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Jeremy Travis
Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute
Mr. Travis is a Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute and
is co-chair of the Reentry Roundtable (New Jersey Institute
for Social Justice)—a group of prominent academics,
practitioners, service providers, and community leaders
working to advance policies and innovations on prisoner
reentry that reflect solid research. Before he joined the
Urban Institute, Mr. Travis was the director of the National
Institute of Justice, the research arm of the U.S. Department
of Justice. Mr. Travis has been an active figure in the
development of a policy and research agenda on the issue
of prisoner reentry.
Jeremy is co-author of " A Portrait of Prisoner Reentry
in New Jersey" prepared in cooperation with the New
Jersey Institute for Social Justice. He cites drug offensives
as a leading cause for the rise in admissions. He feels
that the "pendulum has shifted" and that the public
wants to spend money on rehabilitative programs ensuring
that prisoners won't recidivate. However, social policy
and legislation do not reflect this change. He feels New
Jersey's Parole Board is conservative and recidivism often
occurs due to violations in parole. This contributes to
a "back-end revolving door" that guarantees that
prisoners will not successfully transition back to society.
Ex-offenders lose their right to vote, and their voices
are not heard or counted in the political process.
Mr. Travis earned his JD, cum laude, from the New York
University School of Law; an MPA from the New York University
Wagner Graduate School of Public Service; and a BA in American
Studies, cum laude, from Yale College.
Peter C. Harvey, Esq.
New Jersey Attorney General
Mr. Harvey was confirmed by the Senate as Attorney General
(AG) on June 16, 2003. By virtue of his actions and accomplishments,
he was named Lawyer of the Year for 2003 by the New Jersey
Law Journal. It is the first time the Law Journal has bestowed
the honor upon any member of the bar. Prior to his confirmation
in June, Mr. Harvey had served as Acting Attorney General
since February 15, 2003.
The AG strongly believes that the system must be engaged
with inmates from intake through release. He advocates for
assessment tools to determine an inmate's life and job skills
from point of entry and used to further build upon existing
strengths during time served. He states that inmates need
to be taught practical behavioral skills, such as anger
management and conflict resolution skills. Practical skills
such as resume writing and using an ATM should also be considered.
The AG advises that inmates should receive mentoring while
incarcerated and upon release to aid in the transition process.
He feels coordination of community services and faith-based
organizations will help in ensuring successful outcomes.
A resident of Somerset County, Mr. Harvey received his
law degree from the Columbia University School of Law in
1982, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science
from Morgan State University in 1979. He was admitted to
the New Jersey Bar in 1989, the New York Bar in 1984, and
the District of Columbia Bar in 1985.
Devon Brown
New Jersey Department of Corrections
Mr. Brown has nearly three decades of experience in the
correctional field and became commissioner of the New Jersey
Department of Corrections in April 2002. As head of the
New Jersey Department of Corrections, Brown oversees more
than 9,500 employees, 14 institutions, and a jurisdictional
inmate population of approximately 27,000 housed in state
facilities, county jails and community halfway houses.
Commissioner Brown states that classification instruments
are being used from the point of entry that detect drug
addiction, educational levels, health concerns and job skills.
Brown advises that education is the most important tool
that will aid in successful reentry. Most inmates possess
a fifth grade reading level. GED passing rates in prisons
surpass those of the public schools. He advises that psycho-educational
strategies are used to help change behaviors. Of particular
concern to the Commissioner is the rise in the number of
women being incarcerated, and the impact on children and
the communities in which they live.
The commissioner, a Maryland native, has held a wide array
of executive, managerial and direct service positions in
the correctional field. In 1997, the National Institute
of Justice awarded Brown the prestigious John B. Pickett
Fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at
Harvard University. Brown earned a Juris Doctor degree from
the University of Maryland School of Law in 1988. He received
a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University
of Baltimore in 1984. He also holds a Master of Arts Degree
in psychology from the University of Toledo and has completed
all requirements for two Ph.D. degrees from this school
with the exception of the doctoral dissertation. In 1971,
Brown also earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Morgan
State University.
Assemblywoman Mary T. Previte
Assemblywoman/Administrator of the Camden County Youth
Center
A three-term Assemblywoman, Ms. Previte represents the 6th
Legislative District in the New Jersey State Legislature.
She shapes state policy as Chairperson of the Family, Women's
and Children's Assembly Committee. She is co-sponsor of
Bill A2750, that calls for the establishment of sentencing
commission to study and review the criminal code. This is
a politically charged issue. Mary advises that most legislators
are "terrified" of the issue because they may
be considered "soft on crime" which could prove
politically fatal. Previte argues that mandatory sentencing
has sent an inordinate amount of youth and adults to jail
and left judges with no discretionary power. Instead she
asserts, the judiciary is ruled by the legislature. She
advises that we must ask the following questions, "Are
our policies keeping us safe?" "Have they caused
a reduction in recidivism?"
Ms. Previte is passionate in discussing the toll incarceration
has on the 50,000 children whose parents are incarcerated.
The impact of incarceration on the family can be devastating.
In fact, having a parent in jail is the number one predictor
that the child will face the same fate. She advocates for
more programs to aid in the reentry process. She states
that people coming out of prison still have mental health
and substance abuse issues. Furthermore, once convicted,
ex-offenders are not eligible for public housing assistance.
All lose in the present system.
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