AFP-Backed Criminal Justice Reform Bill Progresses

Jan 22, 2019 by AFP

TRENTON, NJ – Americans for Prosperity-backed criminal justice reform progressed this past Thursday, including S-1589, which removes a ban on individuals with criminal records from obtaining one of the state’s 200+ occupational licenses. Currently, an individual can be banned from a profession even if his or her crime has nothing to do with the profession and occurred decades ago. A spokeswoman said the grassroots organization would consider this vote as it evaluates where members of the state legislature fall on critical issues.

View AFP-NJ’s Testimony Here

AFP New Jersey State Director Erica Jedynak said:

“Making it easier for returning citizens to work helps reduce the chances they reoffend and saves taxpayer dollars, as it costs more than $60,000 a year to incarcerate someone in New Jersey. Americans for Prosperity thanks Senators Troy Singleton and Nia Gill for their leadership in sponsoring legislation to strengthen our communities by removing barriers to opportunity for New Jerseyans who are rejoining society. We look forward to seeing this bill move to the Senate floor and the Governor’s desk in 2019.”

Background:

AFP’s Criminal Justice Reform Agenda: New Jersey communities are safest when our criminal justice system is built on respect for individual rights and human dignity. Policymakers in the Garden State can secure justice for victims and create opportunity for people who have paid their debt to society and are eager to re-enter civic life. The criminal justice system needs reforms to simplify and roll back unnecessary criminal laws, protect individuals against civil asset forfeiture, modify sentencing and corrections to make our punishments match the crime, and eliminate unnecessary barriers to opportunity that keep former offenders from becoming productive members of society. By tackling over-criminalization, asset forfeiture, sentencing and corrections, improving relations between law enforcement and communities, and collateral consequences of incarceration, we can move New Jersey toward a freer society.