• The Geo Group, Inc., a world leader in privatized correctional and detention management and a $1.25 billion dollar corporation, has reportedly  answered the DOC's RFI on the Sexually Violent Predators Unit (SVP). This would be New Jersey's FIRST "secure" private facility and would certainly pave the way for the privatization of all minimum and medium security prisons.

• WE MUST STOP THIS MOVEMENT NOW ! All four corrections unions must unite and educate the public on the fact that their safety is now for sale. Not only have convicted criminals been escaping from failed, for-profit halfway houses at a rate of one per day, but now these same profiteers will be responsible for housing Sexually Violent Predators. The safety of our families and the long-term stability of our jobs are at stake!

 It is the expansion of privately-owned and operated Bo Robinson halfway house in Trenton, NJ.

Hundreds of beds are being added to this private prison!

• Listen as Assembly Budget Committee member Marcia Karrow (R) from the 23rd district explains that your letters and e-mails made a difference! Thank her for raising our issues.

• Listen to Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Louis D. Greenwald (D) from the 6th legislative district explain how Corrections Officers and Teachers should work for free so that the legislature has more money for government vote-buying programs. Also, listen closely as the Assemblyman attributes our "greed" to "living beyond our means"...a remarkeable charge from a member of the budget committee that has spent the state BROKE and amassed a 33 billion dollar budget as he profits from pay-to-play. Contact Assemblyman Greenwald.
  

• Listen as NJSPB Executive Director Joseph Shields explains that "technical" parole violators can completely disregard the terms and conditions of their parole and needlessly jeopardize public safety without being sent back to prison by refusing to meet with their parole officer, refusing to continue a program, and doing drugs.

• Listen as Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow asks, "How many bites of the apple do parole violators get?"

• Listen as NJSPB Executive Director Joseph Shields admits that their "revolving door" policy that allows parolees to continually violate their terms and conditions of parole and needlessly jeopardize public safety is not calculated into their erroneously low recidivism rate claim. Contact Joseph Shields

Senate - Hearing Audio (4/16) at 10:00am

Assembly - Hearing Audio (4/15 - 2:00pm)

• Commissioner Hayman's Testimony
• Chairman Barnes' Testimony

1. OLS Analysis
2. NJDOC's Response
3. NJSPB's Response

Key Points

• Shift overlap removed from funding, except for 4 million for 3rd shift only scheme
  
• Committee members in both parties called for the Parole RAC program (prison privatization) to not only be funded but expanded.
• Chairman Greenwald (D) called for prisons to be closed, specifically mentioning Riverfront Prison, and parole programs expanded

• We must unite to fight prison privatization

• Coalition Connects with CUSA

• NJ Plans to Privatize Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Unit
  

• NJLESA Requests Update on Proposed R.A.C. Program

1. SPB Plans to Save Money at the Expense of Public Safety
2. Not a New Issue for New Jersey Policy Makers
3. [Halfway House Inmate] runs car into group outside Newark bar, killing one
4. DOC Budget Siphoned for Private Prisons
5. New Jersey Headed Down C.A. Path
6. Previous Public-Education Campaign
7. Joint-Union Press Release

• Privatization Update (CMS)
• States' Proposed Budget Fix: Release Convicts, Save Money
• States May Free Inmates to Save Millions