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Morris County Partners with NJRC to Enhance Inmate Reentry Programs
New collaboration aims to reduce recidivism rates and better integrate former offenders into the community, offering essential services at no additional cost to the county.
Morristown, NJ — Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon announced a groundbreaking partnership between the Morris County Sheriff's Office and the New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC) that promises to facilitate the successful reentry of inmates into the community post-incarceration.
The new partnership will expand reentry services for inmates at Morris County Correctional Facility. The program aims to reduce the 47% recidivism rate, and offer more comprehensive reentry support services by supplementing existing programs at no additional cost to the county - offering healthcare, legal aid, employment opportunities, and skills training to inmates upon release.
Essential Context:
New Jersey's criminal recidivism rate currently stands at 47%, a concerning figure that both organizations aim to reduce. According to former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, who now heads the NJRC, their program has shown significant success, reducing the recidivism rate to 19% for rearrests and under 10% for reincarcerations.
“This is all about not having this continuous cycle; it’s about correcting the trajectory,” McGreevey stated during a press conference at the Morris County Correctional Facility.
The NJRC will offer critical services, including healthcare, addiction treatment, legal services, employment and skills training, all while helping former inmates to re-establish identification credentials. These services are geared to augment the Successful Transition and Re-Entry (STAR) program currently in place at the correctional facility. The partnership aims to remove employment barriers for released individuals and ensure they re-enter society with a sustainable living path.
Sheriff James Gannon articulated the core rationale behind the initiative. “The individuals who come into our care and custody at the Morris County Correctional Facility all have unique and different needs. Working with NJRC will help us bridge existing gaps which we often see become pitfalls when individuals are released from custody," Gannon said.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and Chief of Detectives Robert McNally also expressed support during the announcement. “It’s a win for everybody,” Carroll emphasized.
Morris County Commissioner Doug Cabana, the board’s liaison to law enforcement, affirmed the importance of the new partnership. “Supporting inmates being released from custody with these essential services can help improve outcomes with their re-entry and positively shape their influence in our communities,” he stated.
Background:
The NJRC is a non-profit organization initially piloted in Hudson County in 2014. Spearheaded by McGreevey, it has since expanded its reach across New Jersey. The program has a social mission to remove all barriers to employment for citizens returning from jail or prison.
By addressing the multifaceted needs of inmates—housing, food, healthcare, employment, and education—both the Morris County Sheriff's Office and the NJRC aim to foster safer communities through successful reentry programs.
