledge that youth between the ages of 18-24 are still learning and growing emotionally, Connecticut Department of Corrections alongside the Vera Institute have implemented a pilot program meant to change the culture of corrections. T.R.U.E is centered on the voices and experiences of those affected by incarceration the most - the incarcerated young adults and front line staff.

It changes the culture of corrections by drawing on lessons from American juvenile justice, international examples, and academic research.

03/03/2017

What Happens When a Prisoner Is Released?

This short documentary on reentry in New Orleans shows a quick glimpse at the challenges individuals have when returning home. It features Dianne Jones who heads one of the first re-entry programs to serve women in New Orleans.

A short documentary on the importance of re-entry programs for the formerly incarcerated

02/10/2017

How Mass Incarceration Contributes to the Achievement Gap

Researchers from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) in a new report argued that mass incarceration plays a major role in creating racial gaps in academic performance between black and white students. Leila Morsy, the report's co-author and a lecturer at the University of New South Wales stated that "making changes to criminal-justice policy can make as much, if not more, of a difference for children."

A new study shows that disproportionate imprisonment rates faced by people of color exacerbate race-based inequalities in educational attainment.

01/11/2017

Chris Christie Signs 19 Bills Into Law, Including Domestic Violence Bill; Vetoes 2 Others

ANNOUNCEMENT: Chris Christie signs into law A-2106/S-2351 and A-2107/S-2350. Individuals experiencing homelessness may receive certified copies of birth certificates and non-driver ID cards WITHOUT FEE.

Requests must be submitted through a social worker/emergency shelter on organizational letterhead.

Note that, according to the bill language, the birth certificate provision is mandatory and takes effect immediately. The ID card provision is at the discretion of the MVC chief administrator and takes effect later this year.

Gov. Chris Christie signed 19 bills into law Monday, including legislation to prevent domestic violence, while vetoing two others.

01/03/2017

The good news? Our prison population keeps shrinking

The good news? Our prison population keeps shrinking

The incarceration rate dropped again, even though Congress has not passed any criminal justice reforms.

12/21/2016

Forget “ban the box” and give ex-prisoners employability certificates | Brookings Institution

Forget “ban the box” and give ex-prisoners employability certificates | Brookings Institution

Jennifer Doleac makes the case for "employability certificates," which addresses whether a person with a criminal record is fit for employment or not.

12/07/2016

Christie vetoes bill limiting solitary confinement in N.J. prisons

On Monday, Gov. Chris Christie dealt a blow to civil liverties advocates in New Jersey by vetoing Senate bill No. 51 which would have strictly limited the practice of solitary confinement. Read the article to find more information and Gov. Christie's response to the bill.

Advocates say veto is a setback for national movement to limit solitary in prisons.

09/17/2016

No Driver's License, No Job

“We can spend all our time talking about and debating anti-poverty programs,” Yunk-Todd said, “But often it comes down to these policies that need to be fixed.”

For years, conservative policymakers have urged those in need to get work. But for those without driver’s licenses—who are by and large people of color—that’s not such an easy task.

07/05/2016

Charlotte woman opens up to Channel 9 after 21 years in prison

Evidence of why reentry services are so vital.

A Charlotte woman is speaking only to Eyewitness News about her wrongful imprisonment for 21 years, and how President Obama's clemency saved her.

06/29/2016

Please note that our monthly meeting scheduled for Wednesday July 6, 2016 has been cancelled. Please join us for our next monthly meeting on Wednesday September 7, 2016.