A new law signed last week by New Jersey governor Chris Christie will help provide new employment opportunities for recently released prisoners, according to a story on njtoday.net.
Previous legislation banned any person convicted of a serious crime from working for an employer that held a valid liquor license, unless they had received an employment permit from the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Such permits cost applicants $125.00 annually – not a small amount for someone still seeking employment – and could take long periods of time to procure. Even positions not directly connected to the serving of alcohol, such as dishwasher or club DJ, were subject to the prohibition.
The new law permits the hiring of ex-offenders by such establishments, provided they are “not involved in the serving, selling, soliciting, mixing, or handling of alcoholic beverages.” Sex offenders continue to be barred from employment by these businesses, as are those who committed crimes while working at a license-owning facility.
“If we’re serious about giving ex-offenders an opportunity to reclaim their lives from the cycle of crime and incarceration, then we have to recognize that the inability to find employment is one of the biggest factors contributing to the high recidivism rate in this State and around the country,” says state senator Raymond Lesniak, who sponsored the bill. “If you’ve paid your debt to society, there is simply no reason why you should be banned from working in an establishment where alcohol is served. This law will create meaningful job opportunities for people trying to do the right thing and become productive members of society.”
Evidence indicates that timely employment is one of the greatest factors in reducing recidivism among ex-offenders. Any law that helps to remove barriers for former prisoners should be applauded. However, there is much more involved in truly integrating these men and women back into society. Housing, support for addiction recovery, and mentoring also play a major role in whether an ex-prisoner is able to reintegrate effectively. To do this, partnerships between government, law enforcement, churches, local businesses, and non-profit groups are vital.
Out4Life, a project initially started by Prison Fellowship, is working to establish these kinds of coalitions locally. To find out more about Out4Life, and to see if there is an Out4Life coalition in your state, click here.