Stewart Introduces Comprehensive Justice Reform Package to Support Rehabilitation and Reentry
Stewart Introduces Comprehensive Justice Reform Package to Support Rehabilitation and Reentry
TRENTON, NJ — Assemblyman Kenyatta Stewart (D-Bergen, Passaic) introduced a comprehensive package of legislation aimed at improving conditions for incarcerated individuals, expanding access to education and voting, and removing barriers to successful reentry.
The legislative package focuses on fairness, dignity, and rehabilitation to address systemic issues that often prevent individuals from successfully transitioning back into society.
“This package is about restoring dignity, expanding opportunity, and making sure our system is focused on rehabilitation—not punishment for the sake of punishment,” said Assemblyman Stewart. “If we want safer communities, we need policies that help people succeed when they come home.”
The package includes several key reforms:
- Eliminating “junk fees” upon release: One bill prohibits banks and financial institutions from charging administrative or transaction fees on accounts or debit cards issued to individuals upon release, ensuring they can access their own money without unnecessary costs.
- Expanding access to health care: Another measure eliminates co-payments for medical care and prescriptions for incarcerated individuals and prevents the accumulation of debt related to necessary treatment.
- Establishing prison libraries: The “New Jersey Prison Libraries Act” creates a dedicated fund to support library services, educational programming, and job training resources within correctional facilities, backed by a $1 million appropriation.
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Protecting voting rights: Legislation ensures that eligible individuals who are incarcerated but not convicted of indictable offenses are provided access to mail-in ballots so they can exercise their right to vote.
“These are common-sense reforms,” Stewart added. “No one should be charged fees just to access their own money, denied healthcare because they can’t afford it, or blocked from education and civic participation while incarcerated.”
The legislation also reflects a broader effort to modernize New Jersey’s approach to corrections by investing in programs that reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for individuals returning to their communities.
“If we provide the right tools—education, healthcare, and basic financial fairness—we set people up to successfully re-enter society upon release,” Stewart said. “When people come home with resources and support, they are far less likely to return to the system.”
Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (D-Essex, Hudson) is a second prime on bills that eliminate “junk fees” upon release, expand access to health care, and establish prison libraries.
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