Juvenile Justice Commission Hosts Statewide Reentry Conference

JAMESBURG - The New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) will host a statewide Reentry Conference on Friday, December 12 beginning at 9:00 a.m. The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn in Monroe Township off Exit 8 of the New Jersey Turnpike.

The conference entitled, "Let's Talk Reentry", is designed to bring together individuals from the state and local levels to discuss the issues that face juveniles who return home after being in the custody of the Juvenile Justice Commission or another facility.

"Reentry into the community is a critical factor in a juvenile's long term success," said Howard L. Beyer, Executive Director, Juvenile Justice Commission. "In order to prevent juveniles from repeating their mistakes and returning as juvenile offenders or adult inmates, we need to make sure that they are prepared to return home and that they receive support services once they are there. The Juvenile Justice Commission is taking the lead in this collaborative effort to ensure that New Jersey is at the forefront of this national issue."

"It is essential that all the parties work together to make sure that youth returning home to their communities have the tools and programs at their disposal to help them be successful members of their communities. With the help of our partners, including the New Jersey State Parole Board, the State Police, local law enforcement, social service providers and interested community members at all levels, we can make that happen," said William Curry, JJC Director of Juvenile Parole and Transitional Services.

Also expected to address the participants are: representative of the Office of the Governor, Assemblywoman Mary Previte, Assemblyman Alfred Steele, State Parole Board Chairman John D'Amico, and Sgt. Tim Gallagher of the Camden County Prosecutors Office.

The conference will conclude with an awards ceremony recognizing JJC staff members who have demonstrated professional excellence, partners in communities throughout the state which help provide transitional services for youth, and JJC staff members from the Office of Juvenile Parole and Transitional Services who have been called to serve in the military during the past year.

For more information on the JJC, please visit www.njjjc.com