Essex County Prison Inmates Will Get Help Rejoining Society Through New Partnership

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A new partnership in Essex County will help prison inmates get a running start towards success when they reenter society, advocates say.

On Wednesday, the New Jersey Reentry Corporation and the Essex County Department of Corrections released details about a memorandum of understanding involving the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark.

The prison is the largest county-run facility in the state. It houses inmates from across the region, including Union County.

According to the New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC), a nonprofit that helps ex-inmates get back on their feet, the new program will focus on helping them to prepare for life after prison – before they leave the premises.

Here’s what the program includes, the nonprofit said:

DOCUMENTS, FEES AND SOCIAL AID – “The NJRC will assist persons incarcerated at the Essex County Correctional Facility with birth certificate applications, Social Security card applications when needed, and coordination around state identification. It will help review outstanding fines, fees, and warrants, and provide basic legal orientation on compliance and personal responsibility. It will also provide pre-release navigation of benefits, including Medicaid, SNAP, general assistance, and, where applicable, veterans’ benefits, while supporting continuity of medical and behavioral health coverage upon release.”

ADDICTION, HOUSING AND JOBS – “The NJRC will support pre-release planning for addiction treatment placement and continuity of care; coordinate with community-based providers for immediate engagement after release; identify potential housing pathways, including family reunification and transitional options; and enroll participants in NJRC services prior to release. The agreement also includes workforce-readiness referrals for training, employment preparation, case management support, job fairs, interview preparation, resume assistance, dress for success, computer skills training, and social-service referrals.”

Inmates will have the choice whether to participate in the program or not, the NJRC said.

According to the nonprofit, prisoner rehabilitation is paying off.

Since 2014, the NJRC has served more than 31,000 people, facilitated more than 24,000 Medicaid enrollments, connected more than 13,000 people with addiction treatment, and placed more than 14,000 participants into employment.

The NJRC’s three-year recidivism rate is just a tick over 14 percent, as compared to 22 percent statewide in New Jersey and 27 percent nationally, the nonprofit reported – showing the value of combining benefits access, clinical linkage, workforce preparation and case management under a single umbrella.

Now, the nonprofit is seeking to bring that same model to the Essex County Correctional Facility – but this time inside the prison.

Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey – who serves as chair of the NJRC – said the new agreement with Essex County will help inmates to start planning a post-prison life before they leave custody.

“It means that identification, benefits enrollment, treatment linkage, housing planning and workforce preparation can be addressed in a coordinated way inside the facility, so that people return to the community with a stronger and more stable foundation,” McGreevey said.

The partnership also got the blessing of Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo Jr. and prison administrators.

“New obstacles are created if released individuals do not have identification, benefit enrollment, clinical appointments or a clear pathway to housing and employment,” DiVincenzo said.

Chief of Staff Philip Alagia said the agreement will address these types of barriers before release, when discharge planning can still be coordinated with correctional, clinical and reentry staff.

“The result is a more structured transition from custody to community, with greater continuity of care, documentation and access to services,” Alagia said.

Essex County Department of Corrections director Ronald Charles also gave a thumbs-up to the memorandum of understanding with the NJRC.

“This agreement establishes a more coherent reentry process at Essex County Correctional Facility, one that is organized around documentation, enrollment, treatment continuity and practical preparation for release,” Charles said.

“It is a significant step in strengthening public systems so that reentry begins before discharge and continues with structure after release,” he added.

• Related: NJ Inmates Are Committing Fewer New Crimes After Their Release, Report Says
• Related: Too Many Elderly Prisoners Are Languishing In NJ Jails, Advocates Say
• Related: Prison Inmates In Essex County Get Job Training, Education

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