Unlocked

IMPACTOthers followed up with calls for more investigations:State Senator Barbara Buono, vice chair of the Senate LegislativeOversight Committee: “Even after both the Senate and Assembly havecompleted their first round of hearings on the halfway houses, morestories continue to pour in of residents not getting the vital servicesneeded to successfully transition back into their communities. Moreinvestigation is clearly needed, and the Office of the Comptroller shouldbe leading those efforts.”The hearings also sparked more editorials:Philadelphia Inquirer:“Hearings into the lax oversight ofNew Jersey’s prison halfway houseswon’t do much good if they don’t dig intothe fundamental question of whether thestate should scrap the privatized programand assume direct control with its ownemployees.The separate Assembly and stateSenate hearings this week come a monthafter a New York Times series reportedthat some halfway houses have becomedens of violence, drug abuse, and sexualassault. They have become holding tanks forprisoners awaiting trial and include inmateswith such violent histories they should havenever been assigned to live in low-securitysettings. It’s no wonder some residents havebegged to be returned to a regular prison.”