I want to thank everyone who came out and participated in the crime prevention, re-entry, and gang forum at the Rose of Sharon Church on last evening. It was well attended with roughly 150 people in attendance. I want to give a special thanks to the panel guests who enlightened us tremendously with their informative discussions: Wanda Moore, Attorney General’s Office, Darcella Sessomes, Department of Corrections, Anthony Bland, Department of Education, Captain Hector Reyes, New Jersey State Parole Board, Kirsten Giardi, Vice-President Northern NJ Division of Goodwill, Joe Greer, New Jersey Families Against Mandatory Minimums, and Jean Ross, Esq. Each panel guest brought significant insight regarding the issues of the forum.
This forum is one of the first approaches I am taking to discuss and field solutions to problems in the City of Plainfield as well as my Legislative District. This is a constructive move in Plainfield especially because I have heard many residents complain about issues, but were never motivated to pursue the solutions. I am now attempting to provide such an avenue, and last night’s panel forum certainly sent a staunch message that Plainfield is motivated and willing to work towards solutions.
The first issue of discussion on yesterday evening was crime prevention. Anthony Bland from the Department of Education did an excellent job in painting a picture of reality as to the efforts in which the State takes and implements in educating our children in school regarding crime prevention and deterrence. Jean Ross, Esq. also discussed methods of deterrence through educational means, as well as the importance of family connectivity; a huge basis of support for a child. Criminality takes advantage and transforms the honest wills of our youth and, as Mr. Bland stated, we do not want the levees of criminality to break.
The second issue discussed dealt with the issue of re-entry. The most prevalent problem with re-entry is the fact that ex-offenders receive virtually no transition from confinement to community. They receive little or no help, aid, or guidance as to how to re-condition themselves to operate productively as law-abiding citizens once released from prison. We need to ensure their re-entry transition then is smooth, preparing avenues which avoid recidivism. Wanda Moore from the Attorney General’s Office gave a thorough 3-step process as to how the Attorney General’s Office is taking steps to afford such realities. Darcella Sessomes also eloquently outlined the exhaustive and supportive efforts of the Department of Corrections.
The third and final issue discussed was gang education, containment, and prevention. Captain Reyes from the State Parole Board outlined an educational program that the Board established called G.R.E.A.T., an initiative that Linden, a sister City in our District, already has employed. Kirsten Giardi, Vice President of the Northern Division of Goodwill, contributed to the alternative discussion points Captain Reyes explained; using our resources to help ex-offenders find jobs, housing, and adjust to the community.
In further points, members of the panel prescribed that rather than spending $48,000 on an inmate to keep them imprisoned, there are vehicles, so long as the offender qualifies for such standards, that will provide housing and programs to help them adjust to the community they are returning to, for half of that figure. These sorts of measures can certainly, and have been proven, to provide the opportunity for inmates and ex offenders to adhere to law and be good standing citizens upon their release.
Mayor Robinson-Briggs discussed the local taskforce that is being put into place as a communication liaison between the City and State agencies pertaining to these issues. Such initiatives that Plainfield is taking are being recognized from the federal level down to the Prosecutor’s and Sheriff’s Offices here in Union County.
Just yesterday the Prosecutor’s Office held a press conference in Plainfield regarding the recent homicides in our City. Because of the Crime Taskforce the County has put together, the capturing of two men in relation to the January 2008 slaying lasted only 14 months, as stated in the Courier News.
We will be having follow-up meetings as we move forward with dealing with crime prevention, gangs, and re-entry to make sure individuals who fall victim to these issues, realize that help and support are there so long as they adhere to law-abiding standards.
For more information regarding the panel guests and their respected areas of work, please email me at Asmgreen@njleg.org, or call my District Office at (908) 561-5757, and my staff will direct you accordingly.
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