New Jersey Breaks Ground on Modern Women's Correctional Facility

Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Women's Correctional Facility

• 🏗️ The event marks the ceremonial groundbreaking for a new, modern, and transformative Correctional Facility for Women in Chesterfield, New Jersey.
• 🏛️ This facility is a visible representation of the administration's goal to establish a culture of dignity and safety, replacing the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility.
• 🤝 The project is the result of significant cultural reforms and collaboration involving community stakeholders, legislators, religious leaders, educators, incarcerated women, their loved ones, staff, and unions.

Cultural Reforms and Best Practices

• 💡 Reforms at the Edna Mahan facility include the deployment of body cameras, trauma and gender-informed training, and enhanced educational and mental health offerings.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Increased opportunities for family unification and new partnerships, like the Give Something Back program for children of incarcerated women, are key components.
• ✅ The New Jersey Department of Corrections has achieved a cultural reformation, aiming to be a gold standard for others.

Vision for the New Facility

• 🌟 The new campus will support the humane rehabilitation of incarcerated individuals and strengthen public safety for all New Jerseyans.
• 💰 Closing the outdated Edna Mahan facility is projected to save taxpayers over $160 million.
• 📍 The new facility's location in Chesterfield offers greater accessibility for family visits, crucial for rehabilitation.
• 🏘️ A multi-building campus design with enhanced safety features will foster community and harmony, providing dignity and humanity.

Clemency Initiative and Second Chances

• ⚖️ New Jersey has launched a clemency initiative, establishing a fair process for legal relief, resulting in nearly 170 grants of clemency in just over 15 months.
• 🌟 The stories of Don Jackson and Mirna Diaz, who received commuted sentences, exemplify the success of this initiative and the potential for recovery and redemption.
• 🎓 Both Don and Mirna achieved significant personal growth, including obtaining degrees and actively participating in programs while incarcerated.
• 🌱 Their successful reintegration into society highlights the importance of grace, dignity, and opportunity.

A New Era of Justice and Hope

• 💖 The new facility is envisioned not just as a place to house women, but to honor their humanity, support rehabilitation, and facilitate their return to communities.
• 🚀 This groundbreaking signifies breaking barriers, silence, and opening a way for humane futures, embodying the principle of doing better when one knows better.
• 🙏 The project is a testament to collaboration, leadership, and a shared commitment to building hope, healing, and new beginnings for incarcerated women.