Signed by Governor Phil Murphy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates $8.4 Million to the Juvenile Justice Commission for a "Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities" pilot program.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the creation of a 2-year restorative and transformative justice pilot program focused on reducing initial and repeat youth involvement with the youth justice system, and making an appropriation (Sec. 1).

• Specifies the first component of the pilot program will include restorative justice hubs. Each of the 4 pilot program municipalities will have one restorative justice hub (Sec. 4).

• Specifies the second component of the pilot program will include community-based enhanced reentry wraparound services to be provided within each restorative justice hub (Sec. 4):

• The purpose of restorative justice hubs is to resolve local conflicts through dialogue instead of punitive measures, connect youth and families to a variety of services and programs, and coordinate service delivery across the community, and by doing so create and maintain equitable relationships between the Juvenile Justice Commission, county youth services commissions, courts, State and municipal public defenders, prosecutors and law enforcement, and additionally, collaboration on public safety initiatives.

• Establishes these services as an emergency response for those young people being released from juvenile facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and may also serve as a long-term program for all young people released from a facility. Community-based enhanced reentry wraparound services will include, but not be limited to, the following services and supports (Sec. 4):

• Mental health services;

• Substance use disorders treatment and recovery;

• Education support;

• Employment services;

• Housing support;

• Financial literacy and debt support services;

• Life skills support services; and

• Social support services.

• Establishes that the second component of the pilot program will include restorative justice hubs, which are physical spaces within the community where youth and families can heal, reconnect and build healthy relationships in the community (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates $8.4 Million to the Juvenile Justice Commission for a "Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities" pilot program.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the creation of a 2-year restorative and transformative justice pilot program focused on reducing initial and repeat youth involvement with the youth justice system, and making an appropriation (Sec. 1).

• Specifies the first component of the pilot program will include restorative justice hubs. Each of the 4 pilot program municipalities will have one restorative justice hub (Sec. 4).

• Specifies the second component of the pilot program will include community-based enhanced reentry wraparound services to be provided within each restorative justice hub (Sec. 4):

• The purpose of restorative justice hubs is to resolve local conflicts through dialogue instead of punitive measures, connect youth and families to a variety of services and programs, and coordinate service delivery across the community, and by doing so create and maintain equitable relationships between the Juvenile Justice Commission, county youth services commissions, courts, State and municipal public defenders, prosecutors and law enforcement, and additionally, collaboration on public safety initiatives.

• Establishes these services as an emergency response for those young people being released from juvenile facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and may also serve as a long-term program for all young people released from a facility. Community-based enhanced reentry wraparound services will include, but not be limited to, the following services and supports (Sec. 4):

• Mental health services;

• Substance use disorders treatment and recovery;

• Education support;

• Employment services;

• Housing support;

• Financial literacy and debt support services;

• Life skills support services; and

• Social support services.

• Establishes that the second component of the pilot program will include restorative justice hubs, which are physical spaces within the community where youth and families can heal, reconnect and build healthy relationships in the community (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text