New Jersey Governor Announces Prisoner Re-entry Program at Volunteers of America's Hope Hall

Camden, NJ - On October 11, 2007, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine unveiled the third part of his anti-crime plan “A Strategy for Safe Streets and Neighborhoods” in a visit to Volunteers of America’s Hope Hall.

Calling for collaboration and coordination between state agencies, local governments and communities, this initiative will provide a different approach to the way violent crime is dealt with in New Jersey.  Particularly, the action plan will serve as a “blueprint” by providing the strategies and tactics needed in dealing with violent crimes involving gang and gun-related offenses.

One part of this strategy focuses on reducing the recidivism rate.  According to the state, each year almost 16,000 adult and juvenile offenders are released from custody.  Currently, almost 65% of those released or paroled will be arrested again within five years.  In community corrections programs such as Volunteers of America Delaware Valley’s Hope Hall, clients only have a 32% rearrest rate and a 23% reconviction after two years, making the program a success. Although indisputably challenging, a reduction of recidivism can be done.  Hoping to see a 10-15% drop in recidivism, Corzine will set up a state pilot re-entry program modeled after Hope Hall. 

Opened in August 1999, Hope Hall is a 175-bed residential community release program with a work release component under contract with the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) for pre-parole adult male offenders. The mission is to provide offenders with individualized treatment in a structured environment in an effort to promote their successful transition into the community.

The types of intensive, enrichment programs that are facilitated include Reasoning and Rehabilitation, SMART Recovery, Offender Substance Abuse Pre-Release Program, adult basic education and GED preparation, life skills programming (budgeting, goal setting etc.), job readiness, leisure and recreation programming, and motivational enhancement groups.  These are the programs Corzine wants to implement state-wide to eventually cut the $1 billion per year spent on prisons.