Reentry News Clips

7/16/2008: Newark Star-Ledger (NJ): Court bars towns from moving sex offenders

New Jersey towns cannot prohibit convicted sex offenders from living near places such as schools, playgrounds and day care centers, a state appeals court ruled Tuesday.

7/15/2008: Rutland Herald (VT): Douglas urges maximum terms

Official Statement of the Governor on a Special Session and Senate Hearings on Safe Communities Legislation

7/14/2008: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA): Woman sues over ongoing sanctions for sex as a teen

Wendy Whitaker is the lead plaintiff in a federal lawsuit filed in Atlanta that seeks to have sex offender residency restrictions found unconstitutional. In November, the state supreme court struck down residency restrictions that applied to homeowners, saying that making them have to abandon their homes was an "illegal taking."

7/13/2008: USA Today (US): Calif. diving program helps anchor ex-inmates

The Marine Technology Training Center feeds a niche industry in which ex-offenders can earn $50,000 to $100,000 right out of prison as certified deep sea divers.

7/10/2008: Wall Street Journal (NY): Communities pay price of high prison rate

For every person who goes to jail, businesses lose either a potential employee or customer. Inmates' children often depend on extended families, rather than a parent, to raise them. With only so many government resources to go around, churches, volunteer programs and other groups must often step in to help.

7/8/2008: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA): Registry law called 'unfair to homeless'

Georgia's sex offender registry law should be struck down because it makes homelessness a crime, a lawyer told the state's highest court on Monday.

7/5/2008: Hartford Courant (CT): Licensing Plan Assists Inmates

Leaving prison and starting a new life can prove difficult for many offenders. One hurdle — obtaining a valid form of identification — may now be eliminated for Connecticut inmates with the advent of a portable licensing system now used in the state's prisons.

6/30/2008: Tucson Citizen (AZ): Program helps ex-cons adjust to freedom

A new partnership between the community-based Primavera Foundation and the Arizona Multi-Housing Association will put individuals who are returning from prison into safe, affordable housing in large apartment complexes that subscribe to the crime-free housing program.

6/17/2008: Los Angeles Times (CA): $2.5 million couldn't keep Anaheim gang member from his old friends

Jose Luis Munoz, an Anaheim gang member raised by a single mother, received $2.5 million from a lawsuit against the city and police. He is back in prison for violating parole by associating with other gang members.

6/16/2008: The Daily Herald (UT): Getting clean in the criminal justice system

Just as most people in the criminal justice system agree that drugs are the primary driving force behind crime, there is also a consensus that there aren't enough treatment options available for those who need it, or enough funding for the programs that are out there.

6/16/2008: The Press-Register (AL): Communities can help ex-cons adjust

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is encouraging churches, businesses and community groups to become more involved in helping released prisoners.

6/15/2008: Arizona Republic (AZ): Ending a cycle of crime: Ex-cons get a helping hand

Last year, the Department of Corrections launched the Legacy Project, a pilot program in south Phoenix's 85041 ZIP code area, changing the way that parole officers supervise recently released prisoners. It was followed by a similar initiative, Maricopa County's 85041 Project, which has changed how people are supervised while on probation.

6/15/2008: Arizona Daily Star (AZ): Treated sex offenders seldom re-offend

There are indicators that a program that puts former inmates into the Arizona Community Protection and Treatment Center is having the desired effect on these most threatening of sex offenders.

6/11/2008: Government Executive (US): Agencies urged to hire ex-offenders

At a hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, members of Congress said hiring ex-offenders could help many of them as they re-enter communities and also help government as it addresses impending staff shortages.

6/3/2008: Gotham Gazette (NY): Can New York Break Its Incarceration Habit?

New York is exhibit number one for reformers who seek to reassure citizens that it is possible to cut crime and incarceration rates at the same time. Virtually alone among states, New York has seen the number of inmates in its prisons decline over the past decade.

5/27/2008: AP (US): Hire ex-con in Philly, get $10K annual tax credit

On his 100th day in office last month, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter announced a program, being headed by an ex-offender, that gives $10,000 a year in municipal tax credits to companies that hire former prisoners and provide them tuition support or vocational training.

5/26/2008: Memphis Commercial Appeal (TN): County commissioners go after unpaid fines, court fees

A resolution, up for consideration by the County Commission this week, asks the state General Assembly to consider changing law to give courts more leverage to aggressively collect fines and fees.

5/19/2008: Illinois Governor's Office (IL): Gov. Blagojevich announces historic reduction in repeat crimes by ex-offenders, slower rate of growth in state’s prison population

Joined by law enforcement officials, community leaders, faith-based leaders and state officials, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that statewide reforms have led to historic reductions in crimes by former offenders and significant savings for taxpayers.

5/18/2008: Wilmington Star-News (NC): New Wilmington police program helps ex-inmates find jobs

This year, the Wilmington Police Department launched a new program to help ex-offenders find jobs and curb recidivism.

5/5/2008: Legal Newsline (US): Calif. chief justice backs fee increases for courthouse improvements

Californians could pay higher fees for civil court filings, parking tickets and criminal convictions under a plan backed by Chief Justice Ronald George and legislative leaders.