By: Walter Simpkins, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Kintock Group

To better understand the criminal justice system in New Jersey, we need to begin with the data.

At last count, there were 24,000 individuals incarcerated in various types of facilities in the state of New Jersey – 12,500 individuals in prison, 7,900 individuals in local jails, 2,300 individuals in federal prisons, 800 individuals in involuntary commitment and 510 individuals in youth facilities (Prison Policy Initiative – 2023 Report). Additionally, a 2020  Prison Policy Initiative report stated that that six counties in the state of New Jersey are “home to more than half of the state’s imprisoned population” – Passaic, Essex, Camden, Atlantic, Cumberland and Cape May.

But, when a person offends, incarceration is only the first step in the journey. The next step, and one I’m most fascinated by, is the Reentry Process, which comes when the individual transitions out of the criminal justice system and back into the community.

In New Jersey, the reentry process can be very complex, depending on the individual’s personalized needs, and is not always the easiest to navigate. With unique barriers and challenges to overcome, incarcerated individuals must actively work to identify and then address or secure certain things – from housing, employment and education to physical and mental health, substance use/addiction and more – to ensure long-term, sustained success once they are released from prison and back in their communities.

I am constantly examining how we can work to make the process easier for these individuals – and that’s where I believe supportive, established reentry programs can really make all the difference.

Organizations like ours at The Kintock Group play a vital role in the reentry process – serving as a one-stop shop for quality, evidence-based reentry programs designed to reduce recidivism, encourage self-sufficiency and prepare individuals to reenter the community as productive members of society. Our reentry programs give individuals guidance and direct access to daily necessities like stable housing and food, clothing, mental health services, educational and employment opportunities and even a smartphone and transportation services that are vital in establishing a strong, solid, stable foundation for formerly incarcerated individuals as they re-establish themselves in their communities and forge new lives.

According to the New Jersey Department of Corrections, the current recidivism rate in New Jersey is less than 5% for the third year in a row – one of the lowest rates in United States. What can be attributed to this low recidivism rate? According to NJDOC, it’s reentry services and the fact that these programs truly do work.

At Kintock, we serve approximately 1,500+ individuals daily – connecting these individuals with effective reentry programming and on-the-ground supports to ensure favorable outcomes and long-term success post-incarceration. Access to these vital reentry services is guided by our team of nearly 400 highly qualified, professional employees who place great value on building trust and establishing connections – both critical components to the long-term success of clients who would be at higher risk of reoffending and continue down the cyclical path of incarceration without these supports. Each person on the Kintock team is deeply committed to their clients’ well-being and long-term prosperity – guiding these individuals along the way, while also imparting valuable life skills and supports needed to foster independence and positive growth.

Through our Vantage Point Program specifically, Kintock continues to provide important reentry assistance, resources and services  to clients right in their own communities, in order to reduce recidivism rates and offer stable, professional support and guidance. Since 2022, more than 2,200 clients on State Parole, county probation or with no legal obligations throughout the state of New Jersey have voluntarily enrolled in the Vantage Point Program. The outcomes we have experienced speak to the program’s success, and showcase the fact that reentry services really do work:

• 2,072 clients have received Employment Readiness Services through the program.
• 867 client received transportation services through the program.
• 665 clients secured employment through the program.
• 313 client received meals and clothing through the program.
• 142 client enrolled in school with tuition assistance through the program
• 109 clients received quality health and wellness support
• 91 clients secured housing through rental assistance through the program.

Although the Vantage Point Program is open to all individuals living in the state of New Jersey, Kintock has made great strides in the past year to expand our Vantage Point office locations and mobile units throughout the state of new jersey, increasing the accessibility and availability of reentry services to even more individuals exiting the criminal justice system. Earlier this year, we proudly opened a new office location in Vineland, NJ, to better serve the southern New Jersey community and ensure residents in the surrounding counties had access to critical reentry services.

Since we were first established in 1985, we here at Kintock have actively worked to foster long-term success and independence in those transitioning back into the community post-incarceration. We have positively impacted thousands of New Jersey residents through our professional reentry services, ensuring all individuals we encounter have a real “second chance at life.” No one should have to go through the reentry process alone – Kintock remains a reliable, ever-present guide and safety net for these individuals as they embark on a fresh, new start at life.

Walter Simpkins is a seasoned law enforcement professional with more than 40 years of experience in corrections, spanning both the public and private sectors, and an extensive knowledge of correctional best practices, corrections management and reentry services. He began his career in New Jersey State Government with the Department of Human Services before moving on to the Department of Corrections. Upon his retirement in 2006 as Corrections Captain, Walt joined The Kintock Group with corporate oversight of the company’s facility operations. He was named Chief Operating Officer of Kintock in 2014 and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer in 2020.

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